(11 February, 2026 – New York, NY, USA & Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) and EXXAS today jointly announced a strategic partnership aimed at supporting communities across Brazil in engaging with the global intelligent community movement.
Through this collaboration, EXXAS will work closely with Brazilian cities and regions to help them participate in ICF programs and initiatives, including submissions to ICF’s annual Awards Program, Certification of Intelligent Community status, membership with ICF, participation in international delegation trips, and other opportunities for global learning and recognition.
EXXAS brings deep familiarity with the ICF Community Accelerator Strategy and methodology, combined with extensive regional experience in innovation-driven development across Brazil. This positions the firm to effectively guide communities as they work to strengthen their economic, social, and technological foundations and advance to the next stage of intelligent community development.
“ICF is excited to be working with EXXAS to help more Brazilian communities join the intelligent community movement,” said ICF Executive Director Matthew Owen. “We’ve seen in recent years a trend of innovation coming from Brazil, exemplified by communities such as 2024 Intelligent Community of the Year Curitiba and multiple-time Top7 Community Assaí. We look forward to seeing more Brazilian communities go from smart to intelligent, and EXXAS will help them on this journey.”
“At EXXAS, we are dedicated to finding new ways to support Brazilian cities in their development, and we see immense potential for our territories to reach world-class standards," said EXXAS CEO Giovani Bernado. "Our focus on Innovation Governance has found a strong connection with the work of ICF. This collaboration represents a perfect alignment of principles that will accelerate the journey of our communities toward a smarter future.”
As part of this growing collaboration, EXXAS CEO Giovani Bernardo will participate in the upcoming ICF Smart21 Conference in Curitiba this March, where he will also serve as a panel moderator. EXXAS will also be offering a side event during the week of the Curitiba Smart City Expo for Brazilian cities, towns, and regions interested in intelligent community development. Communities interested can reach out to Isadora Monteiro at EXXAS by [email protected]
About the Intelligent Community Forum
Starting in 2000 with a research project comparing cities in various nations, the Intelligent Community Forum (www.intelligentcommunity.org) created a unique, data-driven approach to development that puts citizens first while tapping the enormous economic and social potential of technology. In a world dominated by digital, ICF’s mission is to help communities create innovative and growing economies, inclusive societies and affirming cultures open to the world. We do it for communities large and small, in urban clusters and outlying suburbs and rural places through training, consulting, assessment, certification and award programs. ICF believes that digital connectivity and technology create the opportunity for almost every community to develop a dynamic local economy and the social and cultural strengths that go with it – giving them all a chance to be great places to live, work, learn, grow, raise a family and prepare a path for the next generation.
The Forum sponsors 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 information, go to www.intelligentcommunity.org/icf_membership. For more details on the Intelligent Community Forum’s recent publications and programs, www.intelligentcommunity.org.
About EXXAS
Specialized in innovation governance, EXXAS (www.exxas.com.br) provides the structure for ecosystems, organizations, and territories to achieve directed and efficient impact. Backed by nearly 15 years of experience, the firm integrates public and private sector practices to deliver solutions that bridge the gap between strategic planning and practical execution.
Operations span from macro to micro levels, including regions, cities, and innovation environments, through a proprietary approach that integrates governance rituals, performance indicators, and a management platform to ensure continuity and measurable outcomes.
For further information, please go to www.exxas.com.br. To view our recent publications, access www.exxas.com.br/blog
Contacts
Auri Yates
Communications Manager, Intelligent Community Forum
Email: [email protected]
Isadora Monteiro
CMO and Partner, EXXAS
Email: [email protected]
