New Smart Cities in Asia report identifies business opportunities for UK companies
9 Feb 2012
Today, as part of its Explore Asia conference in London, UK Trade & Investment is launching a new report, Smart cities of the future in Asia:
The opportunities for UK business’, which identifies significant future business opportunities across Asia for UK companies.
The report analyses a number of cities, in terms of ‘smart development’, across ten high-growth markets in Asia; Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
It also provides detailed analysis of more than 100 current and future projects aimed at improving some of the most dynamic and fast-growing cities in Asia; and ranks each of the smart initiatives according to timescale, scope and technological requirements.
Significant business opportunities for UK companies are highlighted across a number of sectors including; buildings and the environment, education, energy, health, digital media, and transport – taking into account how British expertise could be deployed to meet each opportunity.
Some of the most significant projects identified in the report, carried out by Frost & Sullivan with input from UK Trade & Investment’s Asian representatives, include:
. A major extension of the railway network in Hong Kong, offering
opportunities to deliver a rail management system, IT infrastructure within stations and trains, journey planner for passengers & transport interchange infrastructure and sustainable railway design including signalling, main control systems, environmental control system and traction energy system.
. Mobile Telemedicine System in Indonesia, with opportunities for
companies with technology around patient monitoring, telehealth, telemedicine and smartphone applications.
. 3G Network deployment in Thailand, providing immediate opportunities
for companies that can deliver grid applications, remote monitoring, telehealth, telecommuting, and connected homes.
. Renewable energy development project in Vietnam, with the generation
of electricity through sources such as small hydro, biomass, solar and wind with opportunities for investors, technology suppliers, EPC contractors to partner in project development.
To help UK businesses to capitalise on these projects and understand the challenges and opportunities they present, UK Trade & Investment will be hosting a half-day ‘Smart Cities in Asia’ seminar on Tuesday 14 February at MediaCityUK, Salford Quays.
A panel of UK Trade & Investment and industry experts will provide in-depth analysis of the projects in Salford, where delegates will be able to talk to experts from the research team as well as UK Trade & Investment representatives from the ten markets in the research.
Steve O’Leary, UK Trade & Investment Director, Infrastructure and Low Carbon, who will be speaking at the Salford seminar, said:
“It is forecast that by 2020, forty cities on a global basis will be defined as ‘smart’, with the next wave stemming from Asia. As our report shows this represents concrete opportunities for innovative UK businesses with products and solutions demanded by these cities. We want to ensure that UK companies and British expertise play a significant role in the development of Smart Cities in Asia, and this report and our events are the first step in this process.”
Frost & Sullivan Director of Strategic Partnerships Iain Jawad, who will be presenting the findings of the report at Explore Asia, said:
“Across Asia, the capital cities and other urban centres of developed and emerging markets are facing a broad range of challenges to which smart solutions provide concrete and tangible solutions. From insufficient energy resources to substandard infrastructure the challenges are pressing and fundamental, which means that for UK businesses able to successfully penetrate these markets, the opportunity is both immediate and sustainable.”
From Thursday 9 February, a downloadable version of the final report will be accessible from:
http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/item/218400.html
Media contacts:
For information about ‘Smart cities of the future in Asia: The opportunities for UK business’ or to set up a one-to-one interview with a UKTI spokesperson please contact: Emma Foster on 07890 284318 or email emma@fcomms.com
For more information about UK Trade & Investment contact Rosetta Buahin at UK Trade & Investment Press Office on 0207 215 8530 or email rosetta.buahin@ukti.gsi.gov.uk
For more information on Frost & Sullivan please contact Joanna Lewandowska on +48 22 481 62 20 or email joanna.lewandowska@frost.com
Explore Asia, Thursday 9 February 2012 – Central Hall, Westminster, London
Explore Asia is a major conference aimed at UK companies looking to grow their business in 12 key Asian markets. A press briefing will be taking place between 08.45 and 09.15 in the William Sangster room at which a UK Trade & Investment ‘Smart Cities’ representative will be present. The interactive ‘Smart Cities’ workshop takes place at 16.40-17.20 and media are welcome to attend.
‘Smart Cities in Asia’ seminar, Tuesday 14 February – MediaCityUK, Salford Quays A half-day seminar focusing on the findings of the report with a panel of UKTI and industry experts presenting over 120 projects of interest across a range of business sectors. Media are welcome to attend this event – please contact Emma Foster for more information.
Background: Why UKTI is doing this research:
Increased urbanisation around the world has created a broad range of both challenges and opportunities which require a reassessment of the way in which cities are planned and resources and opportunities are shared. It is in this context that the concept of a “Smart City” has emerged as a route to better quality and more sustainable living. In Asia, there is a wide variation in the development of Smart Cities both within and between countries, each of which will present an array of different opportunities to UK business.
. United Nations forecasting that the number of people living in
cities will reach 70% of the global population over the next 35 to 40 years
. In parallel, there has been a rapid growth in the creation of “Mega
Cities”. A Mega City is defined as a conurbation with 10 million or more inhabitants. It is predicted that there will be 30 Mega Cities and 15 “Mega Regions” – areas with populations in excess of 15 million – by 2020
. 10 of the World’s top 20 Mega Cities will be from emerging economies
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit
www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7215 8000. For latest press releases, visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media . You can also keep in touch with developments at UKTI through www.blog.ukti.gov.uk, www.twitter.com/ukti and www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ukti
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