EXPO REAL October 2015: Ways toward the intelligent city of the future

Now in its 18th year, EXPO REAL has long been the largest real estate and investment trade fair in Europe. This year, 1.692 exhibitors from 33 countries were showcasing their projects and expertise, over 36 000 participants from all over the world took part in the three-day event. Almost one in four the largest contingents hailing from Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, the UK, Romania, Luxembourg, the US, France and the Russian Federation.

The UK was expanding its presence this year with the launch of a national pavilion featuring representatives from the leading cities in Britain and Northern Ireland. France was again represented with its own national pavilion. Among the first-time exhibitors were Russia’s massive e-commerce company Ulmart and Ikea Russia, which were part of a large Russian delegation. In addition to the stands, EXPO REAL featured at least 80 conference and panels where 400-plus industry experts have debated current trends and innovations in the real estate, investment and financial markets.

Leaders from more than 30 of Europe’s top cities were taking part in a series of seminars at EXPO REAL during which key urban centres and their investment partnerships have been in the spotlight. The seminars covered all the key topics, with a sharp focus on the investment opportunities that result from different ways of developing cities. For example, how mid-sized cities can attract investment against the growing trend for investors to favour the largest cities etc.

How smart are Europe’s cities? Digital technologies, big data and social media are making it possible to integrate and better manage city systems, making them more sustainable and productive. Two sessions in the Urban Development programm focused on the key trend of smart cities and their evolution. The first session looked at the concept of smart cities with experts from Bristol, Glasgow, Vienna and Stockholm, and asked whether this intelligent urbanisation can itself create new investment opportunities? The second session looked at the key issue of Europe’s role in developing knowledge-intensive and creative industries. These sectors are dominated by smaller firms which grow in clusters and are close to universities, banks and broadcasters. The examples from Viena and Stockholm illustrated the need to take into account many often widely different aspects on the road towards intelligent urbanisation. And that implies cooperation and coordination between different disciplines.

Swiss Life Asset Management has emerged as the leading real estate investor in Europe by assets under management, according to PropertyEU’s annual Top Investors publication. The asset manager had Euro 59 bn of European property under management at end-June 2015. This corresponds to a gain of 134% in the year to end-2014. The Top Investors magazine and App were also be launched at EXPO REAL.

Text & Foto: Daiva I. Petrosiene, Mindaugas Petrosius