SUMMIT THEME | AWARDS | SPEAKERS | ATTEND THE SUMMIT | TOP7 RECEPTION | SMART CITY EXPO WORLD CONGRESS
Featured Speakers:
  Jose de la Uz Mayor Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain |
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  Teppo Rantanen Executive Director City of Tampere, Finland |
 Peter Portheine Director Eindhoven International Project Office |
  Michelle Crandall City Manager Hilliard, Ohio, USA |
 Raimundo Rodulfo Director of Innovation and Technology Coral Gables, FL, USA |
 Alexander Schmidt Founder & CEO BABLE Smart Cities |
 Sarah Corey Hollohan |
 Elaine Baxter-Trahair |
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Igor Lima Freire Oliveira |
Stephen Goldsmith |
Dario Paixão |
Program
3 November - The Top7 Reception
19:30 to 21:10
On the evening of 3 November at 19:30, international delegates and VIPs will be invited to the 2024 Top7 Reception. This exclusive networking event will be an evening of celebration for the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2024, and will provide attendees the chance to develop relationships with the full range of attendees from multiple cities and nations.
The event will feature speakers from ICF, 2023 Intelligent Community of the Year Binh Duong, Vietnam, and more. Click here to learn more about the Top7 Reception >>>
4 November - ICF Plenary
Agenda at a Glance:
Detailed Agenda:
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08:30-09:30 |
Registration |
Full Conference (Auditorium, La Pedrera - Casa Milà) - 09:30-11:05
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09:30-09:45 |
Welcome and Introduction
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09:45-10:10 |
Welcome to the Crisis Decade An ICF co-founder frames the content of the day.
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10:10-10:25 |
Top7 Presentation: Hilliard, Ohio, USA
Speakers include:
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10:25-10:45 |
Top7 Presentation: Yunlin County
Speakers include:
Top7 Presentation Sponsor:
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10:45-11:05 |
State of the City: The Smart City Movement in Spain Spanish Smart City leaders discuss the challenges – and opportunities – of smart city development in Spanish communities. Updated description to come. Speakers include:
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Hilliard is a small and growing city of 38,000 located in the metropolitan region of Columbus, the Ohio state capital and 2015 Intelligent Community of the Year. It is an affluent place, with a majority white-collar workforce and household income three times the US national average. Its proximity to Columbus lets residents benefit from that city’s urban attractions and economic energy – but with 1,200 businesses, Hilliard is a model of small-city innovation and growth on a technology foundation. 
Yunlin County in Taiwan makes its first appearance as a Top7 Intelligent Community this year. This county of 660,000 people is known for agriculture, supplying tea leaves, papaya, melon and more. In recent years, it has faced the challenges of an aging workforce and exodus of youth. The county responded in 2019 with the establishment of the Local Revitalization Office tasked with shaping a new Yunlin using resources from industry, government and academia. Free WiFi is offered in 219 public places throughout the county. Its agricultural sector adopted new climate-smart agricultural practices and IoT digitalization. To prepare its children for the future, the county instituted a STEAM program for students called Transforming Destiny. And its 100% Waste Recycled program, which turns waste into a substitute for coal, makes Yunlin a model for the waste-to-energy circular economy.
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11:05-11:30 |
Networking Break |
Breakout Area One (Auditorium, La Pedrera - Casa Milà) - 11:30-13:40
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11:30-12:10 |
CIO Roundtable: Connectivity - What Keeps CIOs Up at Night? Public-sector chief information officers carry a load that grows heavier by the year. Their core responsibility is to make sure municipal staff have access to the information technology they need. But now that means battling rising cybercrime, leading a digital transformation with inadequate budgets and serving a public that expects point-and-click access to online services. CIOs share their concerns and how they impact the success of their municipalities. Speakers include:
Session Sponsor:
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12:10-12:15 |
A five-minute break to give attendees a chance to switch their breakout room if desired. |
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12:15-12:55 |
Panel: AI for Public Good: Paths to Success and to Failure Generative artificial intelligence is a foundational technology with huge potential to transform how we live, learn, conduct research, fight battles and do business. It is also unreliable and performs its operations in ways we can’t trace. When deployed by a municipality, however, it needs to reliably serve the public good. Leaders and AI experts share their views on the promise and pitfalls of AI in the public sector, and examples of successful and challenged deployments. Speakers include:
Session Sponsor:
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12:55-13:00 |
A five-minute break to give attendees a chance to switch their breakout room if desired. |
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13:00-13:40 |
Panel: Sustainability: Meeting Mandates, Seizing Opportunities Cities and regions are unlikely to meet the EU’s ambitious climate goals through nothing but public spending. Leaders share projects and practices in development and application of technologies that meet the goals while driving new economic growth.
Session Sponsor:
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Breakout Area Two (Gaudí Room, La Pedrera - Casa Milà) - 11:30-13:40
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11:30-12:10 |
Panel: Building Resilient Local Economies in a Globalized World Learn critical strategies that local governments can implement to fortify their economies against external shocks and disruptions by creating a diverse economic base, leveraging existing assets and competences, and fostering entrepreneurship. Topics explored include the significance of international trade and investment, positioning within the global economy, and the vital role of regional and international collaboration.
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12:10-12:15 |
A five-minute break to give attendees a chance to switch their breakout room if desired. |
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12:15-12:55 |
Panel: Innovation: Can Communities Succeed in a Region Falling Behind? European government and business leaders are increasingly concerned that the region is falling behind in creating the technologies that will foster the next wave of growth. But some cities and regions are finding ways to accelerate innovation in spite of broader trends. Leaders share examples that illustrate how business innovation can flourish. Speakers include:
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12:55-13:00 |
A five-minute break to give attendees a chance to switch their breakout room if desired. |
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13:00-13:40 |
You Can Have Silicon Valley at Home: Fostering a Local Innovation Ecosystem Discover how local governments can create a thriving innovation ecosystem in a session bringing together city officials, industry leaders, and community advocates to explore strategies for nurturing local innovation. Topics will include the role of public-private partnerships, the importance of supportive policies, and ways to cultivate a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship. Speakers include:
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Breakout Area Three (Les Cotxeres, H10 Casa Mimosa) - 11:30-13:40
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11:30-12:10 |
Housing the Future: Unlocking Capital for Smart, Sustainable Cities Housing is a challenge facing communities all around this world. But like many challenges, it can turn into an opportunity. This panel will explore the critical role of housing in creating sustainable communities and compare innovative models to unlock new sources of capital for smart city development. Thought leaders from the public and private sectors come together to discuss how aligning with environmental, social, and governance goals can transform funding strategies and drive the future of our communities. Speakers include:
Session Sponsor:
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12:10-12:15 |
A five-minute break to give attendees a chance to switch their breakout room if desired. |
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12:15-12:55 |
Inclusive Innovation: The Vital Role of Diversity in Smart City Planning Incorporating diverse perspectives in the planning process is essential to creating inclusive, equitable urban environments. This discussion will explore the benefits of diverse representation in local government initiatives, particularly as it related to Smart City and Intelligent Community advancement. Panelists will discuss overcoming challenges and practical strategies for ensuring that all community voices are heard. Speakers include:
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12:55-13:00 |
A five-minute break to give attendees a chance to switch their breakout room if desired. |
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13:00-13:40 |
Panel: Growing Your Economy with an Aging and Shrinking Workforce Most high and middle-income countries will see their populations shrink in coming decades, eliminating one of the classic drivers of prosperity. Maintaining growth to support quality of life will challenge cities and regions to refresh their workforce strategies, update economic plans and invest in new capabilities. Leaders share policies and programs they are putting in place now to address the demands of the near future. Speakers include:
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13:40-14:30 |
Lunch and Networking Break |
Full Conference (Auditorium, La Pedrera - Casa Milà) - 14:30-17:45
The provincial capital and home to over 60,000 people, Fredericton began its Intelligent Community journey in the 1990s, when it established a plan for an economic development partnership among government, universities, a budding entrepreneurial sector and established companies. Updated every few years, the plan guided the development of the public-private Knowledge Park as a home for knowledge-based industries. The city targeted technology growth sectors and led creation of a broadband cooperative that built the digital infrastructure no private-sector carrier was willing to provide. Household income has grown by double digits over the past decade, and more than 70% of New Brunswick’s knowledge industries call Fredericton home, as does the newest ICF Intelligent Community Institute at New Brunswick Community College. The city expects its population to grow 50% in the next 25 years, and has engaged its people and employers in planning an even more vibrant, diverse and sustainable community.
Curitiba’s commitment to only welcoming non-polluting employers and its development of an industrial space filled with green space has made it one of the most sustainable cities in Brazil – and an attractive destination for innovative companies and top talent. Over 25% of its workers are employed by high-tech companies, and that number continues to grow. The city has also developed the impressive Speaks Curitiba program, boosting civic engagement from all 75 of its neighborhoods, and involving citizens in constructing budgets and development plans. Since last named a Top7 Community, Curitiba has continued to receive global recognition for its success, having received the Smart City award in November at the 2023 Smart City Expo in Barcelona.
The Durham Region provides shared services and program coordination to eight local governments in Ontario, Canada – a diverse group with economic sectors ranging from agriculture to automotive manufacturing and clean energy. It has completed the first phase of a 700-kilometer fiber network targeting underserved rural areas. A regional program is helping hundreds of low-income families every year access Canada’s financial assistance programs for post-secondary education. Senior citizen centers provide low-cost tech training to thousands of older residents. In March, it made headlines with the successful delivery of the third generation of the CityROVER A.I. system, which was developed by Visual Defence in collaboration with the Durham Region and the Ontario Government. Durham Region’s use of CityROVER A.I. for pothole detection is just one of the many examples of its Intelligent Community practices.
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16:00-16:20 |
Networking Break |
Main Auditorium - Full Conference (16:20-18:00)
Founded in 1920 by Japanese immigrants, Assai originally prospered as the “white gold capital” of cotton production. But as agricultural production shifted elsewhere, the city diversified its economy and developed a workforce ready for new industries. In 2022, it enacted a strategic plan to attract investment from multinational companies, leading to partnerships with over 90 firms and making Assaí into the first CityLab in Brazil. These partnerships led to high-quality fiber and wireless connectivity, which powered another initiative called City Points SUNFLOWER. This program rewards users with cashback and retail discounts that encourage citizens to recycle, use renewable energy and vaccinate against diseases. The same idea has been applied to education through “gamification” that motivates students and prepares their community for the future.
Located east of Miami and with a population slightly under 50,000, Coral Gables has started a series of Smart City programs in recent years and is already reaping the rewards. With its Smart Districts Expansion Project, Coral Gables has implemented a robust and resilient technology infrastructure through multiple innovation districts, providing connectivity, visibility, control and automation of city services. In 2013, the city passed a Sustainability Master Plan focused on renewable energy, green buildings, decarbonization and coastal resiliency, which has seen it become a sustainability leader in Florida and across the USA.
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19:00-22:00 |
Intelligent Community Awards DinnerJoin us for a reception and banquet dinner as we find out which of the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2024 is named the 2024 Intelligent Community of the Year. This year, the Intelligent Community Awards Dinner takes place at Can Travi Nou (Carrer de Jorge Manrique, s/n, Horta-Guinardó, 08035 Barcelona, Spain), an authentic Catalan farmhouse. Attendees will enjoy a traditional tapas dinner as they await the announcement of the world's most Intelligent Community and reflect on the lessons learned during the Plenary. Speakers include:
More speakers to be confirmed soon.
The Intelligent Community Awards Dinner is sponsored by Becamex IDC.
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Intelligent Community Awards Dinner, 2018
5-7 November - Smart City Expo World Summit
All ICF Global Summit attendees will receive a Full Congress Pass to the Smart City Expo World Congress. More information on suggested sessions will be posted here shortly.
5 November
09:45-10:30: ICF Agora Session: Smart Cities Via Satellite
Rural and remote areas miss economic opportunities due to costly broadband. Learn how satellite broadband can bridge this gap through development planning with insights from experts.
For a more detailed description and a list of speakers, click here >>>