The city of Yokohama is set to hold the 22nd World Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC World Congress) in 2023. The decision to
choose the Japanese city over the other two remaining finalists, Chicago and Melbourne, was made at the recent IFAC Council meeting in Istanbul.
The Division Committee of IFAC and the Science Council of Japan both put their weight behind the Yokohama bid. The city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau, the city of Yokohama, PACIFICO Yokohama and the Japan Tourism Agency and Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO) also provided instrumental support.
The enthusiasm and future vision of Japanese scientists played a major role in the choice, according to the bureau.
The city is easily accessible from major airports and boasts an excellent public transit system. Meeting facilities, hotels, shopping malls, and more all located in one general area and a high level of safety of the area, and Japan in general, was also part of the appeal.
Japan last hosted the congress in Kyoto in 1981.
The 2023 congress will take place in July at the PACIFICO Yokohama venue and organisers expect 2,500 participants, including 1700 from abroad. It will be chaired by Professor Hajime Asama from the University of Tokyo, School of Engineering, Department of Precision Engineering.
The stated aim of the congress is to advance control science and technology through research, development and application of automatic control and systems engineering, while taking into account a harmony of traditional culture and innovation. Impact on society is also a major concern.
The IFAC World Congress is held every three years. The next edition is to be held in 2017 in Toulouse, France.
Photo courtesy of Pacifico Yokohama.
