Roorkee, Uttarakhand, April 14, 2025 – In a significant step towards advancing global cooperation in smart city development and innovation, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ), South Korea, and the World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF), United Kingdom, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaborative framework for the development of a Smart Innovation Hub in Asia.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Won-sok Yun, Commissioner Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ), South Korea, Mr. Jaeown Peter CHUN, President, World Smart Cities Forum UK & Prof. Akshay Dvivedi, Dean Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee in the presence of IIT Roorkee’s Deputy Director Prof. U.P. Singh at the ‘Sarvottam Uttar Pradesh’ Event organized at IIT Roorkee’s Greater Noida Extension Centre.
This landmark partnership brings together three globally recognized institutions with a shared vision of driving urban transformation through innovation, sustainability, and technology. The Initiative is in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s commitment to position India as a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. Under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, smart cities are the building blocks of a developed, resilient, and future-ready India. As India moves confidently toward becoming a global economic powerhouse, the Smart City Mission plays a crucial role in creating scalable urban models that inspire the world while staying rooted in Indian values and inclusivity. This cooperation reaffirms IIT Roorkee’s commitment to ‘Reform, Perform, and Transform, making every city a contributor to a stronger, smarter, and more self-reliant India to create future-ready cities that empower citizens and enhance quality of life.
Under the cooperation agreement:
IIT Roorkee will act as the Knowledge Partner, contributing its academic excellence, research capabilities, and expertise in engineering, urban planning, and emerging technologies to shape the foundational frameworks of the Smart Innovation Hub.
IFEZ, one of South Korea’s most advanced economic zones, will offer infrastructure, policy facilitation, and an innovation-friendly ecosystem to pilot and implement smart city solutions.
World Smart Cities Forum, a leading international think tank based in London, will provide strategic guidance, global networking, and best practices to ensure the initiative aligns with international smart city standards and sustainability goals.
The Smart Innovation Hub is envisioned as a pan-Asian platform for collaborative research, technology development, startup incubation, and policy innovation to address the evolving needs of urban centers in the region. It aims to foster cutting-edge solutions in areas such as urban mobility, renewable energy, smart infrastructure, digital governance, and citizen engagement & aims to transform traditional urban spaces into engines of progress that reflect the spirit of ‘Shreshtha Bharat’ — an India that is excellent in governance, infrastructure, and quality of life. The institutions will also construct a lab in Songdo International City in Incheon, South Korea.
Shri Sunil Kumar Sharma, Hon’ble Minister for IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh “The collaboration is a timely and strategic initiative that resonates deeply with our Prime Minister’s vision for a digitally empowered and economically vibrant Uttar Pradesh. With IIT Roorkee as the knowledge partner, this Hub will serve as a beacon of academic-industry-government collaboration, and Uttar Pradesh stands ready to play a leading role in this transformative journey. It aligns perfectly with our Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji’s mission to create smart, secure, and citizen-centric urban ecosystems. The Government of Uttar Pradesh welcomes this initiative and views it as a tremendous opportunity to attract global investment, foster digital entrepreneurship, and lay a strong foundation for future-ready cities in our state.”
Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, virtually participated in the event and stated, “This collaboration represents a pivotal opportunity for IIT Roorkee to contribute to a global movement that leverages technology and innovation for sustainable urban development and marks the beginning of a multi-year initiative that is expected to catalyze cross-border innovation, academic-industry collaborations, and scalable innovative city projects across Asia.”
Mr. Yoon Won-seok, Commissioner of IFEZ, commented, “By joining forces with premier institutions like IIT Roorkee and WSCF, we are setting the stage for transformative growth in Asia’s smart city ecosystem. This initiative will make Incheon a beacon of smart innovation in the region. We will continue to expand our smart city model through global agreements”
Mr. Jaewon Peter CHUN, President, World Smart Cities Forum, added, “This tripartite collaboration underscores our shared commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and technologically advanced cities. Together, we aim to redefine the future of urban living.
The signing ceremony witnessed the presence of Dr. Sapna Poti, Director, Strategic Alliances, Office of PSA, Govt. Of India, Mr. Suraj Arora, Managing Director, Koya Nuclear, Dr. Buddha Chandrasekhar, Joint Secretary & CCO, AICTE, George Okongo, Minister, Finance & Planning, Kisumu County, Republic of Kenya, Mr. Divyanshu Shukla, Managing Director, Papswap Center for Public Policy, Dr. JOO Young Soup, Distinguished Professor, Seoul National University & other esteemed guests from World Smart Cities Form, Industry Partners & Invest UP.