Cities on the Horizon: Cities shaped by Youthfulness, New Thinking and Innovation
Cities are the drivers of global economies. Urbanization in emerging markets has been the dominant force of global growth in the recent decade. Given the speed with which cities in emerging economies are growing, there is an entire generation of global cities, waiting to be realized.


Session I – The art of looking sideways
The first session of Confluence 2018 showcased innovative approaches that redefine and rethink the most pressing urban issues of today.



Session II – Connecting the Dots
The second session of Confluence 2018 sought a broader view on the need for technology in shaping a city experience. MIT professor and architect Carlo Ratti spoke about the emerging area of ‘Sense-able Mobility’ based on his research and work in the area. “We must build today’s cities that are compatible with tomorrow’s needs.”



Session III – The Paradigm Shift
The concluding session of Confluence 2018 was a lively panel discussion with Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group; Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways & Coal, Government of India; and Professor Carlo Ratti. Moderated by Sangeeta Prasad, CEO, Integrated Cities and Industrial Clusters at Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd, the discussion took the audience through a variety of ‘hot’ topics around sustainable urbanisation – the much-needed ‘Paradigm Shift’ for urbanisation. Mr. Mahindra set the tone for the discussion, likening a city to a proverbial campfire of his childhood, which brings residents together: “The campfire was a place where you connected; there were conversations and there was security with the fire. Technology lights that campfire and takes me closer to it.” Professor Ratti agreed, adding that designing cities for the future must be about ‘putting not the technology, but people, at the core’. videos and images