The three-day Builtworlds Construction + Tech conference — which has grown to 250-plus presenters, including tech titans like Microsoft and Google, along with Huawei USA, IBM and Siemens — kicks off Tuesday at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies at Michigan Avenue and Lake Street.

The ConteQ Expo 2024, Qatar’s first-of-its-kind expo focused on tech in construction and services, has opened its doors at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).

That includes more than 250 exhibitors from 24 countries, and highlighted by technological advances in 3D printing, robotics, drone technology, cybersecurity and construction research.

Organised by Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the event will also host tech giants including Microsoft, Google, Siemens, Huawei and IBM who are looking to “gather around enthusiasts, professionals and investors”.

In a statement, the Ashghal said: “The show will exercises a paradigm technology shift in construction and services industry attracting approximately 15,000 visitors over three days.

The conference has five other joint organizers: the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI), the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), and the Ministry of Labor (MOL).

The exhibition also features several pitching and discussion zones along with pavilions for SMEs, small Qatari start-ups and companies providing technology in construction services.

The show has a fresh idea to be explored by the people while developing a project or digitize an existing one,” added Nayef Rashvan, Chief Executive Director at Noqoody – Doha based Fintech company. One of the companies that was present in the Qatari start-up pavilion was Ravshan.CONTENT-REMOVED

“Those steps towards fintech, into digital solutions, I believe it changes lives for the better,” he told Doha News.

Shinichiro Ota, an executive researcher in Fujita Group said exhibitions like this are very important for further discussions of the use of cutting-edge technologies in construction and management.

While smirking as he piloted a monitoring robot his company uses in construction sites, Ota declared: “We are here to convey our vision as a company and how we can get it with the latest technologies.”

The expo will also feature over 60 speakers until Sept. 18 to discuss efficiency and sustainability in construction and services, as well as public-private partnerships involving changing digital landscapes.

“Honestly, I am quite surprised,” he told Doha News.

Adam Rocha didn’t plan on attending the exhibition, but decided to drop by “to get an understanding of the technologies that they have available and how it works with construction projects,” he added; Instead, he learned about drones, AI and IOT [internet of things], labeling unveiling as a “huge opportunity”.

“Just when you are in town for conferences like these, if you don’t go and miss out such learning opportunity,’ he said.