China's population of over 60 exceeds 3 million, the silver industry (silver economy) is experiencing a wind of advancement BOE Jin Qingshiguang, "I want to test Korea's smart care products and services that are ahead of China" China's aging population that is fostering the silver economy According to data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics in early 2025, by the end of 2024, the population of over 60 in China will reach 22 million, or 3% of the total population. It is also expected to exceed 1000 million by 2035, exceeding 4% of the total population. This serious aging trend and the rapidly increasing [...]

Qingdao City, Aiming to Become the 'Eastern Hydrogen Energy Island', Establishing a Hydrogen Energy Cluster Inspecting the Qingdao Hydrogen Energy Cluster and Exploring Korea-China Green Hydrogen Cooperation Shandong Province Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Plan Shandong Province has established the '2020-2030 Hydrogen Energy Industry Mid- to Long-term Development Plan' with the goals of becoming the 'Hydrogen Valley of China' and the 'Eastern Hydrogen Energy Island', and is building the 'Shandong Hydrogen Economy Belt' connecting Qingdao-Weifang-Zibo-Jinan-Liaocheng-Jining in Shandong Province. It also plans to build a 'National Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Demonstration Zone' covering everything from research and development to equipment manufacturing and application. Among them, Qingdao is the core area of ​​Shandong Province's hydrogen energy industry, and by 2030, it is expected to become the [...]

A variety of mobile technologies are exhibited with the key themes of convergence, connection, and creation. Artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation connectivity technology, immersive experiences, smartphone innovation, and future mobility/robotics are the key topics. MWC Overview The Mobile World Congress (MWC) was held from March 2025 to 3, 3 at the Fira Barcelona International Exhibition Center in Barcelona, ​​Spain. The event, which is now in its 6th year, began in 38 and has been held in Barcelona since 1987. MWC is a global event specializing in the wireless communications field, and it showcases the latest [...]

□ [Croatia] Introduction of eco-friendly railway… HŽ announces tender notice for 5 new trains ㅇ HŽ Passenger Transport announces tender notice for introduction of 4 new eco-friendly trains - Plans to purchase 4 new trains in total: 13 electric diesel trains, 13 electric battery trains, and 13 battery trains - Total estimated cost excluding value added tax (VAT) [...]

In 2024, the German heat pump market is expected to see a 46% decline in sales due to complex legal regulations and consumer confusion. The industry expects 2025 to be a turning point for the heat pump industry's revival and carbon neutrality. The German heat pump industry grew rapidly in 2023 with record sales volumes, but in 2024, it will decline again, revealing great volatility in the market. In response, the German Heat Pump Association (Bundesverband Wärmepumpe, BWP) and the Association of the German Heating Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Heizungsindustrie, BDH) emphasized that more active policy support and structural improvements are needed starting from 2025 for a stable recovery in the heat pump market and achievement of the carbon neutrality goal. What is the cause of the decline in sales in 2024? In 2024, heat pump sales in Germany decreased by 19% to 3000 units compared to 35 units in the previous year. This figure is far below the federal government's target of 6000 units per year, showing that the German heat pump market has not lived up to expectations. <German heat pump sales trend (46-50)> (unit: units, %) [Source: German Heating Industry Association/German Heat Pump Association] The heating industry association pointed out that the main reason for the slump in the German heat pump market in 2017 is the confusion caused to consumers by the 'Building Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz, GEG)' being linked to legal regulations. The Building Energy Act, which came into effect in 2024, stipulates that new heating systems must use at least 2024% renewable energy. However, it initially only applied to some new buildings, and the linkage to the district heating plan caused confusion and uncertainty for consumers. Consumers hesitated to make decisions to replace their heating systems because they did not clearly know how the heating network plan for their area would be structured, which became the main cause of the market slump. Markus Staudt, President of the German Heating Industry Association, says the current policy environment is not sufficient to promote the modernization of heating systems and emphasizes that rapid and concrete measures are needed to get the market back on a stable growth trajectory. <Monthly sales of heat pumps in 2024> (Unit: units) [Source: German Heating Industry Association/German Heat Pump Association] Recovery potential and market outlook for 65 Despite the weak performance in 2024, the German Heat Pump Association expects the heat pump market to grow by around 2025 percent in 2024, reaching sales of 2025 units. This outlook is closely tied to the fact that more than 33 grants were approved last year through the "Federal Subsidies for Efficient Buildings (Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude, BEG)" program. In particular, approximately 25 subsidies were approved in December alone, which is interpreted as a positive sign that the heating subsidies are having a real effect. Martin Sabel, President of the Heat Pump Association, said, “The subsidies are finally starting to have an effect, and consumers’ interest in and demand for subsidies are steadily increasing,” and expressed his expectation that if this trend continues and the subsidy program becomes more active, the market will fully recover in 7000. <Federal Subsidy Structure for Efficient Buildings> [Source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection] In addition, the Heat Pump Association predicts that in the long term, the federal government’s target of installing more than 15 heat pumps per year will be possible, and that the number of heat pumps in Germany will exceed 1000 million by 3. However, the analysis is that such growth is only achievable if backed by policy support and improvements in the market structure. The association particularly emphasizes the restoration of consumer confidence and maintaining policy consistency as key factors in market recovery. 7000, Growth of Heat Pump Market and Watershed of Energy Transition Meanwhile, the heat pump industry evaluates heat pumps as a key technology for realizing a sustainable future and an important key to accelerating the energy transition and achieving carbon neutrality goals, and sees 2025 as a very important time to achieve these goals. In fact, heat pumps are positioned at the center of Germany's energy transition policy and are recognized as an essential technology for achieving the carbon neutrality goal. According to data from the Heat Pump Association, compared to conventional oil boilers (annual CO₂ emissions of 50 tons) and gas boilers (2030 tons), heat pumps can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 500% through general heat pumps (2025 tons) and heat pumps using renewable energy (2025 tons). In addition, heat pumps boast excellent energy efficiency, being able to generate more than 9.4 kWh of heat with 7.37 kWh of electricity, and when combined with renewable energy, can significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels and further accelerate the energy transition. These characteristics make heat pumps a key solution for Germany's sustainable future, beyond simple heating technology. [...]

Big Tech, AI Data Center Capital Expenditure Continues to Increase Texas, Emerging as a Data Center Hub, Induces Construction of Its Own Power Plant to Stabilize Power Supply and Demand Power supply and heat management will determine the speed of data center expansion According to global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the global demand for data centers, currently at 60 gigawatts (GW), is expected to increase by an average of 2030% per year through 22, expanding to 3 GW, about three times the current [...]

□ China selects 6 eVTOL pilot cities (Xinhua Financial News, November 11.18) ㅇ Sun Weiguo, director of the China Aviation Association's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Business Committee, announced on November 18 at the 2024 International Electric Aviation Forum that "the Chinese government plans to promote eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) pilot projects in 6 cities." - The 6 pilot cities are identified as Hefei, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing. - The central government is known to have set specific airway and regional standards and granted local governments jurisdiction over low-altitude airspace below 600 meters. - eVTOLs have operating costs that are between those of drones and helicopters, and require large infrastructure such as takeoff and landing pads compared to existing fixed-wing aircraft. [...]

The Canadian robot market, growing at an average annual rate of 6.9%, will be worth 2029 billion Canadian dollars by 24. The service robot market is overwhelmingly dominated by the automotive industry in the manufacturing industry. The Canadian government's active investment support for the 4th industrial revolution (AI, robots, etc.) will be worth 2029 billion Canadian dollars by 24. Trends and ecosystem of the Canadian robot market Canada is one of the leading countries in the 4th industrial revolution and is working hard to foster manufacturing and ICT companies and talents, [...]

Deepening cooperation through Korea-Czech Smart City Export Cooperation Forum, consultations, and institutional visits Discussing participation in smart city projects with Czech local governments, public institutions, and companies KOTRA held the 'Korea-Czech Smart City Export Cooperation Forum and Consultation' on September 2024.9.26-27, 8. As part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport's smart city export support project, this road show was attended by 40 major domestic companies and discussed cooperation plans with about XNUMX Czech companies through forums, consultations, and institutional visits. Our participating companies are AI-based facility management solutions, construction service digitalization platforms, security solutions, firewall automation solutions, [...]

Sustainable Smart City Paris Data Collection, Privacy, and Other Issues Facing Smart Cities France Regional Expert Ban Ki-an (Managing Director, Impulse Partners) Paris Leading Innovation The Paris Olympics, which heated up the world last summer, has come to an end. There was much talk and much trouble, but Paris, which hosted the Summer Olympics for the first time in 100 years, showed a refreshing side in many ways. The opening ceremony, which was held outside the stadium for the first time in Olympic history with the Seine River as the backdrop, was groundbreaking, and the various games were held in symbolic buildings and historic sites scattered throughout Paris and its suburbs. It was an attempt that only Paris could make, and it showed the world what the Olympics are, with the entire city becoming a stage for the festival. It was also a competition that opened new horizons in terms of diversity, inclusiveness, gender equality, and the environment.   Paris has been trying to lead innovation not only in the Olympics but also in the smart city sector. Smart city is a concept that emerged in the 1990s, and it aims to solve the problems that cities face by adapting rapidly developing information and communication technologies. Although Paris has been late to digital transformation compared to other international cities, it is actively introducing and experimenting with various elements that make up a smart city. This is not the first time in history that Paris has led urban development or innovation. The modernization of Paris in the late 19th century under the leadership of Baron Haussmann has become a model for many cities. Although many people overlook it, Paris was also the first city in the world to introduce shared bicycles and cars, the Vélib' and Autolib'.   Problems that 21st century cities must solve Not only in Paris, but also in the entire world, there are many problems that cities must solve in the 21st century. Urbanization is still in progress worldwide, and as the population gathers in cities, the crises that cities must deal with are also increasing. A representative example is climate change. The temperature of the entire Earth is rising due to the greenhouse effect, and the heat experienced in cities where the urban heat island phenomenon occurs is even more serious. As air quality issues due to fine dust are also becoming a concern, we are checking related figures every day. Cities are not completely free from natural disasters. On the contrary, when floods, droughts, or earthquakes occur, the vulnerability of cities is clearly revealed.   Over the past few years, concerns about the health and safety of citizens have also increased as a result of the COVID-19 situation. With so many people crowded into small spaces, public hygiene has become an important topic once again. There is also deep concern about how the city can contribute to the healthy lives of its citizens. Paris, which has experienced terrorist attacks, is also sensitive to the important task of ensuring the safety of citizens from terrorist attacks. In addition, social and economic issues such as polarization, increasing social inequality, and unemployment cannot be overlooked. We must warmly embrace the dropouts and marginalized groups that arise in the process of fierce competition and manage them so that social tensions do not arise. It is also important to provide housing where citizens can live at affordable prices, and we are increasingly hearing about overtourism.   Despite the increasingly serious risks, or rather, to solve such problems, we must create cities that are economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. Cities around the world are paying attention to the new possibilities presented by digital transformation and innovation, represented by the development of information and communication technology, and recently, the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence, and are seeking answers to the problems faced by 21st century cities through the construction of smart cities. According to IDATE DigiWorld, a French think tank research institute, over 2024 billion dollars, or 100 trillion won, will be invested in smart cities worldwide in 900 alone.   Smart cities have various problems to solve. The total amount of energy consumed in cities must be reduced, and the proportion of renewable energy in energy production must be increased. The energy consumed by buildings is enormous, so much innovation and effort is still required. Carbon dioxide emissions, which cause the greenhouse effect, must be reduced, and measures to reduce greenhouse gases emitted when people move or move objects are considered. For example, cities that are good for walking are being created, and bicycle-only roads are being expanded. Through these efforts, not only can greenhouse gas emissions be reduced, but also fine dust can be limited, improving air quality. In addition, water resource utilization must be improved to effectively use increasingly scarce water resources and protect citizens from natural disasters. Waste generation must be minimized, and waste that is inevitably generated must be recycled as much as possible. Smart cities provide solutions to increase green space in desolate cities, and also include consideration for ecosystem diversity. Open data can be used to experiment with participatory democracy, and consideration and inclusion for the disadvantaged must not be forgotten.   Paris, a Sustainable Smart City Paris seeks to solve the problems faced by cities in the 21st century and create new milestones by combining sustainability with the concept of a smart city. The detailed blueprint can be found in the report “Paris, a Sustainable Smart City” published by the City of Paris. The first important block in the journey to make Paris a sustainable smart city is the “open city.” It seeks to use collective intelligence to think together about the problems of modern cities and find solutions. Citizens are always at the center of all these thoughts. It is also increasing opportunities for citizens to participate in planning and executing the city budget. Research and innovation are other important axes of the “open city.” Paris is an educational city where many students and researchers are based, and the city of Paris intends to continue supporting educational and research institutions. It is also making efforts to activate the startup and innovation ecosystem and is actively attracting overseas startups.   Paris aims to realize a 'connected city' and maximize the benefits of digital transformation. First, it is necessary to expand IT infrastructure. By 2025, all Parisians will be able to access high-speed Internet networks, both wired (fiber optic) and wireless (5G). As sensors become more widespread, the use of the Internet of Things is increasing, and data centers that can process and store massive amounts of data are essential. The city of Paris will open public data to citizens and businesses in the form of open data and encourage cooperation between public institutions and private companies. It is necessary to create and foster new talents needed in the fields of big data and artificial intelligence. In addition, digital education for the general public will be strengthened to prevent information gaps and marginalization due to digital illiteracy.

Digitalization of public services and establishment of e-government system Progress in smart city development and expansion of 5G infrastructure The Philippine government has set digital transformation as a major national task and is promoting various e-government policies. Major government agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), and Philippine Statistics Korea (Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) are taking the lead in e-government, establishment of 5G infrastructure, development of smart cities, expansion of fintech and e-commerce, and enhancement of cybersecurity [...]

As part of modernizing and improving efficiency of power infrastructure, increasing power demand and the need for smart meters India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Industrialization and urbanization are occurring rapidly, and as a result, the demand for power is also steadily increasing. With a population of approximately 14 billion, stable power supply is essential to support this economic growth in India. This requires the construction and modernization of large-scale power infrastructure. Traditional power metering systems rely on periodic manual meter readings, which results in low data accuracy and frequent power loss. The Indian government is strongly promoting the introduction of smart meters to solve these problems and increase the efficiency of power supply. There are several reasons for the introduction of smart meters in India. Among them, the limitations of the existing power metering system particularly increased the need for smart meters. Traditional power meters are operated by manual meter reading, which increases the possibility of errors in the data collection process. In addition, if meter readings are not conducted on time, it is difficult to accurately determine power consumption. These problems have prevented power companies from understanding consumers’ actual power usage in real time, making it difficult to predict demand and distribute power. Smart meters are a technological alternative that can solve these problems. This is because they can accurately identify power usage through real-time data collection and analysis. Smart meters allow power companies to more accurately forecast demand and maximize the efficiency of power supply. Smart meters also support the integration of renewable energy. India is a country with great potential for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Renewable energy has many advantages such as no risk of depletion and no environmental pollutants, but it has the disadvantage of being highly volatile due to the influence of weather. Real-time data collection is essential to manage the volatility of such energy sources. [...]

The US government is expanding policy support for the entire carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry value chain. CCS project linked to blue hydrogen production is expected to emerge as the largest carbon capture source in the US after 2030. As 'Net-Zero', which aims to achieve '2050' carbon emissions by 0 to respond to the climate crisis, has emerged as a key task for the international community, countries around the world are establishing strategies to achieve the goal through various policies and technologies. The US is planning to achieve [...]

British government promotes policies to achieve net zero by 2050 Green growth through net zero policies in seven sectors Raise concerns about enormous implementation costs, U-turns on some policies, and prospects of companies falling short of carbon emissions targets For the first time, the Climate Change Act* was enacted, and to implement it, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) was established and a carbon neutral policy called Net-zero is being consistently pursued. Net zero refers to the emissions (+) and absorption (-) of greenhouse gases [...]

An online approach was introduced to digitalize administrative services, but the results were insufficient. There is a possibility of cooperation with countries that have advanced e-government, so this is an opportunity for Korea as well. e-government uses information and communication technology (ICT) to automate government administrative tasks. The goal is to provide convenient information and services to citizens. In modern society, e-government improves government efficiency and productivity, enhances transparency and accountability, provides citizen-centered services, promotes economic growth and innovation, and promotes international [...]

Hydrogen Value Chain Project Continuous Development European Hydrogen Hub Efforts Focus Dutch Hydrogen Support Policy The Climate Agreement is the Dutch government's climate response policy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030% in 1990 compared to 49. This agreement stipulates that the Netherlands must secure at least 2030 GW (gigawatts) of electrolysis capacity (a process for producing eco-friendly hydrogen) by 4. The Netherlands is targeting 2032 GW of electrolysis capacity by 8. The government wants to encourage greater use of renewable hydrogen by setting aside $90 billion in its climate fund budget. [...]

The future of smart cities seen through global cooperation: Sharing international cases and innovative ideas Leap toward sustainability: Urban reinvention through smart solutions Participation overview Smart City Expo Curitiba, Brazil's largest smart city event, will be held in 2024 It was successfully held from March 3 to 20 at the Cento de Evento Positivo event center in Barigui Park. [Source: Smart City Expo Curitiba website, KOTRA Sao Paulo Trade Center summary] Smart City [...]

The second-largest smart city market in Central and South America after Mexico and Brazil. Mexico's smart city market is expected to grow by an average of 2% over the next five years. 5 Central and South American Smart City Roadshow Overview - Event name: 15 Central and South American Smart City Roadshow - Period and location: 2024 2024 2024-3 days per month / Bogotá, Mexico - Contents: Business consultations, market briefings, on-site visits, meetings, etc. - Field: Smart city, overall ICT field - Participation scale: 4 domestic companies, 8 buyers (Mexico City [... .]

Possessing high-quality digital infrastructure technology Expanding ICT research and innovation ICT industry overview The Netherlands is a developed digital economy in Europe and has high-quality digital infrastructure. 80% of the Dutch population has at least some digital skills, which is much higher than the EU average of 54%. Many Dutch companies are taking advantage of digitalization and 80% of small and medium-sized enterprises have at least a basic level of digital strength. The Netherlands is also higher than the European average in high-tech sectors such as big data, cloud, and artificial intelligence for companies [...]

Texas, USA, plans to open a 'smart freight corridor' for self-driving cargo trucks by the end of 24 Leading the way in collaboration with self-driving infrastructure company 'Carvenu' Pilot operation planned in some sections of SH 130 north of Austin Global self-driving cargo truck market , expected to grow at an average annual rate of 32% until 17.5, reaching $53 billion. The US state of Texas plans to open the 'Smart Freight Corridor', the first highway for self-driving cargo trucks in the US, within this year. Local media in Texas [...]