The symposium gathered 4.000 atendees in cities of Kyoto and the Kansai Science City in Keihanna
Kyoto hosts the Asian edition of Smart City Expo for a second year
Smart City Expo Kyoto closed its second edition this Friday after gathering for three days 4.000 attendees among leading urban experts and thinkers, government representatives and companies who have developed key solutions to tackle the current urban challenges and transform cities into smart, sustainable and more liveable places. Jointly organized by the Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City Government and Fira de Barcelona and held in both Kyoto and the Science City of Keihanna, the event promoted regional and technological exchange among governments, corporations, universities and other organizations and contributed to expand the Asian smart city market.
On its second edition, Smart City Expo Kyoto showcased the technologies, projects and solutions of 115 exhibiting companies and attracted an outstanding international interest. Several delegations from both cities and countries from America, Asia and Europe attended the symposium to establish new partnerships and share knowledge and experiences. Among these official missions were those of Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Indonesia, India, Israel and Taiwan as well as the cities of Barcelona (Spain), Malaga (Spain), Quebec (Canada) and Tel Aviv (Israel).
Smart City Expo Kyoto 2015 comprised two main activities: The International Symposium held Wednesday in Kyoto and the Smart City Messe in Keihanna on Thursday and Friday. This year’s congress programme featured over 60 speakers including a keynote by the MIT Mobile Experience Laboratory Director, Federico Casalegno, as well as lectures by Microsoft Japan CTO, Shunichi Kajisa; the Director of Sustainability Initiatives at the New York Metropolitan Authority of Transportation, Projjal Dutta; the Global Head of Market Development – Internet of Things at Cisco Systems, Matthew Smith; the Director-General of the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Kenji Yamaji; the Mayor of Kyoto, Daisaku Kadokawa; and Kyoto Prefecture Vice Governor, Akimasa Yamashita, among others.
Partnership with Kyoto
The Prefecture of Kyoto has selected Smart City Expo World Congress and Fira Barcelona as partners in the development of the Smart City project in the Science City of Keihanna. The project will promote knowledge transfer as well as investment from companies and research centres in the Keihanna-Kyoto area as well as and Japan through Smart City Expo World Congress.
Building on smart foundations
Kyoto Smart City Expo 2015 built on the success of the first Asian edition of Smart City Expo –also held in Kyoto– and the expertise of Fira de Barcelona who launched Smart City Expo World Congress on 2011, an event that has established itself as the world’s leading summit on smart cities in four editions. On 2014, Smart City Expo World Congress gathered 11,000 attendees every year in Barcelona; over 400 cities; and executives of the leading companies and disruptive scientists and thinkers to share knowledge, promote new initiatives and tackle every challenge ahead. It will hold its 5th edition from 17 to 19 November 2015.
Barcelona, 22 May 2015