Communities from nine nations, including Greece and New Zealand, named this year

(24 February 2022 – Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada & New York, New York, USA) – At the conclusion of a virtual conference co-hosted by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) and Economic Development Winnipeg, ICF today named the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2022. The selection of the annual Smart21 Communities of the Year marks the beginning of the annual nine-month process which will conclude when ICF names the 2022 Intelligent Community of the Year in October at the ICF Summit. Winnipeg was the 2021 Intelligent Community of the Year.

Each of the cities, towns, or regions that appear in the Smart21 have applied the six principles of the ICF Method to begin building inclusive economic prosperity, social health and cultural richness, which together make a community strong and resilient. Most have been working on their programs for several years.

The announcement concluded a virtual conference with the theme From Conflict to Community, which examined both historic and current conflicts within our communities and what we can learn from them to move forward. Speakers from organizations such as the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, The Carter Center, Silicon Harlem, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation participated in the event, which can be viewed on demand starting on Monday.

“Despite the pandemic and the epidemic of anger and contempt that has spread to parts of the globe, most Intelligent Communities remained focused on working through COVID, identifying what they need to know to continue their digital transformation and applying many of the innovations that have come from it,” said ICF Co-Founder, Lou Zacharilla, who hosted the Awards Ceremony announcing the Smart21 Communities of 2022. “Remarkably, these 21 all share the quality of staying on course on behalf of citizens and continue to use the ICF Method. This year, as we are doing in Winnipeg, we will be asking them to help us understand the nature of the conflicts within states and communities and to share best practices for moving away from the darker impulses that have taken hold.”

Following this announcement, the Smart21 will complete detailed questionnaires providing more information on their communities. From this data, ICF Analysts will select seven to be named the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2022 at a conference taking place in June. The Top7 will be the focus of the 2022 ICF Global Summit in October, where one will be named the Intelligent Community of the Year.

The Smart21 Communities of 2022 include cities and counties from eight countries. The announcement video may be viewed below. The video is available by request as a high-resolution download.

The Smart21 Communities of 2022:

• Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• Alexandria Lakes Area, Minnesota, USA
• Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
• Binh Duong Smart City, Vietnam
• Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
• Durham Region, Ontario, Canada
• East Central Region, Minnesota, USA
• Elefsina, Attica, Greece
• Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada
• Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
• City of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
• Markham, Ontario, Canada
• New Taipei City, Taiwan
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Prospect, South Australia, Australia
• Rochester, New York, USA
• Seat Pleasant, Maryland, USA
• Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
• Townsville, Queensland, Australia
• Whanganui, New Zealand

The Smart21 are selected by ICF based on quantitative and qualitative data related to the six Factors of the ICF Method. The data and information are evaluated by a global team of Analysts led by Columbia professor, former Cisco executive and former Westchester County (New York) CIO, Dr. Norman Jacknis. Dr. Jacknis serves as a Senior Fellow of the Intelligent Community Forum. The ICF Method provides the conceptual framework for understanding the factors that determine a community’s competitiveness in economic, social and cultural terms. Click here to learn more about the ICF Method.

About the Intelligent Community Forum
The Intelligent Community Forum (www.intelligentcommunity.org), headquartered in New York, is a global movement of 190 cities, metro regions and counties with a think tank at its heart and a mission to give everyone’s “hometown” a prosperous and inclusive future. ICF studies and promotes the best practices of the world's Intelligent Communities as they adapt to the new demands and seize the opportunities presented by information and communications technology (ICT). To help cities and regions build prosperous economies, solve social problems and enrich local cultures, the Intelligent Community Forum conducts research, hosts events around the globe, publishes books, and produces its high-profile annual international awards program. The Forum sponsors research Institutes in North America dedicated to the study of the movement, and national organizations in Canada and Taiwan, both home to many Intelligent Communities. In 2012 ICF was invited to participate at the Nobel Peace Prize conference in Oslo and in 2014, its model and work was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which, according to the American government, was "aimed at creating a more flexible and responsive system of workforce development to meet the needs of employers looking to fill 21st century jobs.” For more details on the Intelligent Community Forum’s programs, visit www.intelligentcommunity.org.

Intelligent Community Forum Contacts
Matthew Owen
Director of Operations
Intelligent Community Forum
Phone: +1 646-291-6166 (x105)
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Newcommunities

Victoria Krisman
Communications Manager
Intelligent Community Forum
Email: [email protected]