SSG-Bridge
UK Symposium on Smart Sustainable Green Cities
Enhancing Urban Resilience and Sustainability through
UK-India Collaboration
Hybrid Event
23 - 24 June, 2026
Time : 9:30 AM - 5PM (BST)
🏛 The Recital Hall,
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
(200 Jennens Road, Birmingham B4 7XR)
Birmingham City University – UK
About Symposium
SSG-Bridge Symposium
Enhancing Urban Resilience and Sustainability through UK-India Collaboration
The UK Hybrid Symposium, hosted by Birmingham City University (BCU), is the capstone event of the SSG-Bridge project—a pioneering UK–India collaboration focused on enhancing urban resilience.
The symposium showcases interdisciplinary research on Smart, Sustainable, and Green (SSG) cities, addressing key challenges such as biodiversity, water quality, and air pollution.
🔹 Research Showcase: Live presentations from Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
🔹 Expert Insights: Keynote talks and interactive panel discussions
🔹 Live Engagement: Q&A sessions with leading experts
🔹 Networking: Cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange opportunities
This event is for anyone who is involved or interested in exploring Smart, Sustainable, and Green (SSG) cities. Whether you are driving policy, designing innovative technology, or advocating for your local environment, join us to connect, collaborate, and drive real-world impact.
This symposium is specifically designed for forward-thinking professionals and changemakers, including:
🔹 Solution providers for smart, sustainable, green/net-zero cities
🔹 City authorities
🔹 SSG Consultants / Advisors
🔹 Academics (Early Career Researchers and Senior Academics)
🔹 Industry leaders
🔹 Community stakeholders
🔹 The SSG-Bridge UK Symposium is an action-oriented platform designed to bridge the gap between research, policy, and real-world urban development, creating unparalleled opportunities to connect, collaborate, and shape future urban strategies.
🔹 Discover the findings of our comprehensive feasibility study comparing two major industrial hubs, Birmingham (UK) and Ludhiana (India).
🔹 Listen to high-level keynotes and panel discussions featuring top civic authorities, industry innovators, and community advocates.
🔹 Explore innovative, actionable research presented by our international Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and view the outcomes of 10 live transdisciplinary projects covering smart transport, wastewater management, and green infrastructure.
🔹 Connect with a diverse, high-level mix of international policymakers, industry solution providers, city consultants, and academics to build long-term, impactful partnerships.
🔹 Accessibility Support: Financial assistance is available to support participants with disabilities, including costs for mobility aids, interpreters, or other necessary services to ensure full participation.
🔹 Childcare Support: We offer funding to help cover additional childcare arrangements, enabling participants to attend and engage fully.
Confirmed speakers and panelists
We are bringing together a diverse group of academic experts, industry leaders, and policymakers to share their insights on building SSG cities. Our sessions will feature perspectives from across the UK and India.
Dr. Vahid Javidroozi
Principal Investigator, Associate Professor in Smart City Systems, Birmingham City University (BCU)
Dr. Neeta Raj Sharma
Partner Project Leader, Professor & Sr. Dean, Lovely Professional University (LPU)
Professor Cham Athwal
Project Expert (UK), BCU
Dr. Prem Kumar
Project Expert (India), MBCIE Ludhiana
Col CM Lakhanpal
Community Partner Lead, The Public Action Committee (PAC)
Dr. Abdul Qayoom
Co-Investigator (UK), ECR and Lecturer, Faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment, BCU
Dr. Suruchi Jindal
Co-Investigator (India), ECR and Assistant Professor, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, LPU
Sh. Himanshu Jain
IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana
Catherine Hadfield
Strategic Lead, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, Birmingham, UK
Raj Mack
Head of Digital City and Innovation, Birmingham City Council.
Samta Tayade
Project Associate and Researcher for the Feasibility Study
Mr. Mandeep Singh
Early Career Researcher (ECR), School of Electronics and Communication, LPU
Dr. Ajay Singh
Early Career Researcher, Mittal School of Business, LPU
Dr. Awadhesh Kumar
Early Career Researcher, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, LPU
Agenda
Day 1 – SSG Challenges and Practices
SSG-Bridge Symposium
10:15 – 10:25 Context Setting – Dr Vahid Javidroozi
11:00 – 11:30 Birmingham's Digital Strategy Overview – Mr. Raj Mack
11:30 – 12:00 Higher Education's Impact on Urban Sustainability – Prof. Neeta Raj Sharma
12:00 – 12:30 Building the Knowledge Quarter in Birmingham – Catherine Hadfield
Members: Prof. Cham Athwal, Prof. Neeta Raj Sharma, Dr Vahid Javidroozi, Mr. Himanshu Jain, Mr. Raj Mack
IoT and Machine Learning-Enabled Automated Chemical Dosing System for Effluent Treatment Plants
AI-Powered Electricity Management System for Enhancing Urban Resilience and Sustainability
Participants: All
Day 1 Feedback
Day 2 – SSG Adoption and Next Steps
SSG-Bridge Symposium
10:40 – 11:10 Role of NGOs in Sustainable Development – Col. Chandra Mohan Lakhanpal
11:10 – 11:40 Community Engagement for Sustainable Development – Dr. Suruchi Jindal
11:40 – 12:10 SSG-Bridge Student Projects – Prof. Neeta Raj Sharma & Dr Vahid Javidroozi
Members: Dr. Prem Kumar, Col. Chandra Mohan Lakhanpal, Dr. Suruchi Jindal, Dr. Abdul Qayoom Hamal
Mapping the Knowledge Landscape of Waste Management Research
Miss Samta Tayade
16:40 – 16:50 Summary and Vote of Thanks – Dr Vahid Javidroozi
16:50 – 17:00 Closing Speech – Prof Adel Aneiba
Partners and Supporters
