Open Source: Demographics Reinventing Mobility and Smart City Design

18 Sep Open Source: Demographics Reinventing Mobility and Smart City Design

How can we reshape urban mobility and smart city design to meet the needs of a world that is both ageing and evolving rapidly?

That bold question set the stage for our lunchtime session on “Demographics: Reinventing Mobility and Smart City Design,” held on 15 September 2025, and moderated by Koon Kok Kwong (Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab). Far beyond just a discussion, the session was a springboard for rethinking how we can future-proof our cities through collaboration and innovation … and to seek collaborations as it takes a village to do so.

We are deeply grateful to the speakers from Lions Befrienders (LB), KONE, and CapitaLand Development (CLD), who each brought valuable perspectives to this important conversation.

From Karen Wee (LB), we heard how tech-enabled care is helping seniors age well at home — improving not just quality of life, but productivity. Through a range of breakthrough technology trials — including bringing rehabilitation into community spaces — LB is making ageing in place more accessible, personal, and dignified.

Effie Chew (KONE) and John Lee (CLD) added dimension to the conversation by reimagining both infrastructure and the built environment. Effie provided a forward-thinking look at how infrastructure planning is evolving to support an ageing population. With a strong focus on accessibility, inclusivity, and safety, KONE is ensuring that every mobility interaction is intuitive and people-first. Meanwhile, John presented a compelling vision of urban development shaped around people, along with mobility strategies that align with national objectives. Developments should reflect a distinct identity with a sense of grace, while delivering vibrant, integrated mixed-use environments, pedestrian-centric and car-light mobility, smart connectivity, and future-ready resilience etc.

As Koon Kok Kwong aptly noted, innovation takes a village — and this session sparked rich dialogue on how emerging demographics, from ageing populations to robotics, are reshaping mobility and smart living.

Thank you to all who joined us in advancing the vision of aging in place through inclusive, human-centered design and future-ready mobility. Let’s keep building a future that works for everyone.