The World's Most Intelligent Communities?

The Most Intelligent Community of the Year will be announced in May. However, the intelligent city finalists are:

• Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
• Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
• Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario-Quebec, Canada
• Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom
• Tallinn, Estonia
• Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

The Intelligent Community Forum selects the Intelligent Community list based on how advanced the communities are in deploying broadband, building a knowledge-based workforce, combining government and private-sector "digital inclusion," and fostering innovation and marketing economic development.

"The Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year provide role models for the world's best practices in creating competitive local economies and vibrant societies in today's hyper-competitive global economy, which broadband communications is increasingly linking into a dynamic whole. In the "broadband economy," adaptability outweighs legacy, skills rather than resources are the keys to the future, and innovation, not location, creates a competitive advantage."

Some of the nominated cities' accomplishments, according to the ICF, include:

Dundee, Scotland:

"By 2006, Dundee had achieved 100% broadband coverage through the private sector, supplemented by wireless pilot projects, with 33% penetration as of 2005, and local schools enjoying data rates up to 15 Mbps."

Issy-les-Moulineaux, France:

"Even more impressive has been the impact on that growing population. There are six alternative broadband providers serving Issy today, and Wi-Fi covers all public buildings and the entire business district. According to an April 2006 survey, 89% of the population uses the Internet daily, compared with a French average of 56%."

Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

"By 2005, about 29% of transactions between government and citizens or businesses were taking place via the portal, and tax payments worth US$3 billion were collected online."