We are pleased to inform you that the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the UN Office for ICT (UN-OICT), HafenCity University and the Federal Republic of Germany are organizing a virtual event to officially launch the United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC-Hamburg). The UN Innovation Technology Accelerator, led by UN-Habitat, with the support of UN-OICT, and in collaboration with HafenCity University, will be based in Hamburg and is funded by the Government of Germany.

The virtual launch event will be an opportunity to find out more about UNITAC and how it will contribute with innovation solutions to the global agenda on urban digital transformation and people-centered smart cities.

What is UNITAC-Hamburg?

The UN Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities in Hamburg has been established to address the potential of digital technologies, data and innovation to contribute to sustainable urban development through a collaboration between HafenCity University and UN-Habitat supported by UN-OICT. It is funded by the Government of Germany. The Accelerator will use innovation, prototyping and applied research methodologies to develop innovative solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to cities and communities.

The work of UNITAC will be articulated around three themes: open, transparent and participatory governance of data and digital platforms; mapping spatial analysis and visualisation; and people-centered smart cities. Within these fields, emphasis will be placed on how to generate knowledge and use cases around smart-city governance and the development and testing of frontier technologies. The solutions developed by UNITAC-Hamburg will be tested and piloted in Hamburg and multiple regions and locations across the world, as well as through a network of partners from academia, private sector, governments and investors.

Programme

Welcome remarks

• Moderator: Michael Ibach, Chief of Service, ICT Policy and Compliance, UN-OICT

Opening remarks

• Niels Annen, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Germany
• Victor Kisob, Deputy Executive Director, UN-Habitat
• Patrick Carey, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for ICT, UN-OICT
• Stephanie Egerland, Chancellor of HafenCity University

Keynote : Data and digital governance in smart cities

• UNITAC-Hamburg - Welcoming Address: Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
• Urban digital governance and smart cities in Africa: Edgar Pieterse, Director of the African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town

Positioning UNITAC as a key player on digital cooperation and people-centered smart cities

• Christine Knudsen, Director of Strategy and Innovation, UN-Habitat
• Gesa Ziemer, Director, City Science Lab, HafenCity University
• Salem Avan, Director of Policy Strategy and Governance Division, UN OICT
• Yu Ping Chan, Lead, Digital Cooperation, UN Office of the Technology-Envoy

Q&A

• Moderator: Michael Ibach, Chief of Service, ICT Policy and Compliance, UN-OICT

Closing remarks

• Katja Schaefer, Interim UNITAC Lab Manager, UN-Habitat