Global electric power experts to gather in Gwangju

By Yoon Ja-young

CEOs and CTOs of the world’s leading electric power companies will gather in Korea next month to discuss the future of the industry amid digital utility and technology innovation.

The Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), the state-run power company, said that it is holding a CTO Forum at the Bitgaram International Exposition of Electric Power Technology (BIXPO), which is scheduled in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, from Nov. 1 to 3.

KEPCO has been hosting the electric power technology exhibition since 2015 to offer access to the latest technologies and trends, as well as help to build networks in the industry and create new business opportunities.

Held under the slogan “Connect Ideas, Meet the 4th Revolution,” this year’s exhibition is bigger than ever. A total of 268 companies, both Korean and international, will be participating to showcase their latest technologies. They include GE, Siemens, Doble, Oracle, Huawei, Nokia, HP and MS.

Don Tapscott, who authored bestsellers including “Paradigm Shift” and “The Digital Economy” will give a special lecture, sharing his outlook on blockchains and the energy industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

There will also be 38 international conferences, including the Smart City Global Leaders Summit and the CTO Forum.

CEOs and CTOs from 59 electric power companies in 38 countries will participate in the CTO Forum. Among them are representatives from the New York Power Authority, Ameren Missouri, and the State Grid Corporation of China.

Under the theme “Integrated Energy Network and Transition to a Digital Utility,” they will share their vision and strategies regarding the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital utility. Mike Howard, CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute in the United States, will give a speech on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the transition to digital, followed by a presentation and Q&A. There will also be a presentation on digital utility by panels including one led by Andrew Ebrill, secretary general of the Council of European Energy Regulators.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, energy businesses will hold a job fair, planning to hire around 100 jobseekers through interviews at the site.

KEPCO stressed that the exhibition will satisfy not only industry experts but anyone interested in sectors ranging from energy technologies to smart cities and technology related to climate. Visitors will experience smart home and robot secretaries as well as the latest technologies in cloud computing, VR and AR, drones, robots, big data, IoT and AI.

Diverse cultural events include a performance by the New Seoul Philharmonic, and K-Pop and traditional music concerts.