SSG-Bridge

UK Symposium on Smart Sustainable Green Cities

Enhancing Urban Resilience and Sustainability through 

 UK-India Collaboration

Hybrid Event

23 - 24 June, 2026

🏛  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.

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we want to ensure equitable access and participation in this project.

🔹 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

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

Partners and Supporters