Siemens offers govts a peek into future
German technology firm Siemens has launched a new initiative that allows government officials worldwide to congregate at one venue to share best practices and learn about the company's technologies for city management and sustainable living.
Located in Singapore, the "City of the Future Exhibition and Solutions Center" is spread over 1,485 sq ft, showcasing Siemens' technology customized for energy, healthcare and city management.
The two components are a gallery open to the public, and a solutions area for which guests must make prior appointments to visit. The solutions center includes interactive touch-screen kiosks that incorporate case studies of Siemens' implementations in cities around the world and a simulation game. Also showcased is a "city cockpit" or "Management Information and Decision Support System" which draws data from operational centers across multiple sectors such as traffic, environment and financial, to provide accurate and timely information of the city’s performance based on defined key performance indicators.
Lothar Herrmann, president and CEO of Siemens Singapore, said in a statement Tuesday, the featured technologies are designed to address "megatrends" such as urbanization, shifting demographics and climate change. "The response to these megatrends, as the world strives for sustainable living, requires a holistic approach, integrated with sound urban management policies."
According to Gisela Fuchs, CEO of public sector for Siemens IT Solutions and Services, the solutions center can also be supported by Siemens' global Center of Competence (CoC) for City Management located in the island-state--its first outside of Europe. The CoC provides consulting, integration and operating capabilities and expertise.
"Siemens has created a pivotal place for city planners from all over the world to congregate, share and experience the latest innovative technological offerings from Siemens that can support them in planning and managing their city more efficiently," said Fuchs. "This 'City of the Future' is also a unique center for fueling ideas for innovations that ultimately benefit our customers."
Herrmann added that the establishment of the exhibition and solutions center was in part, to strategically work alongside local government bodies in partnering organizations for the creation of sustainable and innovative solutions. Among these agencies, the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB) has defined a "Future.Singapore" initiative for urban solutions.
Commenting on the initiative, Manohar Khiatani, EDB's deputy managing director, said: "We are delighted that Siemens sees value in Singapore as a 'Living Laboratory' to design, develop and implement innovative solutions for global markets.
"Rapid global urbanization has led to the demand for new products and services. Companies such as Siemens can leverage Singapore's city environment, its network of partners from public and private sectors, as well as strong capabilities in IT and urban planning to pursue these new opportunities," Khiatani noted.