Trip Dates: October 23-25, 2024
Location: Chicago, IL & Peoria, IL
The program kicked off with a briefing, including expert presentations by Karla Ruth Orozco Toledano from World Business Chicago, Mark Piekos from GCEP (Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership), and Clayton Johanson from DB ECO North America.
The delegates participated in a panel session and networking event on AI, Smart Cities, and Sustainable Mobility. They pitched their innovative products and ideas but also participated as panelists, diving into the latest trends and developments. Marcel Altendeitering from Fraunhofer ISST and Joe Gallo from Illinois Smart City & Region Association gave inspiring keynotes on topics including “Accelerating the Adoption and Integration of Technology in Municipal Environments” as well as “Smart Cities and Sustainable Mobility in Germany.”
In Peoria, Doug Cruitt, MBA-HCM from Distillery Labs and Christopher Setti from Greater Peoria Economic Development Council greeted the delegates. Distillery Labs is a supportive startup hub for entrepreneurs to launch and grow companies, drive innovation, and spur significant economic growth. The delegates networked, pitched, and brainstormed new partnerships with the Peoria community.
The delegation wrapped up with Ginta Rose Rubin from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, exploring Illinois’ vast potential in sustainable mobility, AI, and Smart Cities. The delegates had the chance to have one-on-one meetings with key US stakeholders, setting the stage for exciting potential collaborations.
Delegates who Participated:
- Albert Pujol, CEO & Founder, AI Shepherds GmbH
- Armin Hager, CEO & Cofounder, VOITAS Group
- Tony Bonarti, Key Account Manager, InnoSenT GmbH
- Peter Orbitz, Field Application Engineer, InnoSenT GmbH
- Gavin Graf von Schweinitz, CEO and Founder and Yasmin von Schweinitz, Head of Sales, Strategy and Innovation, Emco
- Christian Hesse, CEO, HydroMapper GmbH
- Shannon Macika, MPH, Global Research & Insights Lead and Senior Smart Cities Advisor BABLE Smart Cities
- Xenia Krause-Duenow, CEO & Founder and Roman Häckel, CTO FITS for future
Photos from the Delegation:
