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Urban Tech Summit
_SECTOR: ENVIRONMENTEmergence Creative has been instrumental in shaping Cornell Tech’s Urban Tech Summit, an annual event that emerged from the Smart Cities New York conference initiated in 2017.
Held on Cornell Tech’s campus in New York City, the Urban Tech Summit fosters a dynamic ecosystem of academia, entrepreneurship, policy, and industry to propel urban innovation and champion climate action.
Despite the challenges in the ever-evolving urban innovation landscape, the Summit has thrived, strengthening its narrative while maintaining its core ethos of community-centric dialogue. As the Summit’s creative partner, Emergence is committed to nurturing conversations that inform climate policy in cities and ensuring that the Summit remains at the forefront of enacting positive change worldwide.
Branding | Copywriting | Graphic Design | Organic Social Media | Organization Building | Event Production | Public Relations | Research | Strategy | Web Design | Sponsorship and Ticketing Strategy
_THE CHALLENGE
Cities around the world face the immense challenge of creating sustainable, livable environments amid rapid urbanization, climate risks, and climate change. The Urban Tech Summit was created to address these pressing issues, aiming to harness the collective power of urban innovation to lead in climate solutions. By convening global leaders and experts from academia, industry, and government in a collaborative environment, the Summit seeks to move beyond dialogue and catalyze actionable strategies for environmental and societal improvement.
_SEARCHING FOR THE SIGNAL
In preparation for the Summit, Emergence Creative and Cornell Tech delved into extensive research and stakeholder conversations to uncover pivotal insights. We found a critical need for a cross-disciplinary approach, uniting technologists, financiers, and workforce strategists to explore the intersection between urban tech and climate tech. These dialogues informed a strategic foundation for the Summit, focusing on the fusion of technological, environmental, and economic solutions for building resilient urban systems.
_EMERGENCE
Emergence Creative employs a multifaceted strategy to bring the Summit to life. Through innovative advertising, targeted marketing, and clear communication, we’ve developed a voice for the Urban Tech Summit that is as impactful as it is inspiring. Leading up to the event, we build excitement and momentum through newsletters and social posts, create branded print and online materials for cohesion and recognition, and compile media toolkits to help clients and speakers promote the event on their own channels. Emergence's creative work is crucial for shaping the Summit's agenda, which features panels, keynotes, fireside chats, and collaborative workshops designed to foster deep learning and spark innovative solutions. Our work positions the Summit not just as a conference, but as a transformative experience that puts people and practical solutions first.
_EVOLUTION
Since its inception, the Urban Tech Summit has become an epicenter for urban innovation by driving conversations and action towards climate adaptation in cities. It has evolved into a highly anticipated event, meeting the changing landscape year by year while maintaining its core mission.
As the Summit gains momentum, it enriches discussions by welcoming fresh perspectives and deepening its commitment to practical, scalable urban tech climate solutions.
2021-2022
2023-present
_2024
THEME: INTELLIGENCE FOR CLIMATE ADAPTION
_2023
THEME: CITIES: DRIVING DECARBONIZATION TECHNOLOGY
_2022
THEME: CLIMATE MOBILIZATION: HARNESSING NYC'S URBAN TECH ECOSYSTEM
_2021
THEME: THE SCNY URBAN TECH SUMMIT AT CORNELL TECH
_LOOKING AHEAD
In its first four years, the Summit has convened over 1,000 leaders and experts at Cornell Tech. The 2024 Summit consisted of the most diverse audience yet, boasting attendees from government, media, nonprofits, startups, academia, and more, while retaining an intimate, collaborative environment.
Looking ahead, the Urban Tech Summit anticipates greater depth of audience and content, incorporating emerging trends and broadening its influence as it continues to shape the future of urban life around the world.