'Smart City' registers its best edition yet with 14,000 visitors

A record figure of 14,000 visitors attended the fifth edition of the 'Smart City Expo World Congress' the summit of smart cities organised by Fira de Barcelona. 465 exhibitors, more than 400 international speakers and 500 cities from the five continents presented their experiences regarding urban solutions and innovative technology. "This confirms the consolidation of the congress" stated Smart City's director, Ugo Valenti. He also highlighted urban transformation as one of the greatest challenges of the future and the congress as "a really valid platform for knowledge and experience exchange". The Catalan government presented three projects from the 'SmartCAT' framework to promote intelligent cities. Telecommunications and Information Society general director Jordi Puigneró recapped the 50 initiatives that have been launched in Catalonia during the 'SmartCAT' project’s first year of implementation. 

'Speakers Corner', at 'Smart City Expo World Congress', is where the conferences take place (by ACN)
'Speakers Corner', at 'Smart City Expo World Congress', is where the conferences take place (by ACN) / ACN / Sara Prim

ACN / Sara Prim

November 20, 2015 03:04 PM

Barcelona (CNA).- 'Smart City Expo World Congress', the summit of smart cities organised by Fira de Barcelona, gathered together the urban solutions experience of 500 cities from the five continents. 465 exhibitors and more than 400 international speakers took part in the fifth edition of the fair, which closed its doors this Thursday with a record figure of 14,000 visitors. "This confirms the consolidation of the congress" as the main international point of reference in terms of innovative technology and urban solutions, stated Smart City's director, Ugo Valenti. He also highlighted urban transformation as one of the greatest challenges of the future and the congress as "a really valid platform for knowledge and experience exchange". Next year, there will be an edition of 'Smart City' in Istanbul, Puebla and Kyoto.


The Catalan government presented three projects from the 'SmartCAT' framework to promote intelligent cities. Telecommunications and Information Society general director Jordi Puigneró recapped the 50 initiatives that have been launched in Catalonia during the 'SmartCAT' project’s first year of implementation. These initiatives range from mobility to health, all the way to tourism, shopping and participatory government. "The Smart City Expo World Congress and the Catalan institutions share a common goal" stated Puigneró "and that is to turn Catalonia into a smart territory made of smart cities connected to each other". However, he insisted that "innovative technology and smart cities" have to serve "the citizens" and improve "the services".

One of the novelties of this fifth edition was the participation of BcnRail, the railway services' international event. Another novelty of this year's Smart City congress was the participation of Chile. Through the public organisation ProChile, the South American country presented six technological innovations from six different Chilean companies. 

'Smart City' 2016 congress to be held in other cities

'Smart City Expo World Congress' has been held in Barcelona for five years and become the main international point of reference in terms of innovative technology and urban solutions. According to its director, Ugo Valenti, the congress "is a really valid platform for knowledge and experience exchange". In 2016, the summit will also be held in: Istanbul, Turkey; Puebla, Mexico; and Kyoto, Japan.