IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Smart city indicator tools have become essential for governments around the world to measure the effectiveness and competitiveness of their smart city initiatives. These tools range from globally recognized frameworks, such as the IMD Smart City Index, to indicators tailored to national and cultural contexts, such as Japan's SCI-Japan Liveable Well-Being City Index or the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). These systems are crucial in supporting policy formulation and guiding strategic initiatives for smart city development.

The National Development Council said it has instructed government agencies at all levels to remove at least half of the apps developed during former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) terms due to their low user numbers and poor reviews.

Following Ma’s “e-Government” initiative, government agencies developed 278 apps and 396 Web sites from 2012 to 2014.

The e-gates are now available for inbound and outbound Republic of China passport holders aged 14 and older and at least 140cm tall at the three airports, expediting the immigration process, adding that passengers could still elect to go through manned checkpoints.

Intelligent City Forum of New Taipei City took place today. John G. Jung, Chairman and co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), Brenda Halloran, Mayor of the City of Waterloo, and Steve Reneker, Chief Information Officer of the City of Riverside met with New Taipei City Mayor Eric Liluan Chu to share their experience in intelligent and future city development. Waterloo is a city in Ontario, Canada, and was named to the world's top intelligent community for 2007. Riverside is in California and has been named to the ICF's Top Seven Intelligent Communities for three consecutive years. The forum gathers more than 200 local and overseas participants to help develop New Taipei City into a more intelligent city.

On December 25, under the announcement of Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-Mai, the Kaohsiung Smart City Committee was established. The committee is composed of leaders from the government, industry, universities, research institutes and Institute for Information Industry including Digital Minister Audrey Tang from the Executive Yuan, Lee-Feng Chien Board Member of the Board of Science and Technology, Executive Yuan, and senior executives from AWS, Microsoft, Siemens, IBM, ASE Group, Advantech, ChungHwa Telecom, FET, III among others.

Chairperson Dr. Kung Ming-Hsin of the National Development Council specifically expressed his support. He said that the living environment in Kaohsiung is similar to that of the new southbound countries and it is easier to establish contact with the southbound market. Dr. Kung further suggested that as smart cities enter the 5G era, it would create new opportunities for innovative smart applications and systems. Kaohsiung can offer its unique environment and industrial setup as a preferred POC test field and transforms into a gateway for export to new southbound countries.

Kaohsiung City is setting a new standard for sustainable urban development & better healthcare services by leveraging 5G and AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) technologies. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Kaohsiung’s vision for a smart city environment prioritizes both digital transformation and social well-being.

This ambitious plan integrates cutting-edge technologies like 5G and AIoT into public and private sectors, fostering digital governance and propelling industrial transformation. By promoting value-added traditional industries and establishing a hub for international export, Kaohsiung aims to create a unprecedented economic landscape.

On June 18th 2024, Kaohsiung Vice Mayor Charles Lin was invited to represent the Kaohsiung City Government to attend the 2nd Quarter 2024 Regular National Executive Board Meeting of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) in Manila. He delivered a keynote speech entitled “People-Oriented Smart Cities: The Experience of Kaohsiung City,” highlighting Kaohsiung’s recent efforts and successes in developing a smart city and urban transformation. During the event, he exchanged insights on urban governance with Taguig City Vice Mayor Arvin Ian V. Alit, Malabon City Vice Mayor Ninong C. Dela Cruz, San Mariano-Isabela Vice Mayor Dean Anthony G. Domalanta, and 372 other vice mayor representatives from across the Philippines.

Leosys began its efforts in 2014 to develop an AI-based preventive healthcare platform for ophthalmoscopic eye exam through a collaboration project with Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). In view of the fact that general clinical practice only focuses on early diagnosis and screening, Leosys' intention was to develop a solution that would help ease the workload of Taiwan's ophthalmologists. It then approached ITRI's Service Systems Technology Center for assistance and developed a solution on top of open-source software. The initial-stage objective is to gain recognition and support from Taiwan's healthcare sector.

According to Leosys senior vice president Tommy Tang, when talking about eye exams, people think of a lot of optical instruments and time-consuming tests. To rural residents who have to travel long distances or senior citizens who have to overcome a lot of inconveniences to get healthcare, they often put off their eye exams if they feel nothing wrong with their vision. However, eye problems progress slowly over a long period of time. If they are not caught in the early stages of development, vision loss may be irreversible, putting a huge burden on the National Health Insurance system.

Mayors of Klaipeda, Jonava meet with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai

The mayors of two Lithuanian cities on Friday (March 31) met with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) to discuss smart city development.

Vytautas Grubliauskas, the mayor of Klaipeda, the largest port city in Lithuania, and Mindaugas Sinkevicius, the mayor of Jonava, traveled to Kaohsiung for the first time to attend the Smart City Summit and Expo, Liberty Times reported. In addition to smart city development, the two mayors talked about economy and trade, culture, and art during their meeting with Chen.

Ko Wen-je says capital’s digital infrastructure key to improving quality of life for citizens

The Taipei City Government is innovating to create a livable and sustainable smart city, seeking “smart” solutions to improve quality of life issues through public-private collaborations and optimizing transport, education, and contactless services.

“The Executive Yuan has approved the ministry’s plan to use biometric identification technology at border control points and we will start collecting biometric information from visiting foreigners as well as from Taiwanese with no household registration information this year,” Deputy Minister of the Interior Hsiao Chia-chi (蕭家淇) told a press conference.

“This will better maintain border security and the safety of the public,” he added.

Hundreds of government officials from 37 countries are to participate in next month’s Smart City Summit and Expo to exchange views on topics such as sustainable development and net zero emissions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

The events, focusing on the themes digital and green transformation, are to take place from March 19 to 21 at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei and from March 21 to March 23 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center.

The fourth phase of the program has been approved and is expected to be carried out between 2012 and 2016 with a budget of nearly NT$8.5 billion (US$280 million), Chen said at the 45th annual conference of the International Council for Information Technology in Government Administration (ICA), which opened that day in Taipei.

From integrating advanced technologies to fostering community engagement, New Taipei City offers a wealth of lessons that can guide Indian cities towards a smarter and more sustainable future

New Taipei City, Taiwan’s most populous city, has emerged as a leading example of smart city development, integrating advanced technology, sustainable practices, and citizen-centric services. As India embarks on its ambitious Smart Cities Mission, there are valuable lessons to be learned from New Taipei City’s approach to urban planning and management.

Councilor delegation returns from Singapore after meeting with local companies

A delegation of New Taipei City councilors returned from Singapore this week after meetings with local companies on smart city development.

The group toured several major firms, including Microsoft Singapore, Surbana Jurong Group, United Overseas Bank, and SMRT Corporation, per CNA.

Taiwan Solidarity Union caucus whip Huang Wen-ling said at a press conference that Zain Dean, who was sentenced to four years in prison on drunk-driving charges, was able to leave Taiwan because the immigration agency botched the screening process.

Coordinated by the RDEC Minister Sung Yu-hsieh, the national conference of IT chiefs from all levels of government organizations across Taiwan provides the key platform for nationwide e-government services.

Smart cities use Wi-Fi HaLow Mesh for robust connectivity in current sensing, air quality, water, and gas metering, enabling real-time data analysis.

In the era of smart cities, the integration of cutting-edge technologies is crucial for efficient urban management. From optimizing traffic flow to enhancing public safety, the deployment of innovative solutions is reshaping urban landscapes worldwide. One such advancement lies in the utilization of Wi-Fi HaLow Mesh technology, offering robust connectivity and scalability across diverse urban environments. Leveraging this technology, cities can revolutionize data collection and analysis, particularly in areas like current sensing, air quality monitoring, water metering, and gas metering.

With a population of 2.7 million, Taipei City serves as Taiwan’s cultural, economic and political hub. However, the city has witnessed an onslaught of malicious attacks in recent years. These were driven by various motives ranging from socio-political issues to simply workplace unhappiness. In 2016, a discontented employee planted a malware in Taipei City’s bicycle sharing network. This affected thousands of residents who depended on the service for commuting.

The incident demonstrated that any form of cyber attack can lead to crippling results in the form of disruption of service.

Countries are making significant investments in smart city applications. According to one survey, consumers spend 70% of their time on transportation, making smart traffic management a lucrative opportunity for a variety of firms. Smart parking management systems integrated with charging stations have gained popularity, with businesses such as Acer and Asustek Computer targeting this market through their respective affiliates.

Peter Wu, general manager of Asus Cloud and Taiwan Web Service (TWSC), sees significant potential in the use of smart parking poles. These not only provide roadside parking but can also collect data within smart cities via AIoT. TWSC, an Asustek subsidiary, seeks to deliver integrated one-stop system services, according to Wu.