Five municipalities and counties in Taiwan — New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Taitung County and Hsinchu County — have been named among the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2016 by the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum (ICF).
Their inclusion gives them the potential to be awarded one of the seven Intelligent Communities of the Year.
Other finalists include eight communities in Canada, two communities each from the US and Australia, and one community each from Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden.
This year’s Smart21 Communities were selected out of nearly 150 cities and regions around the world.
The Smart21 announcement is the first stage in the ICF’s annual Intelligent Community Awards’ 12-month cycle, which will lead to the announcement of seven finalists in February next year and ultimately to the Intelligent Community of the Year award in June of that year.
The ICF annually evaluates communities according to six specific indicators, including availability of broadband services, knowledge workforce, innovation, digital equality, sustainability and advocacy.
The theme for next year’s award, “From Revolution to Renaissance,” focuses on how intelligent communities plan their futures at a time when the economy, the environment and social structures are undergoing dramatic change.
The Intelligent Community Forum studies the economic and social development of the 21st Century community and seeks to share the best practices of the world’s intelligent communities to help communities around the world establish sustainable renewal and growth.
Last year, New Taipei City, the only nomination from Asia, garnered a Top 7 Intelligent Communities award.
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