Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority Declares 'Incheon Smart City Summit Initiative'

Multilateral Agreement Signed by 10 Cities in 6 Countries Including Mombasa
Joint Response to Spread Smart City Models and Improve Public Health

On the 12th, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority held the 'Incheon Smart City Summit 2024' at Songdo Kyungwonjae and officially declared the 'Incheon Smart City Summit Initiative' for the development of smart cities and global cooperation.

With over 100 representatives from domestic and international cities, public institutions, academia, and startups attending the summit, 10 cities worldwide expressed their support for the Incheon Smart City Summit Initiative and signed a multilateral agreement pledging joint international response.

Leading with Incheon, the port city of Mombasa in Kenya, Dakar in Senegal, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh in India, Konza Technopolis in Kenya, Benue and Zamfara states in Nigeria, and Lusaka and Lukulu City in Zambia joined in solidarity.

These cities agreed to share and develop solutions tailored to their unique characteristics based on Incheon’s successful smart city model, and to cooperate internationally by sharing smart city technologies and experiences.

In his opening remarks, Yoon Won-seok, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, "Smart cities are no longer a concept of the future but our reality. Through this summit, we will open a path to jointly solve the challenges faced by each city," adding, "We aim to improve citizens’ lives and public health by integrating information and communication technology (ICT) and innovative healthcare solutions."

H.E. Andrew Banda, Ambassador of Zambia to Korea, emphasized in his congratulatory speech, "A global partnership led by advanced cities is crucial to promote smart city development."

Yoon Won-seok, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, is giving a greeting at the 'Incheon Smart City Summit 2024' held on the 12th at Songdo Kyungwonjae. Photo by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority

The Incheon Smart City Summit Initiative focuses on ▲providing smart city models ▲exchange and cooperation among startups ▲joint international response to public health crises.

First, it emphasizes sharing the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority’s smart city development experience with various domestic and international cities to spread sustainable urban models.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to share the technologies and experiences necessary for building and operating smart cities with partner cities, focusing on improving citizens’ quality of life and public health outcomes through ICT and sustainable urban management technologies. It will also support other cities in effectively implementing smart city models based on corporate technologies applied in Incheon.

Second, startups among the partner cities will be provided with entrepreneurial spaces within smart cities to grow and offer innovative ideas, support talent attraction and employment, and hold competitions in the healthcare and bio-industry sectors. This aims to balance the startup ecosystems among cities and enable new companies to contribute to solving their respective urban challenges.

Lastly, by utilizing the K-Bio Lab Hub infrastructure in Songdo, public health experts and researchers from developing and vulnerable countries will be supported to access the latest technologies and equipment necessary for virus research and vaccine development. This will contribute to overcoming crises through international cooperation during public health emergencies such as pandemics.

Meanwhile, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority has designated the period from the 8th to the 15th as 'Incheon Global Top 10 Cities Week,' hosting various policy forums and business networking events including the Incheon Smart City Summit (11th?13th) and the Korea-China Future Advanced Industry Forum (14th?15th).

At the 'Incheon Smart City Summit 2024' held on the 12th at Songdo Gyeongwonjae, Yoon Won-seok, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, and domestic and international city delegations are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority

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