Things to do  |  27 Aug 2019

Christchurch Town Hall will host an innovation showcase this month featuring an expert panel discussion on the next generation of network connectivity 5G.

The advanced technology has the potential to change the way businesses and consumers interact with wireless devices.

The Smart Christchurch Innovation Expo on Monday, 9 September will showcase leading-edge technology being developed in the city, host several panel discussions and provide opportunities to connect and share ideas.

The expo – organised by the Christchurch City Council’s Smart Christchurch programme – will feature interactive exhibits and fresh approaches to creating smarter, more liveable cities.

Council Strategy and Transformation Manager Brendan Anstiss points out that smart technology helps cities find solutions to infrastructure and development-related issues every day.

“While technology is progressing and evolving, we need to ensure our cities are positioned to use it to our best advantage,” Mr Anstiss says.

“Much of that advantage and advancement lies in innovation being developed in the gaps between industries and sectors such as design, engineering, education, and government – and the Innovation Expo opens the doors to the types of connections that can bridge those gaps.

“A particular strength of Christchurch innovation is the creativity and success of our community-led initiatives. We need to bring that success into solving infrastructure challenges that can boost the quality of people’s everyday lives.”

As well as the panel discussion on 5G, specialist sessions will include experts from across New Zealand talking about technological advancements and smart approaches happening in their own cities, and exploring new ways to combine separate datasets to understand more about how people experience our cities.

There will be 50 exhibitors this year, including the University of Canterbury business school, and innovators such as WikiHouse, which has created a digitally manufactured building system that helps anyone to design, manufacture and assemble high-performance, customised homes.

The Smart Christchurch Innovation Expo runs from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free.