Younès Messaddeq, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Photonic Innovations at the Université Laval, will deliver a keynote speech at the 1st International Summit for Smart Cities (ISSC) in North-Africa 2014.
Held at the Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, the summit provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas on improving urban life in an era where technological innovation is changing the ways in which cities are governed and citizens, businesses, and public institutions interact. The main goal of the summit is to find innovative, realistic solutions for urban living within the North African geopolitical context.
The event will delve into key issues such as innovation and economic growth, urban planning and mobility, resource management and infrastructure, education, digital inclusion, and governance. Messaddeq will provide an overview of his research as a Canada Excellence Research Chair, and explain how communication technologies and optical fibers are required to meet the growing economic and business needs of smart cities everywhere in the world.
However, says Messaddeq, who also serves on the ISSC advisory board, efficient and omnipresent communication is not the only thing that defines smart cities. “My research in photonics and optical fibers at Université Laval has real life applications in fields such as health, environment, energy and security,” he says. “It touches many sectors of the economy and is essential to the development of smart cities in North Africa since it contributes to the well being of society.”