WeGO Attracting High Level Experts to the Steering Committee of the Seoul Smart City Prize
Interview Video
SEOUL, FEBRUARY 06, 2023 – WeGO had a bilateral meeting with the President and CEO of SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), Mr. Ajit Manocha. SEMI is the global industry association that unites the entire electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, connecting more than 2,500 members and 1.3 million professionals worldwide. Since 1970, SEMI has built connections that have helped its members prosper, create new markets, and address common industry challenges together. WeGO had a meeting with the President and CEO of SEMI Mr. Ajit Manocha to discuss the role of semiconductor technologies and corporations in smart city development, identify common missions of WeGO and SEMI for technological innovation, as well as explore opportunities for the Seoul Smart City Prize.
The President and CEO of SEMI, Mr. Ajit Manocha underlined SEMI’s significant role in the semiconductor industry, which has undeniably critical connections to smart cities in the era of fourth industrial revolution. Mr. Manocha, for instance, introduced Smart Mobility and Smart Healthcare, which are two initiatives that not only demonstrate the convergence between the semiconductor industry and smart cities but also demonstrate how innovation should be aimed at changing human lives in better ways. Smart Mobility includes developing sensors that assist safe mobility for disabled and elderly people. Smart Healthcare also includes telehealth using digital information and communication technologies to diagnose patients remotely. As illustrated by these examples, Mr. Manocha stressed the value of projecting vision behind technology and how this greatly aligns with the value promoted by the Seoul Prize.
Upon acceptance of joining the Steering Committee of the Seoul Smart City Prize, Mr. Manocha gave a word of encouragement for cities, companies, organizations, and individuals that have developed or contributed to innovative and people-centered smart cities to apply to the Seoul Smart City Prize.
The Seoul Smart City Prize promotes an innovative yet inclusive smart city model that looks after underprivileged groups. It focuses on identifying the exemplary models of city governments as well as individual, corporate, and institutional efforts in ensuring an inclusive digitalization of services that benefit all people in sectors ranging from mobility, safety, welfare, environment, energy, culture, and governance. The Seoul Prize also aims to not only narrow the gap between cities but also commend those that strive to implement an innovative and inclusive model of smart city in their respective capabilities, given different municipal circumstances.
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