Photo= IKS Japan's system to connect electric cars, storage batteries, power grids, etc. (Keihanna Open Innovation Center, Seika-cho, Kyoto Prefecture)

"Kyoto Smart City Expo 2015," an international trade fair held in Kansai Science City and other locations which is working toward efficient urban development with ICT, or information and communication technology, closed on May 22, after exhibiting the latest equipment and services. One accomplishment of the event was enhanced cooperation and interaction between corporations and local governments. One example is that a Spanish trade fair organization has decided to open an office in Kansai Science City.

The organization that is opening an office is "Fira de Barcelona," which annually organizes the same expo in Spain. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the expo being held in Kyoto, it will establish a base at Keihanna Open Innovation Center in Kizugawa City and Seika-cho, Kyoto Prefecture, which was formerly known as the Vocational Museum, to strengthen support in attracting overseas enterprises to the center.

Technion - Israel Institute of Technology also declared its intention to move into the center on May 21. A growing number of leading universities and enterprises are expected to gather at the center in the future.

Participating in the exhibition held at the center were 115 corporations and groups. Enevo, a Finnish IT company, introduced an efficient system to collect waste only from waste containers that have exceeded a certain fill-level, by using sensors installed in each waste container around the city.

Cisco Systems, Inc., a major US-based IT company, which has entered a partnership agreement with the Kyoto Prefectural Government, publicized its outstanding examples, such as using sensors to guide cars smoothly to available parking spaces, and turning on lights according to the surrounding brightness or presence of pedestrians.

There were also participants from Kyoto. IKS Japan Co., Ltd., based in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, promoted equipment to efficiently connect and control storage batteries, solar power generation, electric cars and others. Doshisha University displayed pedestrian-recognition technology that is essential for automated driving of automobiles.