City News
Date : 2025-03-21 Source : New Taipei City Government
ICF International Delegation Leads Brazilian and Spanish City Representatives, Along with U.S,Canadian,and Dutch Delegates,in a Visit to New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-Ih to Exchange Smart City Insights
A delegation from the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), led by its Chairman and Co-founder John G. Jung, visited New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-Ih on March 21 to exchange experiences on smart city development. The visit was part of their participation in the "2025 Smart City Summit & Expo" in Taiwan, during which they explored the nation's advancements in smart city initiatives.
ICF has maintained a strong partnership with New Taipei City, having successfully co-hosted the "2024 New Taipei Smart City Forum & ICF Top 7 Global Cities Announcement Gala" last year. New Taipei City’s significant achievements in promoting smart city development have garnered considerable international attention, further strengthening its role as a global leader in urban innovation.
The ICF delegation featured representatives from various cities and organizations across Brazil, Spain, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. The Brazilian delegation included Curitiba's Deputy Mayor and Secretary of Economic Development and Innovation, Paulo Martins; Superintendent for Economic Development and Innovation, Bernardo Santoro Pinto Machado; and CEO of Economic Development and Innovation, Dario Luiz Dias Paixao.
The Spanish delegation comprised José Cabrera, Deputy Mayor of Las Rozas; Alejandro Saldaña, Mayor’s Cabinet; City Councilors Jaime Santamarta and Alba Monteiro de Oliveira Gil; Principal Consultant Agustín Argelich; and Director of Business Development and Entrepreneurship, Ana Herrera. The delegation also included notable representatives from the United States, such as Doug McCollough, President of DMC Group in Dublin, Ohio, Benjamin de la Peña CEO of Shared-Use Mobility Center, Chicago, and Dr. Roberto Gallardo, Vice President of Purdue University.
Canadian representatives included Dr. Connie Allsopp, Founder of The Worlds Registrar; Dr. Simon Potter, Director at New Brunswick Community College; and Beena Tharakan, Founder of Crosspoly Solutions and The Sector Inc. Additionally, Marit Hendriks, Founder and Director of Next Gen Events Ltd in the United Kingdom, and Michael Jung, an ICF representative from Canada, joined the delegation.
During his remarks, Mayor Hou extended a warm welcome to the international guests and expressed gratitude to ICF for co-organizing last year’s forum. He highlighted New Taipei City’s upcoming smart city forum, themed "AI and Sustainable Living," and invited the delegation to participate in the event.
Mayor Hou elaborated on how artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data are being integrated into the city's governance to enhance decision-making processes. These technologies play a crucial role in optimizing public transportation, advancing 5G infrastructure, and improving environmental sustainability efforts. He emphasized the city's commitment to leveraging AI in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to enhance residents’ quality of life while fostering a green, smart, and resilient urban environment. Mayor Hou Yu-Ih warmly invited the delegation not only to explore New Taipei City’s smart city advancements but also to experience its rich cultural heritage. Following their speeches, Curitiba Deputy Mayor Paulo Martins from Brazil and Las Rozas Deputy Mayor José Cabrera from Spain extended heartfelt invitations to Mayor Hou, encouraging him to visit their cities for further exchanges and collaboration.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the Bali Incineration Plant, a state-of-the-art facility that combines waste treatment and power generation. The plant employs a big data-driven AI monitoring system to efficiently allocate garbage trucks across incineration sites, significantly improving waste processing efficiency and public service performance. Moreover, its waste-to-energy system converts incinerated waste into electricity, supplying power to local households and contributing to New Taipei City’s net-zero transition strategy.
The visit provided international representatives with firsthand insights into New Taipei City’s advancements in AI-driven sustainability and smart city initiatives. It also laid the foundation for future collaborations in urban innovation and technology.
New Taipei City Government remains committed to fostering international exchanges and driving smart technology applications, working hand in hand with global partners to create a more intelligent and sustainable future.
ICF has maintained a strong partnership with New Taipei City, having successfully co-hosted the "2024 New Taipei Smart City Forum & ICF Top 7 Global Cities Announcement Gala" last year. New Taipei City’s significant achievements in promoting smart city development have garnered considerable international attention, further strengthening its role as a global leader in urban innovation.
The ICF delegation featured representatives from various cities and organizations across Brazil, Spain, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. The Brazilian delegation included Curitiba's Deputy Mayor and Secretary of Economic Development and Innovation, Paulo Martins; Superintendent for Economic Development and Innovation, Bernardo Santoro Pinto Machado; and CEO of Economic Development and Innovation, Dario Luiz Dias Paixao.
The Spanish delegation comprised José Cabrera, Deputy Mayor of Las Rozas; Alejandro Saldaña, Mayor’s Cabinet; City Councilors Jaime Santamarta and Alba Monteiro de Oliveira Gil; Principal Consultant Agustín Argelich; and Director of Business Development and Entrepreneurship, Ana Herrera. The delegation also included notable representatives from the United States, such as Doug McCollough, President of DMC Group in Dublin, Ohio, Benjamin de la Peña CEO of Shared-Use Mobility Center, Chicago, and Dr. Roberto Gallardo, Vice President of Purdue University.
Canadian representatives included Dr. Connie Allsopp, Founder of The Worlds Registrar; Dr. Simon Potter, Director at New Brunswick Community College; and Beena Tharakan, Founder of Crosspoly Solutions and The Sector Inc. Additionally, Marit Hendriks, Founder and Director of Next Gen Events Ltd in the United Kingdom, and Michael Jung, an ICF representative from Canada, joined the delegation.
During his remarks, Mayor Hou extended a warm welcome to the international guests and expressed gratitude to ICF for co-organizing last year’s forum. He highlighted New Taipei City’s upcoming smart city forum, themed "AI and Sustainable Living," and invited the delegation to participate in the event.
Mayor Hou elaborated on how artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data are being integrated into the city's governance to enhance decision-making processes. These technologies play a crucial role in optimizing public transportation, advancing 5G infrastructure, and improving environmental sustainability efforts. He emphasized the city's commitment to leveraging AI in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to enhance residents’ quality of life while fostering a green, smart, and resilient urban environment. Mayor Hou Yu-Ih warmly invited the delegation not only to explore New Taipei City’s smart city advancements but also to experience its rich cultural heritage. Following their speeches, Curitiba Deputy Mayor Paulo Martins from Brazil and Las Rozas Deputy Mayor José Cabrera from Spain extended heartfelt invitations to Mayor Hou, encouraging him to visit their cities for further exchanges and collaboration.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the Bali Incineration Plant, a state-of-the-art facility that combines waste treatment and power generation. The plant employs a big data-driven AI monitoring system to efficiently allocate garbage trucks across incineration sites, significantly improving waste processing efficiency and public service performance. Moreover, its waste-to-energy system converts incinerated waste into electricity, supplying power to local households and contributing to New Taipei City’s net-zero transition strategy.
The visit provided international representatives with firsthand insights into New Taipei City’s advancements in AI-driven sustainability and smart city initiatives. It also laid the foundation for future collaborations in urban innovation and technology.
New Taipei City Government remains committed to fostering international exchanges and driving smart technology applications, working hand in hand with global partners to create a more intelligent and sustainable future.
