“Smart and sustainable” is the way forward for urban centres

“Smart and sustainable” is the way forward for urban centres

As cities globally are challenged to become more sustainable on the eve of significant population growth, thought leaders joined the Smart and Sustainable Cities (SSC) Forum to discuss ways to leverage the symbiotic relationship between smart cities and sustainability.

The forum was organised by RMIT University in partnership with the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) and the Digital Transformation Consulting and Support Center (DXCenter) of Ho Chi Minh City.

With over 3.5 billion urban dwellers across the globe now and a projected 70% of humanity living in cities by 2050 according to the UN, building smart and sustainable cities is at the forefront of societal development globally.

RMIT Vietnam Chairman Professor Coloe said that while exploring the intersection between smart and sustainable development, it’s important to understand that this is an issue of here and now, and one that concerns every country.

“We can see and feel the impacts of extreme climate events all happening around the globe. At the same time, technological developments are happening at a rapid pace,” Professor Coloe said.

“For urban development, we are seeing the emergence of technologies and tools that improve the lives of those who live and work in cities – and those who plan for them.

“Through smart governance, smart transportation and smart logistics, for example, urban planners, policymakers and leaders can better manage the sustainable and equitable growth of cities,” he suggested.

The Smart and Sustainable Cities Forum brought together around 40 thought leaders and top researchers in their respective fields, as well as practitioners and innovators across the private and public sectors. The Smart and Sustainable Cities Forum brought together around 40 thought leaders and top researchers in their respective fields, as well as practitioners and innovators across the private and public sectors.

UNDP Vietnam National Policy Analyst on Governance and Participation Do Thanh Huyen remarked that Vietnam has been making significant progress, adopting smart cities initiatives in 41 of 63 of its provinces and municipal cities, and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“Vietnam’s major cities should strive to become not only smart but also sustainable in order to meet the increasing demands for economic development and pressures as a result of population growth,” Ms Huyen said.

“The challenge facing these cities is how to apply appropriate technological and non-technological solutions to accommodate all present and future needs – from all economic, social and environmental fronts – of their diverse urban populations, including immigrants, people with disabilities, and people living in poverty.”

To that end, the SSC Forum brought together nearly 40 thought leaders and top researchers in their respective fields, as well as practitioners and innovators across the private and public sectors.

Throughout the full-day program, the critical link between sustainability and smart cities formed the core of the discussion.

Cutting-edge solutions for smart sustainable cities such as blockchain innovations were presented, alongside best practices in smart tourism, smart logistics, smart governance, and many more topics.

Vietnam is adopting smart cities initiatives in 41 of 63 of its provinces and municipal cities. Vietnam is adopting smart cities initiatives in 41 of 63 of its provinces and municipal cities.

Mr Nguyen Hoa Cuong, Vice President of the Central Institute of Economic Management under the Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment, stressed the importance of fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the development of smart sustainable cities.

“A key policy challenge Vietnam is trying to address is how to enable more efficient use of infrastructure, while being environmentally sustainable and increasing our cities’ innovation capacity,” Mr Cuong said.

“It’s important for policymakers to engage urban developers, digital solutions providers, innovators, researchers, and all relevant stakeholders early on in the process and consult them along the way as we build and improve our cities.”

The SSC Forum built on the success of the first Smart Cities Forum held by RMIT University and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in January 2021, and the memorandum of understanding signed by both parties on that occasion.

The event also drew on the expertise and industry connections of the new Smart and Sustainable Cities Hub at RMIT Vietnam, which aims to promote research and collaboration in this area.

On the occasion of the forum, RMIT’s Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE) and School of Business & Management launched their newest whitepaper “Digital Transformation in Vietnam: the SME and SOE experience”, based on a study conducted with managers of small- to medium-sized enterprises and state-owned enterprises in Vietnam. Explore the report.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

24 November 2021

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