In this episode of the Intelligence Test, ICF Co-Founder Robert Bell has a conversation with John Jung, Co-Founder, Intelligent Community Forum and Wendy Dupley, Economic Development Advisor, Langley City, BC, Canada.
John Jung and Wendy Dupley discuss the critical and common elements of community intelligence, using two Top7 Communities of 2025: Bursa Metropolitan Municipality (Türkiye) and Hilliard, Ohio (USA) as examples.
Hilliard is a city of 38,000 located in the state of Ohio in the USA. Located in the metropolitan region of Columbus, Hilliard is a model of small-city innovation and growth on a technology foundation. In just a few years, its municipal dark-fiber network has attracted many service providers, while connecting companies, schools, and city buildings, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Its partnership with Amazon Web Services brings technology and business education into schools, while the city and its partners have launched more than a dozen apprenticeship programs in technology, healthcare, and IT. The Hilliard City Lab is guiding high-tech companies to prototype new technologies, including an automated drone network to support first responders, which NASA, the US Air Force, and other government agencies expect to become a national template. In May, the city opened an A.I. Sandbox, allowing Hilliard businesses to test artificial intelligence concepts and products without exhausting their budgets. Hilliard is a three-time Top7 Community, and is a Fully Certified Intelligent Community. https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/hilliard_ohio
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality in Türkiye is a city of 3.2 million people where the echoes of history harmonize with the rhythms of modernity. By deploying citywide free Wi-Fi, real-time surveillance systems, smart lighting, and interactive urban furniture, Bursa has significantly enhanced digital connectivity and public services. The city has built a powerful innovation ecosystem through initiatives like the B-CUBE Smart City and Innovation Centre and the Bursa Model Factory, which foster entrepreneurship, technological advancement, and Industry 4.0 adoption. Bursa also champions inclusive governance through participatory programs such as the “Mayor is Here” initiative and the Strategic Plan Survey, ensuring that residents actively shape the city’s future. Bursa is a one-time Top7 Community. https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/bursa_metropolitan_municipality
