The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) named Hudson as one of the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2020.This is the third year in a row in which Hudson has been honored for its leadership in innovation.
“You will see several ‘repeat’ cities and communities this year, which reflects the persistence with which Intelligent Communities are building the economies and social structures for themselves and new generations. Like our reigning Intelligent Community of the Year (Taoyuan, Taiwan), they are willing to make the investments in time required to ensure that the next several generations stay ‘home’ and thrive,” said Lou Zacharilla, one of the founders of the ICF.
The award is based on six indicators that include: 1) Broadband, 2) Knowledge Workforce, 3) Innovation, 4) Digital Equality, 5) Sustainability, and 6) Advocacy. All are considered important factors in determining a community’s competitiveness in the Broadband Economy.
Selection of this group of regions, cities and towns begins the ICF’s annual eight-month process which will conclude when ICF names the 2020 Intelligent Community of the Year in June 2020 at the ICF Summit. Each has applied the six principles of ICF’s Method to begin to build local economic expansion and prosperity, social health and cultural richness. The ICF believes that these factors together make a community strong and resilient. Each community chose to make the journey from Smart City to Intelligent Community and many have been working on their programs for several years.
The Smart21 Communities of 2020 include cities and counties from 10 countries. The Smart21 Communities of 2020 are:
- Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Binh Duong Smart City, Vietnam
- Chiayi City, Taiwan
- Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Hudson, Ohio, USA
- Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
- Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- Markham, Ontario, Canada
- Matsu, Taiwan
- Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Prospect, South Australia, Australia
- Rochester, New York, USA
- Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Westerville, Ohio, USA
- Whanganui, New Zealand
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada