Smart City World Expo in Barcelona 2020
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | SCANDINAVIAN CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES GROUP AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 500 000 |
| Project duration | March 2020 - December 2020 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
The purpose was to organize Swedish participation at Smart City World Expo and Smart City Business Forum in Barcelona, November 16-19th, 2020. During summer it became clear that, due to the pandemic, it would not be possible with a physical event. As an alternative we established digital meeting places. Smart City Business Forum, during three Mondays in November, included 49 different workshops and individual match-making. The event attracted 906 participants from all over the world. 136 from Sweden. 9 of the workshops was led by Swedish actors.
Expected long term effects
Smart City Digital Business Event - The road to Smart City Live was hosted together with among others RVO, ITEA and Vinnova as a digital event. It included 49 workshops and individual match-making. The event attracted 906 participants from all over the world, with 136 from Sweden. The general goal to position Sweden in an international smart city context got a good outcome and strengthened the Swedish brand. This was true also for the Swedish participation at Smart City Live, where the cities of Lund and Stockholm attracted 500 and 300 participants to each of their sessions.
Approach and implementation
To host digital events as alternatives to physical ones has many effects on planning and implementation. An advantage is that participants can drop in all the way until the event takes place and that it is simple and cheap. A disadvantage is that the ones that register might now show up. It is too easy not to join. By focusing on workshops and match-making we could achieve active participation by more people than if we would have focused on keynotes, panels etc. The long term impact of digital meetings is too early to draw conclusions from.