FI: Meet the Ethical Smart City: Helsinki
Helsinki regularly appears in the top ranking of the world’s “most liveable cities", and that is due to the innovative approach of the City's residents, private companies, universities and government to embracing new ideas.
Now, the City of Helsinki seeks to lead the way in using data and AI and aims to show the way for other cities worldwide.
Why Canada's Smart Cities Challenge is missing the mark
The Canadian federal government launched the Smart Cities Challenge in 2017 to award up to $50 million to municipal governments that are best able to leverage technology to improve life in their cities.
The challenge is part of the government’s Impact Canada Initiative, which aims to address complex economic, environmental and social problems across the country.
IN: Tomorrow’s real estate: How smart will it be?
In June 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Smart Cities Mission (SCM), which identified 100 cities that need infrastructure improvements as well as a clean, sustainable environment. Over 7,800 projects were supported through the Smart City Mission with the goal of facilitating economic growth and improving quality of life in selected cities.
Gone are the days when India’s progress was measured by only its metropolitan cities, their infrastructure and employment rate. Now, modern India is rewriting the past with a digital upgrade that not only promises to be more sustainable, impactful, connected and seamless but is also looking to set an example for the world through its tier2 and tier3 cities which are scripting the country’s future. Surat, Indore and several other Indian cities are following suit.
US: ‘Smart Cities,’ internet of things are maturing – and Research Triangle Park is helping lead the way
I spent last week in Washington DC, speaking at and participating in a number of Smart City conversations. One day was spent with the Canadian consulate and a number of startups bringing technology to the public sector. RIoT led a startup pitch competition at Smart Cities Connect, the most significant US conference that covers the intersection of technology, data and the communities we live in. And I had the opportunity to lead a keynote conversation about regional technology collaboration.
The Smart City market sector is growing rapidly. The majority of projects and progress is at the municipal level. That is why conferences and other forms of convening are so important, so local governments can share best practices and learn from each other. But there is still a long way to go before we could truly call Smart Cities mature.
Why Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge is missing the mark
The Canadian federal government launched the Smart Cities Challenge in 2017 to award up to $50 million to municipal governments that are best able to leverage technology to improve life in their cities.
The challenge is part of the government’s Impact Canada Initiative, which aims to address complex economic, environmental and social problems across the country.