DIT Belgium is organising a "Data at the Heart of Smart Cities" event on 23/06/22, including a pitching session focused on data. It will give UK companies the opportunities to meet business executives, city representatives and academics from Belgium to explore a better future for our cities and societies.
In 2050, it is predicted by the UN that around two thirds of the world population will be living in cities orurban areas and that 43 mega-cities might have emerged by that time (according to the UN). Smart cities provide a commercial opportunity for companies who can harness technology and new business models to address the challenges of urbanisation. This is a growing market in the UK and Belgium, where smart cities continue to expand in both number and level of sophistication.
In Belgium, several cities such as Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent or Namur have developed and still are investing in new smart city projects. The city of Antwerp is for example involved in the City of Things project, whic hfocuses on sensors and IoT in order to enhance the citizens' living standard.
However, smart city technologies not only are of interest to cities and the public domain, but also to other infrastructures such as ports . The port of Antwerp, one of the most important in Europe, has invested in a digital twin, allowing the port to monitor its infrastructure more easily or to detect incidents more rapidly.
Given the interest from Belgian stakeholders in IoT, data and sensors applications, this event will focus on this sector.
This is an afternoon event at the British Residence. The opening session will featurespeakers from Belgium and the UK to get a better understanding of both the Belgian andUK ecosystems.
Costs & Sponsorship:
If your company is selected, you will not have to pay a participation fee. Your company will cover travel costs to Brussels, as well as accommodation
Offer:
- Support by the British Embassy Brussels and Invest Northern Ireland (Benelux) in the run up tothe event.
- Opportunity to pitch to Belgian executives, city representatives and academics from Belgium.
- A networking session with other UK companies and Belgian buyers.
- Social media coverage.
Interested?
Places are limited and by application only. The British Embassy Brussels along with Invest Northern Ireland will carefully select candidates in terms of innovation, market and export readiness.
The deadline to apply is 15 April 2022 (included).
Disclaimer: this event will happen following Covid-19 measures in place in Belgium at that time.
To apply or for more information, please contact Laure Clynckemaillie, Trade Adviser - Technology, British Embassy Brussels at laure.clynckemaillie@fcdo.gov.uk (please cc. mathilde.murphy@trade.gov.uk as the East of England DIT adviser contact for reference)
