Connected Urban Development

Barely half a year after the successful CUD Global Conference in San Francisco, preparations for the next edition of the world summit are in full swing. Set to take place in Amsterdam on September 23 & 24, 2008, the main theme of this edition of the CUD Conference will be ‘Connectivity for Sustainability’. The theme is an important one for the host city: Amsterdam is proud to be on the forefront of high-end broadband deployment for all, households, schools, businesses and public sector included.

Among others, the conference serves to examine whether and how such a pervasive broadband environment will prove a fundamental ingredient to intelligent approaches in redirecting our urban society towards a more sustainable way of living, working, learning and transporting.

During the conference, the first CUD Smart Work Center will be launched – Amsterdam’s first and highly tangible contribution under the Connected Urban Development program. Powered by high-end broadband and child-day care, equipped with Telepresence and slow food facilities, the Smart Work Center serves to illustrate what connected and sustainable working tomorrow looks like today.

Lessons to be shared at the conference: what does the business model look like, how can the smart work center be replicated, how does affordable next generation connectivity facilitate and what are the early success factors found? The conference will focus in-depth on all CUD program areas, including Green IT, Connected and Sustainable Work, Connected & Sustainable Mobility as well as Smart Energy Solutions. For a full overview of the keynote speakers confirmed and the sessions that are being organized, please visit the event website.

Bas Boorsma