Livability and sustainability

Livability is of great significance to a city's future. Ferguson said that Guangzhou boasts a good environment and can further promote a low-carbon and green city through reducing the use of cars. "Being a green city is the best brand for Guangzhou.

Ferguson thinks there is no point in having all these technologies without an understanding of how those technologies could be used to improve individual's life.

"Innovation is not just about technologies, but the best innovation is making life healthier for the citizens," Ferguson said. "It fits well with the Guangzhou innovation award and for the ambitions of mayors."

To develop a sustainable city, Ferguson said the government should be working with private sector rather than keep it at bay.

"Guangzhou could be the green mega city of the world, it is a big challenge to become a green mega city. But it's a simple message: low carbon and green city."

According to Nicholas You, one of the initiators of the Guangzhou Award and Director of Global Programs and Partnerships at the Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation, inspiring people is a major goal.

"The organization of the Guangzhou Award and workshops like this provide an open platform to share experience and learn from each other and improve from cities around the world," said Nicholas You.

The most important point of the set-up of the Guangzhou Award, in Nicholas You's point of view, is that "those awarded cases can inspire other cities and can be applied across various situations".