The event will provide a unique and open exchange platform for all professionals from municipal governments and companies working in the field of smart cities.

Under the theme "Digital Transformation - Shaping Urban Futures", this year's edition will focus on topics such as smart mobility, inclusive cities and improving urban governance.

Speakers on the conference program will include Ding Bo Tao, deputy director of the Information Research Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences; Han Xin, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Disaster Prevention and Relief; Xu Huili, director of the Shanghai Urban Management and Operations Center; Zhu Hao, director of the Smart Transportation Professional Committee of the Shanghai Transportation Association.

The organization of international editions of Smart City Expo World Congress, a global event held every year in Barcelona, is part of Fira de Barcelona's internationalization strategy. Dozens of cities in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia have hosted the event since 2013. This year, shows have been organized in Curitiba (Brazil), Merida (Mexico), Bogota (Colombia), Santiago del Estero (Argentina) and one is yet to be held in Doha (Qatar).

"China is undoubtedly key on an international scale both in the field of urban innovation and in many others" said Fira de Barcelona's International Business Director, Ricard Zapatero, "For this reason, Smart City Expo Shanghai is an important part of the strategy to create a global platform for the exchange of ideas and solutions that address urban challenges and shape a smarter and more sustainable future. A strategy spearheaded by the Smart City Expo World Congress, an event held every year in Barcelona, a city twinned with Shanghai since 2001."

Innovation and business development

Fira de Barcelona is working to promote events in the Asian country and currently manages the Nanchang and Xuzhou venues, which will host a total of 71 trade fairs and congresses by 2023. This is a substantial growth compared to the 41 held in 2022.

These events include the Educational Equipment Fair, which will occupy the entire 140,000 square meters of the Nanchang venue, and the China Clinical Laboratory Practice Association Exhibition, which will have more than 90,000 square meters of exhibition space. This growth reinforces Fira de Barcelona's position as a leader in the organization of events on an international scale and contributes to its mission of promoting innovation and business development.