United Press International
Jan. 18, 2007
Seven cities in North America, Europe and Asia were named the world’s most “intelligent communities” by a non-profit New York job-creation think tank.
The seven cities deemed intelligent communities — “role models for the world’s best practices in creating competitive local economies and vibrant societies” — are Dundee, Scotland; the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea; Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, outside Paris; Ottawa and Waterloo, Ontario; Sunderland, England; and Tallinn, Estonia, the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum said.
While all cities were cited for their leadership, high-tech Waterloo was recognized for its “university-business-government collaboration, enlightened intellectual-property policies and a culture of reinvestment in the community.”
Gangnam, South Korea’s equivalent of Silicon Valley, “is setting global standards for e-government services delivered via broadband, cable TV, mobile phone and other technologies, which have increased the transparency and responsiveness of government,” the forum said.
Issy-les-Moulineaux “has created the most advanced broadband economy in France.”
Tallinn “took an unprecedented gamble on information and communications technology” and has had 10 years of 5 percent or more economic growth a year.
The overall winner will be announced on May 18.
