2024 Off-line Training Program for the Seoul Smart City Prize Winners
Seoul, South Korea – A unique gathering of city leaders and smart city experts from around the globe took place this October in Seoul, as part of the 2024 Off-line Training Program for the Seoul Smart City Prize Winners. The event, held from October 7 to 11, brought together 17 participants from 10 cities worldwide, offering a deep dive into the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of urban living.
The program, organized by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) in partnership with the Seoul Human Resources Development Center (SHRDC), offered a blend of online e-learning and in-person training aimed at enhancing cities’ smart city strategies. Representatives from cities such as Hanoi, Odense, Penang, Manila, Abu Dhabi, Madinah, Almaty, Konya, and Los Angeles participated in the comprehensive training program, designed to help them implement innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.
A Global Exchange of Ideas
The week-long event focused on critical topics ranging from smart city policies and global trends to the use of technology in improving energy, transportation, health, and safety. Participants attended virtual lectures covering more than 10 hours of content, followed by immersive, in-person experiences exploring Seoul’s most advanced smart city features.
One of the key highlights of the program was a series of site visits to Seoul’s renowned smart city facilities, including the Seoul Transport Operation Information Service (TOPIS), which manages the city’s complex transportation network, and the Seoul Robot & AI Museum, showcasing innovations in robotics and artificial intelligence.
In addition, participants had the chance to see firsthand how Seoul’s smart city initiatives are making urban living safer and more efficient. The Seoul CCTV Control Center demonstrated the city’s advanced surveillance systems, while the Seoul Cyber Safety Center showcased the city’s measures to protect its digital infrastructure. The Seoul Inclusive Digital Plaza highlighted efforts to ensure technology accessibility for all residents.
Learning from Seoul’s Success
Seoul, a global leader in smart city development, served as the ideal setting for this international exchange. Participants explored how the city has seamlessly integrated technology into its infrastructure to tackle urban challenges such as traffic congestion, waste management, and environmental sustainability. By witnessing these innovations in action, participants gained practical insights that they can adapt to their own cities’ unique needs.
The program also emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing and collaboration among cities. With challenges like climate change, mobility, and healthcare affecting cities worldwide, fostering connections between urban leaders has never been more essential. Through this training program, cities were able to discuss their successes and challenges in implementing smart technologies, while learning from Seoul’s experience and from one another.
Smart Cities for a Sustainable Future
The event culminated in the 2nd Seoul Smart City Prize Ceremony, where the achievements of cities committed to smart, sustainable urban development were celebrated. The ceremony showcased the innovative projects that have contributed to the advancement of smart cities globally.
For the participants, the program’s value went beyond the lectures and tours—it provided an opportunity to build lasting connections with their peers from other cities, exchange ideas, and explore potential future collaborations. As cities continue to embrace smart technology to solve urban problems, programs like this serve as crucial platforms for learning and innovation.
The 2024 Off-line Training Program for the Seoul Smart City Prize Winners was a reminder that, in today’s interconnected world, the future of cities lies in cooperation, innovation, and shared knowledge. As global cities face increasingly complex challenges, the lessons learned in Seoul will undoubtedly help pave the way for smarter, more sustainable urban solutions across the globe.
About WeGO
The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.
WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Press Contact:
Name: Kakim Danabayev
E-mail: kakim@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169