Seongnam City, Incheon and Phoenix are among the cities participating in the Las Vegas electronics show, aiming to position themselves as global innovation hubs.
Seongnam City and the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) from South Korea are presenting their visions for smart cities at the CES 2025 electronics event, taking place in Las Vegas 7-11 January. Meanwhile, the US city of Phoenix is participating in the event for the first time.
As well as discussing their own progress, the cities are showcasing technology startups and organisations that they are collaborating with on their smart city journeys.
The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority’s booth is themed Urban Renaissance: Building Tomorrow’s Smart Cities Today and is divided into four thematic zones: Health & Safety, Urban Intelligence, Eco Harmony, and X-Tech. It showcases the convergence of technology, nature, and humanity, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the future of sustainable urban development.
In a video message, Yoo Jeongbok, mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, stated: “We are shaping Incheon into a sustainable city where technology, people, and the environment coexist harmoniously through collaboration with the global community. Incheon aims to establish itself as an ideal destination for businesses and organisations worldwide.
“By sharing IFEZ’s specialised smart city models, fostering innovative startups, and building a bio cluster, we aim to position IFEZ as a global leader in smart cities.”
Established in 2003 as Korea’s first Free Economic Zone, IFEZ was designed to drive economic growth and attract international business, leveraging its ideal location and advanced infrastructure.
The Seongnam Pavilion is supporting 25 local startups from the region to highlight their technologies and products. At CES 2024, Seongnam City garnered significant attention from domestic and international investors and buyers by showcasing technology startups. This effort established valuable global networks and expanded market opportunities, achieving a total contract value of KRW 145.5bn.
This year, Seongnam City, a leading innovative hub in South Korea, aims to actively support local startups in expanding into overseas markets and building global networks through its participation. The Seongnam Pavilion will feature technologies and products across advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, smart cities and mobility.
“We are shaping Incheon into a sustainable city where technology, people, and the environment coexist harmoniously through collaboration with the global community”
The City of Phoenix is being represented with an exhibit in the Venetian Expo Hall. The City’s display will highlight its commitment to fostering a thriving business environment and supporting local entrepreneurs, as well as tout its dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.
During the conference, the Phoenix team will look to build relationships with entrepreneurs, potential investors and business leaders ready to expand their interests and make the move to the Phoenix market. Among the companies joining the city are Crystal Sonic, a deep-tech start-up specialising in sustainability solutions for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, and the Mayo Clinic Arizona, which is showcasing its latest advancements in healthcare technology.
“We are excited to showcase the many innovative companies and professionals who call Phoenix home and are eager to attract even more talent to our thriving city,” said mayor Kate Gallego. “CES presents us with a unique opportunity to expand our network and demonstrate our strong intentions to build a resilient, high-wage local economy.”
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How does Incheon integrate technology, nature, and humanity in smart cities?What strategies support Seongnam startups expanding into global markets?How is Phoenix fostering a resilient, high-wage local economy through CES?What role do AI and healthcare innovations play in Seongnam’s smart city?How does IFEZ’s bio cluster contribute to its smart city leadership goals?