With more than 25,000 attendees from 140 countries, 1,100 exhibitors from 800 cities worldwide, 600 speakers, and 273 sessions, the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) 2023 left a significant impact.
In the context of the “Investment Forum for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure,” Delphine Romeu told Mobility Portal Group that they are already developing the strategy for the next edition.
The Director of Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress emphasizes their interest in fostering innovation: “We want to boost the implementation of real projects.”
In this regard, she highlights the importance of leveraging the presence of political actors to translate the innovations emerging at the event into the urban environment.
“We seek to establish ourselves as the meeting point for startups, investors, and representatives of the public sector,” details Romeu.
The congregation of actors from the public and private sectors over three days plays a crucial role in accelerating the implementation of mobility projects.
Therefore, the event is “very proud” to contribute significantly to this transition.
The return date has already been confirmed.
The thirteenth edition of the Smart City will take place from November 5 to 7, 2024, at the Fira Barcelona facilities.
Smart City: Featured Themes and Innovations
One of the predominant themes during the congress has been aerial mobility.
In this context, one of the notable innovations was the introduction of flying taxis, which could be present during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
These vehicles would facilitate the transportation of athletes from the French capital to the Olympic center.
Additionally, the event’s agenda was marked by key trends in sustainable and smart mobility, as well as the transition to eMobility.
“Although we still have challenges to overcome, we observe a clear trend in the increase in electric vehicle sales and the expansion of charging points,” says Romeu.
She also highlights the various incentives available that “are significantly driving this process, and we are experiencing quite a rapid takeoff.”
In this edition, they notably promoted a space dedicated to innovation for the first time.
This approach allowed both startups and companies to present their outstanding products.
These included drones prepared for delivering goods, autonomous buses for public transportation, space-saving foldable vehicles, and other technological novelties.
In the field of micromobility, participating firms showcased the latest models of electric bicycles and scooters.
Recognitions during the Smart City
Every year, the World Smart City Awards highlight the most notable initiatives and projects in the innovation and urban transformation industry.
This time, the Brazilian city of Curitiba was awarded as Smart City 2023.
Judges recognized the metropolis for its approach to intelligent urban planning, socioeconomic growth, and commitment to environmental sustainability in facing present and future urban challenges.
And the Leadership Award?
In this edition, it was granted to Anna Lisa Boni, Deputy Mayor of Bologna and Secretary General of Eurocities from 2014 to 2021, and Claudio Orrego, Governor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile.
It is worth noting that since 2013, the scope of the Smart City has expanded beyond its original location, reaching various cities worldwide.
These local editions have adapted to the specific needs and interests of the hosting regions.
This year, the congress took place in New York, Doha, Shanghai, Curitiba, Mérida (Mexico), Bogotá, and Santiago del Estero (Argentina).
“We have exceeded expectations; we did not expect so much, and we are very pleased to have that physical meeting point again,” concludes Romeu.
