On November 4th, the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) led a business mission to Spain. The delegation, comprising six of Taiwan's most prominent smart city players, including Chunghwa Telecom, ASUSTeK, LITE-ON Technology Corporation, Aeon Matrix, Aeroprobing, and AdvMeds, accompanied by the Institute for Information Industry, Ministry of Transportation & Communications, Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government, and the Information Management Center, Kaohsiung City Government, visited Barcelona and Madrid, led by Ms. Cynthia Chen, Deputy Secretary-General of the Taiwan Smart City Solutions Alliance.

After a three-year hiatus, TCA's annual business mission returned. Initially intended for the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), this year's edition underwent a significant format change. TCA collaborated with the Madrid Chamber of Commerce (Cámara Oficial de Comercio, Industria y Servicios de Madrid) to host the 1st Smart City Summit & B2B Meetings, which facilitated connections between Taiwanese companies and key Spanish system integrators and solutions suppliers. Telefónica and EMT Madrid, two prominent Spanish companies at the forefront of Spain’s smart city initiatives, headlined the event and delivered insightful presentations on their ongoing projects.

During SCEWC, the delegation maximized its presence, attending all three days, exploring stands from Hungary, Luxembourg, and others, and engaging in meaningful discussions with exhibitors. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TCA and the Smart City Institute Japan (SCIJ) was also signed to further expand collaboration between both parties.

The delegation toured Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (B:SM) and its facilities, including the remote tow system, Bicing service, and Barcelona's renowned Mobility Hub—a multipurpose parking facility designed to reduce carbon footprints. The Barcelona Super Computing Center (BSC), located in the former chapel Torre Girona at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), also left a lasting impression on the delegation.

At Catalonia Trade & Investment (ACCIÓ), Minister Roger Torrent, Minister of Business and Labour, met with the delegation, and both sides engaged in discussions about opportunities in Spain and how the Catalan government could facilitate foreign investments.

The mission was a resounding success, with Taiwanese businesses engaging in substantive discussions with key Spanish players who would otherwise have been challenging to meet, gaining valuable insights into the current smart city development landscape.