Intelligent technologies for the cities of the future

Launch of new category "Urban Solutions" focussing on challenges of the future

Audi Urban Future: Project New York, May 2011

The world's population, currently seven billion, is expected to grow to eight billion by 2030. According to The UN estimates at least five billion people will be living in urban areas, compared with 3.5 billion today. Moreover, the United Nations has also calculated that more than half of the global urban population will be living in Asia twenty years from now. Approximately 500 new towns and cities will be built in China alone.

The new display category "Urban Solutions" in Hall 11 at CeBIT 2012 (6/8/MarchHannover D) will focus on the market potential of the megacities and the ICT solutions needed to meet future challenges. Intelligent ICT solutions, which form the focus of the presentation, already play a key role in ensuring that cities function efficiently and will become indispensable in the future when modern metropolitan areas face a myriad of needs and demands. For example, ICT technology is used in such areas as distribution, waste disposal, environmental protection, mobility and logistics, and it is also invaluable in data protection and security, in accelerating the introduction of eGovernment services, improved public security, education and the provision of health services. Another important challenge is the development of an intelligent network linking the rapidly growing volume of data.

The "Audi Urban Future Initiative" will be at the heart of the new display category "Urban Solutions". This special presentation will showcase five international concepts that address future urban challenges and trends relating to megacities and mobility. Audi is thus making an important contribution to the discussion on "the city and mobility in the future", and playing a major role in promoting an interdisciplinary exchange - and solutions for the future.

Another highlight will be the Urban Solutions Forum in Hall 11, which comprises lectures, keynote talks and panel discussions reflecting the content of the display, in particular mobility concepts, IT and IT security, communication and data protection, as well as the use of IT in intelligent electricity grids, smart energy generation and power distribution. The major energy company E.ON. will be involved in the Urban Solutions Forum, which is sponsored by the company Rittal. The Forum will be opened on 6 March by Dr. Friedhelm Loh, CEO of Rittal, and Martina Koederitz, CEO at IBM Germany.

Finally, the competition "Urban Solutions Pitch" will be launched as a result of joint cooperation between CeBIT and the high-tech industry association BITKOM. The competition winners will present their forward-looking lighthouse projects on a special display area in Hall 11. The aim of the "Urban Solutions Pitch" is to draw attention to the development and use of innovative technology in the management of urban conglomerations.