SGIN’s Canadian Delegation is back from the Smart City Expo World Congress!

November 19, 2024

From November 3rd – 8th, SGIN led a delegation of 11 organizations to the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), the world’s biggest and most influential event for cities and urban innovation.

The 2024 edition of SCEWC brought together global leaders, companies, governments, and organizations to drive urban transformation and shape a better future for cities worldwide. The Canadian delegation immersed themselves in Barcelona, engaging with global leaders and exploring international smart energy technologies being used to empower cities.  

Continue reading below to find out more about the week, and the key themes and takeaways!

A LOOK AT THE WEEK:

Nov. 3rd & Nov. 4th: 

  • Delegates arrived in Barcelona and gathered for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant to kick off the week.
  • Monday began with the Canada-Spain Smart Cities Collaboration event, where Canadian and Spanish leaders discussed smart city strategies and cross-border urban innovation projects.
  • Highlights included:
    • Presentations from Calgary Economic Development and Barcelona on future-focused urban development.
    • A panel on addressing urban challenges through collaboration.
    • Followed by a lunch networking reception.
  • In the afternoon, delegates toured Espai Barça, a groundbreaking regeneration project centered around FC Barcelona’s stadium, featuring a virtual reality experience and insights into its sustainability features, including a microgrid and extensive solar infrastructure. The day ended with a group dinner hosted by Espai Barça (thank you Pablo Gerpe!). 
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November 5th: 

  • Delegates participated in a packed B2B schedule facilitated by Gedeth Network (Juan Millan Mateu, Matt Hensley Paras)
  • They also participated in mutual visits with the Hungarian Pavilion to exchange insights on smart city solutions.
  • The day ended with a valuable Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona networking reception with over 90 guests. Special thank you to Michael Di Santo for this opportunity! 
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November 6th: 

  • The day with a visit to the German Pavilion(s) led by Alex W., discussing potential collaboration opportunities.
  • Delegates attended the USA & Canada Living Labs session to explore strategies for expanding companies and startups through living lab collaborations across North America.
  • They were welcomed by the Nordic/Baltic Pavilion led by Inga-Lill Olsson, building connections and fostering dialogue on regional approaches to urban innovation.
  • The evening featured a group dinner and networking event of 160 delegates hosted by Deloitte. Thank you to Robert Saunders for this opportunity!  

November 7th:  

  • The final day at the Expo highlighted funding opportunities under Horizon Europe, alongside continued B2B engagements and discussions on innovation funding. 

November 8:  

  • The mission concluded with a group breakfast, where delegates reflected on key takeaways and lessons learned from the week. 
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THEMES AND TAKEAWAYS FROM SCEWC  

This year’s SCEWC explored themes critical to the future of cities:  

  1. AI and IoT Integration: These technologies continue to drive the transformation of cities by enabling real-time data collection, predictive analytics, and automation. Improved urban efficiency, such as smart traffic management and responsive utilities, is a key focus. 
  2. Sustainability and Climate Action: With cities playing a central role in combating climate change, discussions often center around renewable energy, waste management, and green building initiatives to create eco-friendly urban environments. 
  3. Citizen-Centric Smart Cities: Inclusivity and equity are major topics, with a shift toward projects that directly benefit residents, particularly marginalized communities. Participatory governance and the inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes are frequently explored. 
  4. Data Privacy and Security: As data collection becomes more prevalent, ensuring the privacy and security of citizens’ information is crucial. Attendees often discuss frameworks and technologies to protect against data misuse. 
  5. Public-Private Partnerships: Successful smart city projects frequently involve collaborations between public authorities, private companies, and community groups. These partnerships help align investment, innovation, and governance. 
  6. Mobility and Connectivity: Smart mobility solutions, such as electric and autonomous vehicles, and improvements to urban connectivity through 5G and other network enhancements are also popular topics. 
  7. Smart Ports: Smart Ports: Piers of the Future was an event organized by the Port of Barcelona and in collaboration with six of the most important ports of the world: Antwerp, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Montreal, Rotterdam and Busan. These institutions shared projects and knowledge related to different areas: sustainability, multimodal, agility, resilience and transparency .This year, special attention was given to emerging companies in the maritime and port sector, the relationship between ports and cities, the blue economy and the initiatives in the field of innovation and sustainability that are being developed by the leading ports. 

Additional Insights on Smart City Expo World Congress:  

Canadian Delegation:  
Partage Club  
Liveable Cities 
Saint John Energy  
University of New Brunswick 
Armstrong Fluid Technology 
Ecosystem Informatics Inc. 
The Black Arcs 
BusPas Inc. 
Viable Solutions, a Division of PSG 
Calgary Economic Development 
Terre Neuve Consulting 
 

Funding Acknowledgement:  

  • The opportunity for the Smart Grid Innovation Network Canada to lead the Canadian Delegation was made possible thanks to CanExport Associations Funding provided by the Trade Commissioner Service of the Government of Canada in partnership with the Embassy of Canada to Barcelona.
  • Thank you to Nadia Rego, Trade Commissioner – Embassy of Canada to Spain, and Allison Mackenzie, Trade Commissioner – Embassy of Canada (Regional Office – Halifax) for their support throughout this mission.  
Attending the trade mission was an invaluable experience that exceeded my expectations. The insights I gained were simply unattainable elsewhere—connecting directly with industry leaders, gaining firsthand knowledge of the market landscape, and identifying new growth opportunities. I came away not only with a deeper understanding of the market but also with a expanded network of key contacts that will be instrumental in our continued expansion. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to make impactful inroads in their industry within the smart city segment."
Ken Cartmill
Liveable Cities
As an energy expert, I found the Smart Cities Expo interesting because it provided a good perspective of the multiple aspects considered in the development of smart cities. The electricity system is a small subset.
Michael Bourque
University of New Brunswick
The SGIN team provided great pre-mission support and support in Barcelona. They kept us organized and on time for every event. They were also very welcoming which helped ease my anxieties about traveling abroad alone.
Sara Mroue
Ecosystem Informatics
"I recently had the privilege of joining the Smart Grid Innovation Network delegation on a trade mission to Barcelona to attend the 2024 Smart Cities World Congress Expo. The experience was incredibly positive, providing a unique blend of insightful learning and valuable trade engagement. The congress offered a comprehensive view of cutting-edge smart city technologies and innovations, fostering connections with global leaders in urban development, sustainable energy, and digital transformation. This mission enabled meaningful exchanges and collaborations that not only showcased the strengths of our local ecosystem but also highlighted the immense potential for future growth and partnership in the smart cities space. The opportunity to interact with international peers, learn from best practices, and explore emerging technologies was truly inspiring. I am grateful for this experience and look forward to leveraging these connections and insights to drive innovation within our network and beyond."
Aaloak Jaswal
University of New Brunswick

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