Smart City Expo World Congress
Event finished: 7th November 2024
When and where?
9:00am - 7:00pm
Tickets
We’re delighted to partner with Fira Barcelona and join 25,000 visitors from more than 130 countries around the globe.
Connected Places Catapult will run the UK Pavilion and we will be one of 1,100+ exhibitors at the event, joined by 600+ speakers and representatives from 850+ cities.
The event annually attracts a diverse crowd of industry executives, government leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs gather to revisit complex issues at the heart of a new model of city and society.
Together with 15 partners from UK cities, regions, academia and freeports representing 29 organisations we will be showcasing smart and innovative solutions they have implemented to help deliver their city ambitions.
Our partners include:
Meet us in person in Hall 3, street C, stand 141 to share information and extend your network.
Join us at the event
On Tuesday 5 November between 9:00 and 9:45 we will be hosting the Meet the UK Partners Business Breakfast in the UK Pavilion.
The event will start at 9:00 am with the Welcome Address from Erika Lewis, our Chief Executive Officer.
On Wednesday 6 November between 17:45 and 19:00 on behalf of our Partners we will be running Networking Drinks Reception in the UK Pavilion.
Join us to meet the UK delegation and to hear our partners innovative solutions and international collaboration to build a better future in their communities.
You don't have to register, just visit our UK Pavilion. We will be delighted if you can make it.
To find out how to arrange a business meeting with us and our UK partners, contact us at events@cp.catapult.org.uk or search for Connected Places Catapult on the SCEWC event app.
Agenda at a glance
During our three day programme on the UK Pavilion stage you will have the opportunity to hear from exciting speakers, meet city leaders, innovation and technology leads, and hear from peers about their investable opportunities.
From local to global: smart city collaboration across the UK and beyond
Networking Breakfast 'Meet the UK Partners'
Kick-start your visit to the Congress with our informal networking breakfast and connect with our 15 partner organisations including UK cities, regions, academia and freeports exhibiting at the UK Pavilion.
- Erika Lewis (Opening address), Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
Empowering local and regional growth: Innovation as a catalyst for jobs and prosperity
Explore how UK cities and regions are leveraging technology and innovation to drive job creation, economic growth, and sustainable, connected infrastructure for a prosperous future. Our expert panel will share insights on successful projects, discuss the challenges and opportunities in fostering regional innovation, and highlight the role of collaboration between public and private sectors.
- Chair: Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
- Ben Russell, Head of Investment Zones, Department for Business and Trade
- Tariq Khan, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Camden
- Sherelle Fairweather, Digital Strategy Lead, Manchester City Council
- Lorna Rogers, Assistant Director, Delivery & Assurance Unit, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Smart Cities as drivers for international collaboration
Smart cities not only help address local urban challenges, they are also important drivers for international collaboration on research, trade and investment. Join this session to learn about the UK's Innovation Twin programme with South Korea, focusing on the relationship between Belfast and Sejong and the development of their joint innovation roadmap.
- Chair: Gareth Davies, Head of Asia Innovation Twins, Connected Places Catapult
- Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Belfast Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast
- Ho-Shik Lee, Ambassador for International Relations, Sejong Metropolitan City
- Deirdre Ferguson, Innovation Broker, Belfast City Council
Birmingham City Council: Empowering SME's to tackle the city's challenges
Discover how Birmingham City Council revolutionised its engagement with new and emerging SMEs and entrepreneurs, in turn creating a better environment for the co-design and procurement of new products and services that address city challenges.
- Chair: Aline Bressan Martins, Global Business and Partnerships Lead, Connected Places Catapult
- Heather Law, International Affairs Manager, Birmingham City Council
- Raj Mack, Head of Digital city & innovation, Birmingham City Council
- Louis Daillencourt, Director of Housing and Energy, Novoville
- Ben Roberts, Director, Tenants Hub Tech AI
Innovation City Belfast: Building an inclusive urban innovation ecosystem
Innovation City Belfast's mission is to build on existing tech strengths, and recent major investments in research, skills and digital infrastructure, to grow an inclusive urban innovation ecosystem. Join this session to learn about the critical elements of such an ecosystem, drawing on learnings from Belfast and other places.
- Chair: Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Belfast Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast (Chair)
- Mike Dawson, People and Digital Transformation Director, Belfast Harbour Commission
- Sharon McNicholl, Deputy Chief Executive, Belfast City Council
- Ho-Shik Lee, Ambassador for International Relations, Sejong Metropolitan City
- Stephanie Garnica, Director of Global Engagement, University of Denver
Sunderland - City of Smart
Hear from experts how they explore the value of public/private partnerships in delivering a blueprint for a Smart City where no one and nowhere is left behind.
- Chair: Paul Wilson, Chair, Smart Cities World and Senior Advisor, Open & Agile Smart Cities,
- Liz St Louis, Director of Smart Cities, Sunderland City Council
- Jeremy Spencer, Director of Communications and Marketing, Boldyn Networks
- James Sumsion, Chief Executive Officer, Makutu
- Lena Lundgreen, Government Industry Lead, Microsoft
Why West Yorkshire is the UK's destination for shaping the Smart Cities of tomorrow.
Discover how West Yorkshire's businesses are pioneering the development of secure, reliable, world-leading smart cities.
- Chair: Stephen Blackburn, Innovation Manager, Leeds City Council
- Katherine Bavage, Programme Development Lead – Digital, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- David Blaney, Engineering Manager, Sim Analytica
- David Aspin, Director of the Future and Co-Founder of Munroe K, Ingenuity
Unlocking London: How start-ups can thrive in London’s dynamic ecosystem
Join this deep-dive session explaining London's complex smart city ecosystem, with a focus on highlighting the different pathways start-up's can navigate with the various partners in London.
- Chair: Omid Shiraji, Chief Information Officer, Newham City Council
- David Grasty, Corporate Head of Digital Strategy & Portfolio, South London Partnership & LOTI
- Abdul Rahim, Chief Innovation Officer, SHIFT
- Pru Ashby, Head of Sustainability, London & Partners
- Peter Runacres, Head of Urban Futures, The Earls Court Development Company
Unlocking economic growth through AI, data and digital twins
How can we build a human smart city?
The session will showcase how UK cities support people-centred, technology-enabled, sustainable, creative and inclusive innovation through aligning strategy, policy infrastructure, financial support system and other incentives to bolster a vibrant ecosystem within the city.
- Chair: Lloyd Broad, Head of European and International Affairs, Birmingham City Council
- Sally Herbert, Service and Transport Manager, Newcastle City Council
- Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast
- Mike Wright West Midlands, Innovation Board Chair, West Midlands Combine Authority
- Cassandra Gardiner, Head of Digital Innovation & Change, London Borough of Redbridge
Thames Freeport: Smart city innovation as a key driver of regeneration and economic development
Discover how smart city technologies and global innovation collaboration led by Thames Freeport and partners are catalysing urban regeneration, stimulating economic growth and delivering new benefits for communities.
- Chair: Alex Cousins, Director of Regional Engagement, Connected Places Catapult
- Freyja Lockwood, Digital Transformation Programme Manager, West of England Combined Authority
- Martin Whiteley, Chief Executive Officer, Thames Freeport
- Bas Boorsma, Founder & Partner, Urban Innovation Global
- Ibrahim Mohammed, Freeports Advisor at Department of Business and Trade & Associate Director for Freeports at Connected Places Catapult
Tees Valley Combined Authority: Harnessing the boundless opportunities of digital trade
Explore how local places and city regions can leverage digital trade, expand global reach, boost competitiveness and navigate regulations. The panel will cover strategies, challenges and opportunities of true digital trade.
- Chair: Craig Walton, Chief Digital Officer, Tees Valley Combined Authority
- Siobhan McArdle, Chair, Tees Valley Business Board, Tees Valley Combined Authority
- David Hughes, Associate Dean - Research and Innovation, Teesside University
- Ibrahim Mohammed, Freeports Advisor at Department of Business and Trade & Associate Director for Freeports at Connected Places Catapult
Building bridges: National data sharing for a collaborative and inclusive digital future
Explore how national data sharing infrastructure, digital twins, and regional initiatives and efforts drive collaboration, resilience, and inclusivity in the UK's digital future.
- Chair: Justin Anderson, Director of Digital Twin Hub, Connected Places Catapult
- Freyja Lockwood, Digital Transformation Programme Manager, West of England Combined Authority
- Hannah Tune, Intelligent Transport Systems Manager, Transport for Greater Manchester
- Raj Mack, Head of Digital City and Innovation, Birmingham City Council
- Nick Turner, Data and Digital Lead, SHIFT
How Liverpool City Region is using Digital Twins and AI to address real-world challenges and create commercial opportunities
Hear from the University of Liverpool, STFC Hartree and CGA Simulation who are utilising a proprietary digital twin (Meta Liverpool), AI, quantum computing and bespoke simulations to address some of societyÕs biggest challenges and create economical advantage
- Chair: Dr Patrick Ballantyne, University of Liverpool
- Kyle Hatchard, Digital Innovation Lead, STFC Hartree Centre
- Dr Konstantin Vikhorev, Chief Technology Officer, University of Liverpool
- Jon Wetherall, Managing Director, CGA Simulation
- Danielle Carrington, Invest & Internalisation: Digital & Creative, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Nexus University of Leeds: The role of digital twins in reimagining a connected place
As our cities become smarter and more connected, digital twins are playing a crucial role as decision making tools for industry, Government and academia. This panel explores how digital twins help us plan, manage, and improve our cities to become more efficient, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of residents.
- Chair: Megan McElroy, Marketing & Communications Manager, University of Leeds
- Dan Isaacs, Chief Executive Officer at Digital Twin Consortium and Chief Technology Officer at Object Management Group
- Dennis Dokter, Manager Data and Insights - Smart Cities Lead, Nexus University of Leeds
- Katherine Bavage, Programme Development Lead, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Manchester City Council: Achieving net zero through sustainable regeneration.
Discover how Manchester's Wythenshawe neighbourhood is pioneering a sustainable, equitable transition to net zero. Learn about innovative strategies for integrating mobility, infrastructure, community engagement, and placemaking. Gain insights from their experiences and lessons learned, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
- Chair: Sherelle Fairweather, Digital Strategy Lead, Manchester City Council
- Andrew Blore, Strategic IT Business Partner, Manchester City Council
- Clare Kenyon, Highways Development Specialist, Manchester City Council
- Hayley Fails, Assistant Director of Infrastructure and Environment, Manchester City Council
West Yorkshire ambition: how integrated transport will drive inclusive economic growth and social value
With a planned multi-billion pound pipeline of transport investment to connect its cities, West Yorkshire shares how it wants to use this to upskill, create jobs, innovate and unlock opportunity.
- Chair: Stacey White, Mass Transit - Head of Place and Consents, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Simon Warburton, Executive Director for Transport, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Sally Herbert, Service and Transport Manager, Newcastle City Council
- Erik Thomasson, Research and Innovation Development Manager, Institute Transport Studies
Newcastle: Working together to create and connect places within cities
This panel will explore how co-designing a shared vision and priorities can help reshape a city's fabric, blending innovation, community, and infrastructure to create spaces where people and businesses thrive.
- Chair: Sam Markey, Ecosystem Director, Place Leadership, Connected Places Catapult
- Sally Herbert, Service and Transport Manager, Newcastle City Council
- John Seager, Estates Director, Newcastle Helix
- Liz St Louis, Director of Smart Cities, Sunderland City Council
- Rob Leech, Interim Director of Mass Transit, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Creating an inclusive, sustainable and better connected urban future
Beyond Connectivity: 5G as a city-wide innovation enabler
Advanced wireless technologies can enable a host of innovative practices in cities, from enabling better social and housing services, to making cities more attractive places for industry. In this panel we will explore how three cities are proactively engaging with 5G technologies to drive change and transformation.
- Chair: Megan Lawless, Senior Digital Strategy Officer, Manchester City Council
- Phil Swan, Director of Digital, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- Mark McCann, City Innovation Manager, Belfast City Council
- Gurpreet Muctor, Chief Data and Technology Officer, Westminster City Council
The role of testbeds and evidence creation in smart cities
Connectivity Track : 5G Innovation
- Chair: Alex Cousins, Director of Regional Engagement, Connected Places Catapult
- Tom White, Innovation and Net Zero Director, Thames Freeport
- Simon Warbuton, Exec Director for Transport, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Kyle Hatchard, Digital Innovation Lead, STFC Hartree
The role of testbeds and evidence creation in smart cities
Digital Twins Enabled Through Better Digital Infrastructure.
- Chair: Ryan Goodman, Connected Digital Twins Team Lead, Connected Places Catapult
- Katharine Fuller, Chief Operating Officer, Tech West Midlands
- Nick Turner, Data and Digital Lead, SHIFT
- Dennis Dokter, Manager Data and Insights - Smart Cities Lead, Nexus University of Leeds
Digital infrastructure for enablement of Smart City programmes
Explore challenges and solutions to ensure digital infrastructure is
secure, scalable, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the city and its citizens.
- Chair: Justin Anderson, Director of Digital Twin Hub, Connected Places Catapult
- Trevor Dorling, Director Digital Greenwich, London Borough of Greenwich
- Freyja Lockwood, Digital Transformation Programme Manager, West of England Combined Authority
- Charlotte Thompson, Project Director, Sheffield Innovation Spine
- Raj Mack, Head of Digital City and Innovation, Birmingham City Council
Green Agora Stage
The power of a connected place to generate growth, inclusion and innovation
A connected place is where more than just people, infrastructure, economy and planet come together. It’s also where the digital world, new modes of transport and mobility, and exciting new networks for trade and exchange coincide.
Join us for a discussion on what the future and benefits of connected places are.
- Chair: Alex Cousins, Director of Regional Engagement, Connected Places Catapult
- Mike Wright, Chair West Midlands Innovation Board, West Midlands Combined Authority
- Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Belfast Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast
- Martin Whiteley, Chief Executive Office, Thames Freeport
