The International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) World Congress 2023 was successfully held at PACIFICO Yokohama from July 9 to 14. The city’s synergy with the conference’s vision, explained by IFAC President Hajime Asama as “to solve societal problems and also to create societal values,” is set to reinforce Yokohama as the leading destination city in Asia for international conferences with a lasting legacy.

YCVB‘s Yokohama Companies Joint Exhibition program aimed to create synergy between conference attendees and Yokohama’s companies. At the IFAC World Congress 2023, YCVB arranged a joint-exhibition space where Yokohama businesses and conference attendees could find meaningful connection with each other and with the city itself.

Finding creative solutions

YCVB and the City of Yokohama recognize the need to build inclusivity into conferences, working with the local community to find creative solutions to the societal problems discussed at events. At the IFAC World Congress 2023, the “Girls in Control” programming workshop, jointly funded with the city of Yokohama, introduced young female students to automated control in an accessible way.

“To attract women to this field is a priority, especially young girls,” says Professor Bozenna Pasik-Duncan, winner of the IFAC Foundation Diversity and Inclusion Award.

YCVB and Yokohama actively work together with event organizers to create forward-thinking and inclusive programs that will have a positive impact beyond the conference itself.