Shaping the urban age
Shaping the urban age
Over the past three years, my work in Southeast Asia and Japan expanded to the Global South, exploring urban development, engaging with international networks and innovation initiatives, and applying these insights locally in Brittany.
The Thailand Smart City Expo 2025 offered a concise but revealing snapshot of Southeast Asia’s race toward urban digitalization. While Bangkok showcased its Digital Twin efforts, regional players — from Japan to Taiwan — highlighted competing narratives and standards. Beneath the buzz, fragmented governance and data silos still challenge Thailand’s ability to turn smart city pilots into coherent, scalable systems.
Visiting Expo 2025 Osaka revealed a striking mix of ambition and uncertainty. Beneath the architectural brilliance and corporate optimism, the event reflected Japan’s search for identity between technology and society, and the Global South’s struggle for modern narratives. The Expo stands as a mirror of our times—where spectacle often outshines substance.