On 24 November 2021, RMIT University’s Smart & Sustainable Cities Forum will bring together the public and private sectors to discuss critical sustainability issues related to the development of Viet Nam’s urban centres.

With over 3.5 billion people living in cities now and a projected 70 per cent of humanity living in cities by 2050, developing smart and sustainable cities is at the forefront of urban development and planning globally.

In Viet Nam, urban centres have also witnessed rapid expansion. Based on the latest census, the population of the two biggest cities – Ha Noi and HCM City – are about 8 and 9 million respectively, and both metropolises are expected to grow further. Moreover, two thirds of the country’s provinces and municipalities have started building smart cities.  

RMIT University’s Smart and Sustainable Cities Forum will be held virtually on 24 November 2021.

Within such a context, RMIT University’s Smart & Sustainable Cities (SSC) Forum seeks to provide a platform for the sharing of best practices and knowledge among stakeholders across key industries, public sector organisations and local/international NGOs.

Where sustainability and smart cities meet

The United Nations define “smart sustainable city” as an innovative city that uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) and other means to improve the quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social and environmental aspects.

As such, the SSC Forum will demonstrate in detail the symbiotic relationship between smart cities and sustainability, and why they are the only way forward for Viet Nam’s cities.

Associate Professor Nguyen Quang Trung, Lead of the Smart and Sustainable Cities Hub at the RMIT School of Business & Management, said: “A smart city is not only about the adoption of technologies to improve the quality of life for its citizens, but also has to be environmentally friendly and sustainable for future generations by applying global best practices and standards to make decisions that lead to a sustainable future.”

“Moreover, technology alone does not make cities smart, liveable and sustainable; it also takes the right strategy, high prioritisation, and firm leadership drawing from the best available knowledge and practices,” he said.

Experts at the forum will discuss ways to make urban centres smarter using cutting edge technologies and more sustainable for the future generations of Vietnamese people.

Diverse perspectives on key issues

Throughout the full-day forum, participants will hear from local and international speakers who are thought leaders and top researchers in their respective fields, as well as from a range of active practitioners and innovators who are developing practical solutions.

The morning session, with speakers from UNDP, Schneider Electric, Aurecon, KPMG, TMA Solutions, among others, will focus on the linkage between smart cities and sustainability, exploring how the two concepts are critical for sustainable development.

The afternoon programme will feature six separate tracks showcasing case studies and developments from both local and international academics, practitioners, and innovators.

The first two parallel tracks will explore blockchain innovation and the concept of liveable cities in the Australian context.

The second set of parallel tracks will examine the smart energy and climate change solutions, and three critical areas of smart development – specifically, logistics, tourism, and governance.

The final parallel tracks will see experts share the necessity of moving toward a circular economy and showcase solutions for a critical existential problem facing humanity: plastic pollution. 

As part of the event, the RMIT University will launch its newest whitepaper “Digital Transformation in Vietnam: the SME and SOE experience”, based on findings from surveys, interviews and focus groups conducted with middle- to senior-level managers at state-owned enterprises and small- to medium-sized enterprises operating in Viet Nam.

Register here to attend the forum.