Executives from some of the world’s biggest high-tech companies will connect with delegations from more than 30 international cities next week as Vancouver plays host to the inaugural Cities Summit.

More than 400 entrepreneurs and civic leaders are expected to take part in the summit, which will look at the future development of cities and discuss the business opportunities that could result.

“We expect that we’ll hear lots of good ideas from cities and companies around the world to help shape our decisions going forward,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson.

“The world will add three billion people to our cities in the next 40 years and that means massive business opportunities for companies that are developing new technologies. And some of those (companies) are here in Vancouver.”

The Cities Summit, which is being hosted by the city and the Vancouver Economic Commission, will include speakers like Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and author Douglas Coupland.

Elizabeth Sheehan, president of Climate Smart, a local company that works with small- and medium-sized businesses to manage waste and carbon emissions, is among those planning to attend.

“I’m really interested in the conversation that is happening among cities about the business of building our city tomorrow — a smarter city, a healthier city, a more innovative city.”

The Cities Summit runs Wednesday and Thursday at the Vancouver Convention Centre.