In collaboration with Swissnex, the Swiss Embassy in the UAE and the Swiss Business Hub Middle East, the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai brought together experts from Swiss and Emirati universities, private companies, and public actors during the `Smart Connected Cities,’ event in the pavilion. This collaboration aims at discussing and finding efficient ways to improve the way we manage the challenges of growing and densifying cities.
Researchers from Switzerland and the UAE presented innovative projects in the presence of academic and industrial partners. The event also highlighted innovative projects in the smart connectivity and mobility space, some of them which have already been implemented in Switzerland and can be replicated around the world, including in the MENA region.
Mr. Dante Larini, Project Manager of Swissnex at the Swiss Pavilion said: “International collaborations across technology, which offer connected solutions to cope with the exponentially growing demand of a rising population and consequent density in living spaces, is the only way we can tide over the challenges.”
The conference was organized by Leading House MENA, hosted by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO). The main objective of HES-SO is to support scientific collaboration between universities in Switzerland and in the MENA region.
Mr. Larini added: “The event was an eye-opener on the extent of how technology can bring a sea change in the management of cities and the daily life of its residents seamlessly,”
Speakers at the event included HE Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE and Bahrain, Dr. Christine Pirinoli, Vice-Rector for Research, and Innovation, HESSO.
A keynote speech on `Cyber-physical spaces: Vision & opportunities,’ was delivered by Dr.-Ing. habil. Josef Spillner of Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), followed by a speech on `Supporting cooperation between Switzerland and the MENA region,’ by Dr. Luna Iacopini, Leading House MENA. A ZHAW-University of Sharjah collaboration was also presented at the event.
