What’s the future of wireless tech in Buffalo?

That topic and more will be discussed Nov. 22 during a gathering of tech leaders at UB’s North Campus. The event, being held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Union, will include officials from Verizon, Samsung, General Electric and other companies, as well as students, professors, startups and municipal leaders.

Presentations and lectures are scheduled during the morning and afternoon centering on Buffalo’s future as a smart city, how fifth generation (5G) wireless technology is leading to new industries, wireless security advancements and the “internet of things,” which is shorthand for the connection of everyday devices to the internet.

A full schedule is available online.

As part of the event, UB students will demonstrate the technology they’re developing, including drone platforms, parking spot finders, crop monitoring tools, security systems and more. These demonstrations will take place from 12:30-2 p.m. in the second floor flag room of the Student Union.

Filippo Malandra, assistant professor of research in the Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, is one of the event’s organizers.

While the event is an opportunity to showcase the excellent work of UB engineering students, he says it’s also an opportunity for broader discussions about the positive role that technology can play in building smarter, more resilient communities.

“Developing smart cities that leverage technology to make communities safer, healthier and more equitable is a complex objective. This can only happen if three key actors — industry, municipalities and academia — work together,” Malandra says. “Meeting like this will help ensure Buffalo and other cities are working toward this realization.”

Additional organizers of the event from the Department of Electrical Engineering are Zhangyu Guan,​ Nicholas Mastronarde, Zhi Sun and Shaofeng Zou. Former UB faculty member Josep M. Jornet, now of Northeastern University, is also an organizer.