Cities that fail to incorporate digital infrastructure will be left in the dust. We are coming to a point where technology is not simply supplementary but a necessity for proper living in urban areas. The Philippines is third in gold reserves; fourth in copper; fifth in nickel; and sixth in all other mineral deposits. We have the resources for great technology; we only have to nurture it properly.
The global smart cities market is growing: the market size was estimated at $877.6 million in 2024, and is now expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.4 percent from 2025 to 2030. The Asia-Pacific smart cities market dominated the global market and accounted for a 52.32 percent revenue share in 2024. To support the Philippines' growth of smart cities, I would like to share best practices from smart cities around the world.
What is a smart city?
Smart cities utilize technology and data collection to improve the quality of life, sustainability and efficiency of city operations. This includes information and communication technologies (ICT), the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, artificial intelligence, smart transportation, smart energy, and smart infrastructure. The US Department of Transportation has identified three hallmarks of smart cities: networks, which sense and gather data for the use of applications and city services; connectivity, which enables officials to interact directly with the community, as well as monitor and manage city infrastructure; and lastly, open data, which refers to the principle of openly and routinely sharing operations and planning data with the public.
The IMD Smart Cities Index has a reliable methodology to assess a city's "smartness" that they have been applying for years. They assess the perceptions of residents on issues related to structure and technology applications available to them. These perceptions are obtained from one of two pillars: The Structures pillar refers to the existing infrastructure of the city, and the Technology pillar refers to the technological provisions and services available to citizens. Each pillar is evaluated according to the five areas of health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and governance.
The smartest cities
The top five performing smart cities are, from first to fifth: Zurich, Oslo, Canberra, Geneva and Singapore. Zurich has ranked first for five consecutive years, maintaining eco-friendly mobile options, extensive digital infrastructure, and inclusive programs for all its residents. Oslo and Canberra have similarly begun to implement advanced smart systems to tackle urban challenges, such as AI-driven public safety programs.
What makes Zurich the "smartest"? Bruno Lanvin, the president of Smart City Observatory, cites the fact that Zurich serves as a global transport hub that maintains connections through the Kloten airport, reliable railways and well-ordered roads. Zurich is able to be both a worldwide hub and a "liveable city with strong human-centric policies." The city offers good job opportunities in the scene of innovation, which attracts investments from leading global firms and supports a dynamic and diverse lifestyle. Lanvin highlights this point, stating that sustainability — which has been gaining importance in a "smart city's" success — is more than just about energy usage and clean mobility. Cities have begun pursuing selective strategies to attract talent and investments "through net zero enterprises." Sustainable and smart cities focus not on technology but on people and on the innovations they both bring and benefit from. Citizen centricity is a vital principle to improvement.
Besides Zurich, which has maintained relative stability in its rankings, what can we learn from those cities that have greatly progressed? Taipei, at No. 16, has entered the top 20 for the first time, reflecting a dedication to building smart infrastructure to bridge the digital divide. The city has done this through the use of big data analysis, service integration and various real-time apps. They have plans for a smart government, smart economy, smart security, smart life and sustainable environment. For the smart government, all public service was integrated into a one-step solution online. To increase civic engagement, they have provided different communication channels between government and citizens, such as New Taipei City Mayor's Mailbox and New Taipei Vote. Though smart infrastructure is still improving, their use of ICF-based security systems monitors traffic and helps to update and accommodate citizens in real-time. For a smart economy, the government has been supporting businesses upgrading their use of technology and integrating things like cloud computing, big data analysis, mobile applications, and more. Toward sustainability, they have begun utilizing LED streetlights to save on energy, and identify smart buildings, e-buses and smart farmers as further goals. Their safety is also upgrading, with things such as New Taipei Fire Safety App, cloud-based certification package inquiry; New Taipei Life APP; and Smart Community App 2.0, which offer citizens real-time updates and a more convenient and safer living. The city plans to further expand their integration of AI (artificial intelligence) and technology such as drones, robots and satellites.
Getting smarter
In the process of assessing these smart cities, high concerns about health, climate and international tensions were made evident. Luckily, assessing smart cities also provides some guidance on how to address these concerns for the future of cities. The first step would be to identify and consolidate existing comparative advantages, such as geographical situation, natural environment, and particular history or cultural strengths. Then, single out particular strengths that match key emerging trends that will shape the future, such as great educational potential or physical interconnectedness. Lastly, align resources to fit strategies for said emerging trends. Regarding the growing digital transformation, trust and governance are projected to play an even larger role in technology's future-readiness and human-centeredness. As such, more attention should be given to talent strategies, education and openness. Ensuring that no demographic gets left behind in the digitization of urban spaces is of great importance in ensuring meaningful success.
European and Asian cities continue to lead in smart cities. The 2024 Smart Cities Indicator highlighted the growing importance of digital equity, affordable housing and environmental sustainability, with increasing concerns regarding security, road congestion and trust in governance. With the Philippines placing 121 out of 142, there is still some way to go before we can consider ourselves a truly "smart" city. We best look not only to the leading cities but also to those cities that have managed to make great progress given their context. We are a country with abundant resources and a great workforce — given proper governance and intelligent plans, there is no doubt about our potential to nurture the smartest cities in the world.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr.
Quelle/Source: The Manila Times, 16.06.2025
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