[This is a sponsored article with Sidec.]
Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) is hosting their 7th annual Smart City & Digital Economy Convention (SDEC) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this year.
Unlike last year which was a hybrid event consisting of one exhibition and one conference over a three-day period, this year’s SDEC will be the largest one yet, lasting four days long starting from October 6 until October 9, 2022.
Notable individuals ranging from smart city technologists, builders, government agencies, investors, and more will be present at the convention, making it an ideal place for businesses seeking to increase their exposure.
Here’s what the convention entails
Much like last year’s convention, SDEC aims to spearhead the digital transformation of Selangor as ASEAN’s digital hub and act as a platform for local industry players to engage and discuss emerging trends. In addition to that, they also aim to strengthen and grow Selangor digital ecosystem for SMEs.
For this year, SDEC 2022 will revolve around the theme of “Sustainable Digitalisation Towards a Net-Zero Future” to gather industry leaders, academics, and SMEs to explore solutions for existing and future smart cities, and digital economy frameworks.
Having said that, there are five core elements the convention will be focusing on:
- Asian Smart City Conference;
- Selangor SME Digitalisation Conference;
- Selangor Fashion Accelerator (Demo Day);
- Live Stream Festival;
- Exhibition.
Here’s a quick rundown of what each of these elements entails.
1. The Asian Smart City Conference, where global city leaders share their best smart city practices
Asian Smart City Conference: Mayors Summit that’s happening on October 6, will involve city mayors from countries like Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia. These representatives will share their experiences and approaches they took to improve city liveability using smart technologies.
There, the audience can witness first-hand how these representatives collaborate and work out solutions to tackle smart city issues.
The Net-Zero and Circular Economy Forum will take place the next day on October 7. Here, 24 experts will discuss these topics and how to implement them to develop an eco-friendly smart city:
- Smart Mobility & Zero-Emission Vehicles;
- Smart Waste & River Management;
- Solar, Biofuel & Biomass Energy;
- Smart Cloud & Data Governance;
- Smart Technologies for Energy;
- Green Investment & Financing.
2. Get guidance on digitalising your SME with the Selangor SME Digitalisation Conference
SMEs looking to embrace digitalisation but don’t know where to start, SDEC will also be hosting the Selangor SME Digitalisation Conference, which reveals the best practices for companies seeking to embrace digitalisation.
Image Credit: Sidec
Here are the topics that will be talked about by the 16 speakers during the conference:
- The Rise of FinTech & Digital Bank;
- Digital Trade Revolution: Post Pandemic Growth for SMEs;
- ‘Blitzscale’ Your Business towards Unicorn status;
- How can Live Stream Elevate Retail Businesses?
3. Foster business opportunities with exhibitors, or exhibit your own business
Other than the conferences mentioned above, there will be exhibitors scattered throughout the event grounds from October 6 until October 9, 2022, from 10AM to 6PM.
Filled with up to 100 booths, visitors can get to know the exhibitors and the products that they offer there. On top of that, it’s also an ideal place for investors and venture capitalists to look for new businesses to invest in.
4. Browse through investment-worthy businesses through the SDEC Live Stream Festival
Speaking of which, the Live Stream Festival will run from 10AM to 6PM daily throughout all four days of the convention. The broadcast will be streamed live on Sidec’s Facebook.
During the broadcast, exhibitors, sponsors, and selected merchants from the Malaysia Top E-Commerce Merchant (Top ECM) Awards will be given the opportunity to go on the live stream to talk about their business and the products or services they provide.
5. Witness Malaysia’s next potential big-name designer with the Selangor Fashion Accelerator Demo Day
Last but not least, it will also be the demo day for the Selangor Fashion Accelerator on October 8, where the top six finalists that have undergone the two-month-long programme will show off their Malaysian modest fashion concept and design.
The winners of this accelerator will be eligible for an investment opportunity from The Hive Southeast Asia, a seed stage venture capitalist firm.
What do I need to attend the convention?
For those looking to visit SDEC 2022 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, early bird tickets start from RM99.
Note that the conferences you can attend are based on your passes. Here’s a quick breakdown of the passes available, their perks, and which conference you are eligible for:
| Pass | Price | Benefits |
| Smart City Track | – Early Bird price: RM99 – Normal Price: RM199 | – 1x Mayors Summit and Selangor Declaration Pass – 1x Asian Smart City Conference: Net-Zero ad Circular Economy Forum Pass – 4 Days Exhibition Pass – 4 Days Live Stream Festival Pass – Opportunity to network with key industry players |
| Digital Economy Track | – Early Bird price: RM99 – Normal Price: RM199 | – 1x Selangor SME Digitalisation Conference Pass – 4 Days Exhibition Pass – 4 Days Live Stream Festival Pass – Opportunity to network with key industry players |
| All Access Pass | – Early Bird price: RM149 – Normal Price: RM399 | – 1x Mayors Summit and Selangor Declaration Pass – 1x Asian Smart City Conference: Net-Zero ad Circular Economy Forum Pass – 1x Selangor SME Digitalisation Conference Pass – 4 Days Exhibition Pass – 4 Days Live Stream Festival Pass – Opportunity to network with key industry players |
| General Visitor Pass | – Free Admission | – 4 Days Exhibition Pass – 4 Days Livestream Festival Pass – Gain exposure to innovative solutions on the future of smart cities and the digital economy – Professional networking opportunities |
Featured Image Credit: Sidec
