Asia has experienced a dramatic urbanization process over the past few decades. The rapid urbanization trend has reshaped Asian economies as cities generate agglomeration economies; enabling workers and firms to interact in close physical proximity; allowing specialization and nurturing entrepreneurship. Urbanized Asia has become a global powerhouse, generating more than one third of the world’s total GDP. One significant urbanization trend across Asia is the widespread prevalence of “new planned cities, where public and private sector collaborate to generate growth engine for the economy. What’ s the success factors driving new cities economic vibrancy? What’s the role of digital urban system in enhancing urban vibrancy? What’s the mechanism of public and private partnership in new city making? What’s the important yet understudied relationship between market mechanism and non-market forces such as public policy and regulations?
The energy sector is facing unprecedented challenges, with the global Covid-19 pandemic complicating an already challenging transition toward a low-carbon future. One of the key elements in addressing both the current pandemic and climate change is with forward-looking collaborations in technology development and innovation—which have long been a hallmark of MIT’s approach to problem solving.
MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) and Energy Initiative (MITEI) are pleased to present a special webinar series with leading researchers and experts in the energy domain sharing their insights on important themes: “Energy Transitions & Economics” (May 6), “Innovations in Critical Low-Carbon Technologies” (May 13), “Grid-Scale Energy Storage” (May 21) and “Scaling up low-carbon energy: Economic, geopolitical, and environmental impacts” (July 7).
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Kerri Cahoy
Kerri Cahoy Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics
After the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many business are planning to reopen. Industries that were shut down are faced with the problems not only on how to bring their workers back and keep them safe, but also how to reimagine their production, and even their products. Not all workers and businesses can be transformed into working from home, supported by internet and computer technology. There are the health care, manufacturing, logistics and service industry sectors, just to name a few, where workers must leave their homes, commute to a workplace, and conduct physical work, often coming in close contact with others.