Cities worldwide are undergoing a rapid and significant digital transformation. But today’s Smart Cities are not fully accessible. The result is a growing digital divide for persons with disabilities and older persons.

This 90-minute panel discussion, a collaboration of G3ict, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be targeted specifically to cities in Europe but open to participants worldwide. The discussion will demonstrate how Smart Cities worldwide are uniquely positioned to use their considerable purchasing power, including of information and communications technologies (ICT), to advance the rights and digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and older persons.

G3ict, through its Smart Cities for All global initiative, is partnering with the World Economic Forum, Secretariat for the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance, to help cities worldwide adopt technology procurement policies that support greater inclusion. Microsoft Corporation is providing funding and expertise to support this global Inclusive Procurement Launchpad project.

Speakers will include experts from leading inclusive cities organizations, including:
- Ruthbea Yesner, IDC
- Monica Duhem, HearColors
- Burcu Özdemir, Representative of the City of Istanbul
- Federico Batista Poitier, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
- Rushi Ramachandrappa, World Economic Forum (WEF)
- Laura Ruby, Microsoft
- Representative of the City of Los Angeles (TBC)
- James Thurston, G3ict 

Event organised by UCLG in collaboration with G3ict, and the World Economic Forum with support from the Microsoft Corporation

To join please send an email to pboet@bcn.cat