{"id":26143,"date":"2021-12-01T22:51:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T22:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontoglobal.ca\/?p=26143"},"modified":"2024-03-15T02:02:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T06:02:03","slug":"toronto-global-takes-on-smart-city-expo-world-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontoglobal.ca\/business-insights\/toronto-global-takes-on-smart-city-expo-world-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Global Takes On Smart City Expo World Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Investment Attraction team at Toronto Global is thrilled to have attended this year\u2019s Smart City Expo World Congress<\/a> (SCEWC), along with the Toronto Region Board of Trade and Destination Toronto. Held in Barcelona, Spain with 120 participating countries, this international congress is one of the largest smart city events in the world dedicated to fostering smart cities and empowering urban innovation.<\/p>\n\n

\"TorontoFrom left:\u00a0Mr. Mazen Mahfouz (Senior Trade Commissioner & Counsellor at the Embassy of Canada in Madrid),\u00a0Stephen Lund (CEO, Toronto Global), Ms. C.J. Scott (Consul at the Canadian Consulate in Barcelona), JanWillem Gille (Toronto Global), Bart Deelen (Toronto Global)<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"StephenStephen Lund presenting welcome remarks,\u00a0City\u00a0Technology Exchange Program (CTEP) at La Salle Campus Barcelona<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"JanJanWillem Gille\u00a0presenting on the Toronto Region and Smart City opportunities,\u00a0City\u00a0Technology Exchange Program (CTEP) at La Salle Campus Barcelona<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"BartFrom left: Bart Deelen (Toronto Global), Fernando Go\u00f1i (FDI Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Spain in Madrid)<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n

Smart City and the Toronto Region<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve never heard of the phrase \u201cSmart City,\u201d it\u2019s because it\u2019s all around us. Smart City is a concept that touches every part of our lives \u2013 from transportation to infrastructure, and from environmental policy to advanced technologies like hybrid vehicles.

As champions for the Toronto Region, our team and partners are strategically positioned to bring our home to the SCEWC stage as Smart City leaders. Not only is the Toronto Region home to emerging initiatives and developments in sustainable, well-connected communities, but we are also at the forefront of introducing innovative urban activities, such as 5G network, autonomous vehicle testing, and electric vehicle charging.

The Toronto Region looks to the future, by proactively confronting the challenges of a projected population growth from 7.1 million to 10 million people in the next 25 years and the weight of protecting our citizens by advocating for environmental sustainability. And as the fastest growing city in the U.S. and Canada, the Toronto Region has embraced the concept of Smart City as a driving force for future-proofing our economic development and an area of opportunity for international companies to expand into one of the most diverse places in the world.<\/p>\n


Primed for Smart City opportunities to flourish<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Toronto Region didn\u2019t just stumble into being a Smart City \u2013 it was designed to be one. With more than 50% of our population being foreign-born, combined with being one of the largest tech hubs in North America, the region has been uniquely primed to adapt technological advancements coming from local and international expertise. Our adaptability is rooted in a strong, multifaceted business environment, incentivizing organizations to work here. But the region\u2019s high quality of life, universal healthcare, openness to diverse perspectives, and ability to build communities based on shared values is what attracts cultures from around the globe to live in the Toronto Region.

Furthermore, Canada is the only G7 country to have free trade agreements with every other G7 country, becoming a key economic gateway and allowing for seamless access to the U.S. markets. Canada\u2019s 14 active trade agreements, including the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), means that it is easier than ever before for foreign companies to bid on local government projects.<\/p>\n

Building tomorrow\u2019s Smart City today<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Canada has the lowest tax rate on new business investment in the G7, and the nation is investing $180 billion in infrastructure over the next 12 years. From improving digital urban infrastructure to building a micro-grid of integrated smart devices to benchmarking for a low-carbon economy, we see the potential for building a robust region. Here are three examples of how forward-thinking Smart City opportunities have developed the Toronto Region, today:<\/p>\n\n