4 Taiwan municipalities win ICF smart city honors

2014-10-29

Changhua County, New Taipei City, Taitung County and Taoyuan County are included on the 2015 Smart21 Communities list recently announced by New York-based Intelligent Community Forum.

It is the first time for Changhua and Taitung in central and southeastern Taiwan, respectively, to earn the honor. New Taipei and Taoyuan have been named on the list several times before.

Taitung Magistrate Justin Huang said the ICF recognition reaffirms the success of local government efforts aimed at developing the county into a world-class intelligent community. “More importantly, it will help promote Taitung as a municipality focused on innovation, industry and education.”

The list is compiled on the basis of five indicators: advocacy, broadband, digital inclusion, innovation and knowledge workforce, as well as the theme Revolutionary Community. The other countries with 2015 Smart21 communities are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, New Zealand and the U.S.

According to the ICF, the 21 communities are to be further assessed, with the seven highest scoring named Top 7 Intelligent Communities in a Jan. 22, 2015, ceremony in Taichung City. At an event in Toronto next June, the No. 1 ranking community will succeed the Canadian city as Intelligent Community of the Year.

Taiwan has been a regular feature on the list, with Taipei City and Taichung City winning the top ICF award in 2006 and 2013, respectively. Taipei also made the top seven in 2004. New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu won an ICF Founders Award in 2009 during his capacity as Taoyuan County Magistrate.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=223342&CtNode=413)