New Smart City initiatives to be discussed by international experts in Tarragona

Tarragona (ACN).- Tarragona presented this Tuesday the Smart Cities Meeting Point, which will be held on September 9^th at the Tabacalera Park. The Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Javier Villamayor, explained that the goal of the conference was to learn and discuss new innovations to improve city management. According to him, the objective is to have Tarragona at the forefront of technology and management in face of the upcoming Mediterranean Games, scheduled for 2017. Villamayor said that the goal is to profit from technology, at low cost, compiling as much information as possible in order to improve the day to day lives of citizens in areas such as mobility, lighting and sports facilities.

Villamayor detailed that four main themes will be discussed at the convention: Economy and Governance; City Planning and Mobility; Energy Saving and Environmental Quality; and, Innovation and Technological Change.

Villamayor announced the attendance of 10 international speakers and the presence of experts from countries such as Germany, Belgium, Holland and Romania, who will share their vision and experience in the field of city management. Names such as Pilar Conesa, Director of Smart City World Barcelona, and Javier Gil, Development Manager for IBM Spain, Portugal, Greece and Israel will present proposals to create “more efficient and sustainable” cities.

Amsterdam, the European Smart City model

One of Tarragona City Council’s main focuses will be learning about the sustainable management of Amsterdam’s sporting facilities and swimming pools. “The city has become a permanent laboratory to discover new forms of management”, said the Deputy Mayor of Tarragona.

One of the activities planned for the attendees to show some real world applications will be an area to test electric vehicles (bicycles and motorcycles).

According to the organisers, about 100 people are expected to attend the event which will be held in English as the lingua franca.

The convention is one of the Multi-Twinning 2012 events organised by Junior Chamber International in Tarragona between September 8^th and 11^th.