Smart City Expo World Congress 2017: encouraging cities to innovate through robotics

Over the next few decades, the continuing urbanization and overall growth of the world´s population is projected to add 2.5 billion people to the cities woldwide, meaning more than ever, what happens in cities is shaping our world. Smart City Expo World Congress is the leading event for cities, committed to leveraging the implementation and follow-up of all global agendas at local and national level. The event, taking place from 14th – 16th November 2017 in Barcelona, aims to be the place to collectivise urban power, to increase the strength of cities, to identify business opportunities, to establish partnerships and contribute to enacting common policies. A place to share research, best practices and potential common solutions, achieved through effective collaboration.

Naturally, implementing cutting-edge technology will be one way to tackle many similar challenges in cities around the globe and that’s exactly where smart robots enter the picture. ECHORD++ aims at encouraging cities to innovate through robotics and that’s why you will have multiple opportunities to meet us at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2017.

First, we will have an ECHORD++ stand showing prototypes for sewer inspection from the ARSI and SIAR projects in an actual piece of sewer. Also, our core partner Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) will show further urban robots from their laboratory like TIBI and HELENA. You can find us in hall F, stand 607.

On Wednesday, 15th November, from 14:15 to 15:15 Prof. Alberto Sanfeliu from UPC will participate in the panel: “Age-friendly cities and communities”.

The same day, from 16:30 to 17:30 ECHORD++ will hold an open consultation to receive the cities’ feedback concerning four robotic challenges that could be the scope of future innovative projects together with public bodies: sewer inspection and maintenance in cities, improvement and expansion of green space in cities, elderly mobility and coaching in pedestrian areas and goods distribution in Smart Cities. To prepare the open consultation a questionnaire is available with which you can state your particular area of interest.

Finally, also on Wednesday, November 15th, upon invitation of ECHORD++ from 17:30 to 18:30 Svetoslav Mihaylov, Policy Officer at the European Commisssion responsible for “Smart Cities and Sustainability”, will participate in the panel “Disruptive mindset transforming cities”.

We would be very happy to welcome you at Smart City Expo World Congress 2017 and to connect with many people working in and with cities around the world generating common opportunities for action.