Smart Cities Week to take place September 15-17, 2015
(Wash. DC) – March 17, 2015 – North America will gain its first major smart cities conference and exhibition this fall thanks to the Smart Cities Council, the sector's largest coalition. Smart Cities Week will demonstrate the exponential growth of smart city developments worldwide. With a projected multibillion dollar spend in the Mid-Atlantic region alone, the event will showcase how cities are using digital technology to improve urban livability, workability and sustainability.
City leaders will be empowered to “Shape Your City’s Future” by learning from the sector's leading experts, exchanging ideas with their peers and seeing first-hand what is working today in cities around the world.
“Washington, D.C. is a world-class city with a robust economy that creates economic opportunity for residents across all of the City’s eight wards. We are pleased that the Smart Cities Council has selected D.C. for this inaugural event in North America,” said Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “As a gathering point for government, business, community and international leaders, this event reflects the spirit of innovation in our city. This event will be an important opportunity for city leaders to see realworld solutions to urban challenges, and to help them set a fresh path for their own city’s transformation.”
Distinctive elements of the conference will include:
- Integration -- challenging every city leader to look holistically at cross-cutting solutions and break the silos that slow progress
- Partnerships -- encouraging public/private collaborations that help cities transform faster
- Financing –- helping cities link to the many innovative ways to finance smart technology (some of which require no money down)
- Stakeholder engagement -- showcasing the power of citizen participation, from entrepreneurial ventures to hack-a-thons
- Legacy -- introducing technology demonstrations that will remain in D.C., supporting innovation year after year
Event participants will have a new experience. More than traditional presentations, Smart Cities Week will focus on solutions that cities are already deploying. From smart policing to smart street lights to city services delivered directly to a smartphone, attendees will see the latest advances from innovative technology companies and forward-thinking cities.
“All over the world, cities are seeing remarkable results from their smart city deployments,” said Smart Cities Council Executive Director Philip Bane. “Reducing crime by 30%, reducing traffic congestion by 20-40%, cutting power outages in half, reducing energy use by 20% or more –- these are just a few of the improvements cities are already achieving.” Collectively, the members and advisors of the Smart Cities Council operate in 140 countries, employ more than 1.4 million people, generate more than $2.5 trillion in annual revenues and have worked on more than 5,000 smart city projects of one kind or another past and present. "That's a lot of lessons learned," said Bane. "Smart Cities Week is an ideal venue for passing along those best practices. And as an international center of leadership and innovation, Washington, D.C. is an ideal place to hold it. " Produced in partnership with Clarion Events, the inaugural event will be held at the Renaissance Washington Convention Center on September 15-17, 2015. For more information, visit www.smartcitiesweek.com.###About the Smart Cities Council The Smart Cities Council is the trusted advisor to equip cities with tools and knowledge to cope with expanding populations, shrinking budgets and aging infrastructure. It is comprised of the world's foremost smart city practitioners advised by unbiased, independent experts, including top universities, national laboratories, standards bodies, climate advocacy groups and development banks. The Council’s goal is to accelerate the growth of smart cities worldwide by providing city leaders with best practices and vendor-neutral guidance on technology, finance, policy and citizen engagement. For more information, visit www.smartcitiescouncil.com or view a brief introductory video about the Smart Cities Council. About Clarion EventsClarion Events takes great pride in being one of the oldest independent event organizers in the UK. The firm has developed an international portfolio of brands and now has interests in a number of global vertical industries. In 2011, over 700,000 people visited 160 exhibitions, conferences and seated events across Europe, North and South America, Africa, Middle East, Russia and Asia. Clarion is one of the largest independent event organizers in the world currently employing a talented staff of 500+ people in offices in the UK, Netherlands, United States, South Africa, Brazil, UAE, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.clarionevents.com. Media Contact:Sarah Blanchard Communications DirectorSarah.Blanchard@SmartCitiesCouncil.com206-412-0947
