NYC CTO to Define Smart City at CE World

New York City is the biggest city in the U.S. and one of the most important to the global economy and information infrastructure. For those reasons, it’s critical that it start moving on IoT initiatives, and shocking that Minerva Tantoco is the first–ever CTO for the City, leading the mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation.

With the possibility of the number of connected devices hitting 50 billion by 2020 getting more likely by the day, cities all over the world are getting Smarter by implementing various Smart City projects, most recently in Kansas City, MO. These communities are ramping up these projects as they try to keep pace with the technology innovations in the IoT and embrace innovation while staying strategic in their growth approaches.

Tantoco is working toward New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's vision of making New York City the most innovative, tech-friendly and equitable big city in the world. Tantoco is set to deliver a keynote address at CE Week 2016 in June, a consumer technology event in NYC, and she will define what it means to be a smart city, share what New York City is planning for its IoT growth and explain why the next wave of innovation will demand technology and government partnerships.

“Simply put, a smart city must also be an equitable city,” said Tantoco. “As technologists in the digital age, we have the opportunity and responsibility to humanize tech, to harness its power to tackle the toughest urban challenges, reduce inequality and democratize society at scale.”

As CTO, Tantoco is responsible for the development and implementation of a coordinated citywide strategy on technology and innovation and encouraging collaboration across agencies and with the wider New York City technology ecosystem.

“New York City is a great example of how government and industry can work toward that goal,” she said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to address the ways that innovations in Internet of Things can be used for the public good.”

Tantoco's keynote address, “Welcome to NYC Where Tech Means Business,” will take place from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. on June 23 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.