Cities That Came out on Top: First Edition of the World Smart City Rankings
%2Favatars%2F6UKotck4r9pz.jpg&w=96&q=75)
%2Fimg%2Fiea%2FMRw4yJx3O1%2Fsmart-cities-singaporeimd.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
IMD Business School in Singapore has just presented its first edition of the worldwide 'Smart City Index 2019,' which ranks 102 cities.
The index ranks cities based on their integration of smart technology.
While some of the top contenders are to be expected, there are also some surprising omissions from the top of the list.
RELATED: THE TECHNOLOGIES BUILDING THE SMART CITIES OF THE FUTURE
The top 10 smart cities
The IMD World Competitiveness Center’s Smart City Observatory released the index in partnership with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
"Being a globally-recognized ‘smart’ city is now critical for attracting investment and talent, creating a potential ‘virtuous cycle’ in favor of an advanced group of cities," IMD said in their press release.
The Top 10 smartest cities can be seen below 2019:
- Singapore
- Zurich
- Oslo
- Geneva
- Copenhagen
- Auckland
- Taipei City
- Helsinki
- Bilbao
- Dusseldorf
Notably, London (20th) and San Francisco (12th) aren't in the list of the top 10. In Spain, meanwhile, Bilbao is ahead of tech hub Barcelona (48th).
As the IMD release says, the index "focuses on how citizens perceive the scope and impact of efforts to make their cities ‘smart’, balancing 'economic and technological aspects' with 'humane dimensions.'"
Poorer cities falling behind
The IMD World Competitiveness Center points out that some cities might fall behind, as smart cities become more innovative, and in doing so, find it easier to innovate even further.
This loop bears similarities, and indeed is connected to, Ray Kurzweil's idea of 'the Singularity' that some predict will be brought on by artificial intelligence.
There is a need to work with poorer cities to help them keep up with the rest, IMD representatives say.
“Smart cities are growing and blossoming in all parts of the world. Economic realities cannot be ignored: cities in poorer countries face disadvantages, which will require specific actions to correct along the path towards smartness,” states Professor Arturo Bris, Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center.
SHOW COMMENT (1)
/2023/09/25/image/jpeg/WQ4nWdRcEaNVaTnsjDOCafDjT8Kb4wN18CZbUvMQ.jpg "New cases of brain-invading worms found in Southeastern US")
/2023/08/23/image/jpeg/ivMD3RG1VXLwimcDFkTj4viol8hAbysi9HLwfOik.jpg "Is medical research entering a new era of fertility treatments?")
/2023/09/25/image/jpeg/HYA7hZtTqZrTjkCVGZyraG7gixDNprFN8YzpPYkT.jpg "Constant temperature surge may lead to K-T-like extinction")
/2023/08/08/image/jpeg/fHnqDi31I8aDjZWq07Bcdw8dwQN7rR8nDchS6e9t.jpg "Improved ICEs or all-in on EVs: which is better for the future?")
/2023/09/04/image/jpeg/UEuPO8vP8YA3PICuhwuvmebK4Pl9Cm1cShTAqGB2.jpg "Chinese researchers create dancing microrobots using lasers")
/2023/09/25/image/jpeg/Q1vWmohR6BERGkQDa7BLSDwoHbKS3iHVRtg1fxxr.jpg "16-million-year-old giant spider fossil found in Australia")
/2023/08/07/image/jpeg/Ud2zDGb2iGOiBAo4pvLO543XFvNGkPlUEZCF7qSY.jpg "Why do matter and the universe exist at all? Scientists get closer to the answer")
/2023/07/31/image/jpeg/eNK3RS3ljKf5vLSQsStQ1gGHBKjS5wH9w8iL5QjE.jpg "Printed solar panels could generate power from existing infrastructure")
/2023/09/25/image/jpeg/DGcmDYyUiORG2xm7HWkWyjRJyM7QtE8b75sAMxLp.jpg "New AI method hopes to advance search for life beyond Earth")
/2023/09/25/image/jpeg/QrGYVahotQMvit1WXPMwhWH2HcKqtALSZo6UJyXS.jpg "How Will M10 Booker make The U.S. Army Unstoppable")