A regional delegation is gearing up to showcase the city’s smart credentials to some of the world’s top innovators and influencers at Smart City Expo 2022 in Barcelona.
As one of the fastest growing tech clusters in the UK and the smartest UK city named in the 2021 IMD Smart City Index, Newcastle has established itself as a leading destination for innovative technology and solutions to help reduce environmental damage, restore ecosystems and help citizens live longer, healthier lives.
From November 15 to 17, a delegation of thought leaders and strategic partners from the region will attend Smart City Expo, which is the leading international conference focused on urban development, with more than 21,000 attendees coming together to showcase the latest developments in the smart city space.
The Expo aims to empower cities and collectivise urban innovation across the globe through promoting social innovation, establishing partnerships, and identifying business opportunities, creating a better future for cities and their residents.
Invest Newcastle, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), has partnered with Newcastle City Council, leading global tech firm Monstarlab, the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) and smart city consultancy Urban Foresight to build on the city’s smart credentials, establish further international connections and promote Newcastle and the wider region as a place to locate and grow a business.
The delegation will meet with a number of key stakeholders in the global smart city space to share knowledge and discuss best practice. These include SmartCitiesWorld, The Smart City Institute Japan and Nordic Edge – Norway’s official smart city cluster.
NICA Director Nic Palmarini will also be taking to the main stage at the Expo to discuss the pioneering research he and the team are conducting around Ageing Intelligence, which helps organisations tackle longevity economy opportunities through evidence synthesis, deep market and trend analysis.
With a commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable cities, NGI will be offsetting all carbon emissions generated through delegate travel to the event.
Sam Cassidy, Senior Inward Investment Manager (Energy & Sustainability), Invest Newcastle, said: “Newcastle and the wider region has a unique ecosystem, which sees regular collaboration between the public sector, private sector, academia and the community, means that we are a test bed for smart, digital and sustainable technologies. We have a short window to transform our cities and create more sustainable environments. Attending Smart City Expo gives us the opportunity to not only showcase our world-class assets but to drive inward investment in this cutting-edge sector and to take learnings from and collaborate with experts in the field.
“I am incredibly excited to exhibit in partnership with Monstarlab, NICA and Urban Foresight who all play a massive role in Newcastle’s transformation as a smart city.”
David Beeton, CEO and Founder of Urban Foresight said: “We are excited to share our work to transform public services, boost local economies, and improve the lives of residents. This includes our pioneering innovation partnership with Newcastle City Council. This unique approach helped to deliver better transport, cleaner air, efficient services, and responsive care for vulnerable adults.
“As a business headquartered in Newcastle, we’re also looking forward to representing the city at this important event. North East England is rightly seen as a hotbed of innovation for smart places. We’re proud to have played a role in this success and to be exporting these solutions around the world.”
James Hall, Global Smart Places Practice Lead, Monstarlab EMEA, said: “I’m delighted to be representing Monstarlab at Smart City Expo with colleagues from across Europe. Having attended the event in the past, I’m looking forward to hearing about the latest innovations and thinking from some of the world’s leading experts in how we can create a smarter world.
“Monstarlab is fully committed to developing its Smart Place practice. Following a period of growth in 2022 through a number of new hires and key business wins, we have further enhanced our portfolio as a leader in developing Smart Places. Sponsoring the Invest Newcastle delegation not only strengthens our partnership but elevates our shared vision of placing Newcastle upon Tyne on the map as a hub of Smart Place innovation.”