Following the panels organized throughout the day, the closing ceremony of this conference, held on the theme “From the Smart Citizen to the Smart Metropolis”, was marked, above all, by the presentation of trophies to all the panelists who spoke during this event.
This ceremony was also an opportunity to return to the ideas and avenues of reflection developed during this conclave, which was particularly rich in debates, exchanges and sharing of experiences.
In a statement to MAP, the director of the School of architecture, planning and design at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), president of the scientific committee of this event, Hassan Radoine, provided a summary of the points raised by the discussions .
This concerns, first of all, the modalities for revisiting the concept of the smart city according to different contexts, he explained. “There is not a single Smart City model that we can transpose or copy for everyone. We must refer to specific parameters and criteria to define an appropriate smart city for each context.”
Second point, Mr. Radione noted the social inclusion and participatory approach, affirming that “the inclusion of citizens in the process of transition to smart cities is essential”.
He also noted the ethical aspect, which is essential given that digitalization implies the sharing of data, hence the need to protect it.
Mr. Radoine underlined, lastly, the need for international cooperation for smart, sustainable and inclusive cities, referring to a UN-Habitat workshop organized within the framework of this conference and having emphasized on the international guidelines for the human-centered smart city.
The 8th edition of the Casablanca Smart City event, organized under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, thus offered a platform to contribute to rethinking intelligent, sustainable and inclusive urban development, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
This event brought together researchers, decision-makers, innovators and citizens to promote the sharing of knowledge and experiences, as well as the co-creation of innovative solutions adapted to the specific needs of the Moroccan and international context.