Intelligent Cities: Transforming the Mechanical Kingdom

On 7th June, Taichung City in Taiwan was named Intelligent Community of the Year—an international award that has been running for 14 years, and is given after a year-long evaluation by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF).

ICF studies cities and regions that use information and communications technology for more than playing computer games. This kind of technology is the new infrastructure of the global economy, and cities that lead in it are increasingly economic leaders as well.

ICF gathers information on how successful communities turn the tools of the broadband economy to their advantage, generating local economic value. They offer case studies in developing knowledge-based economies and share strategies for accelerating innovation among businesses and government. But economic success alone is not enough. Intelligent communities also fight the marginalisation of those without digital-age skills. In Taichung—nicknamed the Mechanical Kingdom because of its reliance on manufacturing—there has been a long-term strategy to redevelop the economy on high-tech parks. The advantages of the city have been rolled out to rural and tribal areas—90 per cent of the surrounding county now has 4G coverage.

ICF has repeatedly seen stagnant economies, often reeling from economic and social crisis, shift gears and prosper using such strategies. Candidates for the award are judged on an in-depth questionnaire, evaluated by an independent research firm, and a site inspection. An international jury then casts its vote. All of the data, available online, flowed into the decision to name Taichung as Intelligent Community of the Year.