Smart Cities: Opportunities for Inclusion & Infrastructure Challenges

Continuing the Matchmaking Brazil Roundtables, on June 18, 2020, a debate was held on SMART CITIES, specifically focusing on opportunities for inclusion and the infrastructure challenges for making cities truly smart.

The event addressed the multiple opportunities offered by digital cities, which are emerging as a trend highlighted by various governments in Brazil and abroad, such as the United Arab Emirates.

The purpose of this Roundtable was to provide context on the panorama of Smart Cities and how they can contribute to greater inclusion, while also considering the infrastructure challenges for their implementation. Matchmaking Brazil considers that smart cities are not only a trend for new business opportunities but also for professional inclusion and economic development for people with disabilities and other groups. On the other hand, current issues remain evident: low-quality internet, frequent power outages in cities (such as in Brasília), and other challenges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6SYIBJ5fNE

Roundtable Panelists

Bernhard J. Smid, Director and Founder of Matchmaking Brazil, and Professor at IBMEC (opening);

Cid Torquato, Municipal Secretary for People with Disabilities of the City of São Paulo;

Eduardo Mazzarolo, Managing Partner at iCities;

Ivonice Campos, Vice President of the Women Entrepreneurs Council of the Federal District (CMEDF);

Jorge Barros, President of the Smart City Business America Institute - SCBA (moderator);

Paulo Espanha, CEO of Innovative Minds and Coordinator of StartupRio.