RALEIGH — The Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo is coming to Raleigh next spring. The event, billed as “the nation’s leading smart city IoT event”, will take place at the downtown Convention Center May 8-10, 2024.
According to Richard Erb, the Executive Director of Smart Cities Connect, next year’s event should bring 1,500 total attendees, including 200+ speakers, 80-100 sponsors and exhibitors, and 60 startups. Past events have included attendees from as far away as Japan and Nigeria. Past Triangle area sponsors include RIoT and the Research Triangle CleanTech Cluster.
Raleigh has sought the opportunity to host this event for the past several years, going back to before the COVID pandemic. Erb said that TechConnect, the company behind the Smart Cities Connect events, selected Raleigh for the “collaborative spirit” and efforts to engage smart technologies for better living.
“Our local partnerships with the City of Raleigh and RIoT provide tremendous confidence the Smart Cities Connect Raleigh will be perhaps our best event yet,” Erb told WRAL TechWire via email.
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The upcoming event theme is still being finalized but Erb reports it will likely end up around the idea of “Smart Cities without Boundaries.” The conference will include a Start-up Challenge, and talks on Digital Transformation, Urban/Municipal Operations & Infrastructure, Smart Mobility, and Community Engagement.
Early-bird tickets are available through early April next year, with discounted tickets for Academic, Government, Non-Profit or Startup registrations. Approved City Leaders can also attend at no cost.
