Business
The buzz: “The smart city is a gift, a chance to transform old and slow systems and structures into a smart future.” (J. Nürnberger whatsupgermany.de/smart-city-quotes). By 2025, 4.7 billion people will live in urban areas (Deloitte), with technology playing a key role in the global movement to cities and how cities prepare for this growth. What exactly is a “smart city”: Wi-Fi everywhere, state-of-the-art transportation management, something else, all of the above? We’ll look at smart cities like Masdar City, Belmont, and NEOM to learn how they planned and who benefits. The experts speak. Tom Raftery, SAP: “I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact” (Elon Musk). Michael Rander, SAP: “The future depends on what you do today” (Mahatma Gandhi). Dante Ricci, SAP: “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost” (Dalai Lama). Join us for Future Cities: Role of Technology in Global Urbanization.