(New York City – October 9, 2025) The Intelligent Community Forum today announced the renewal of New Taipei City’s Full Certification as an Intelligent Community, based on an audit of the programs, policies and achievements that make New Taipei City a highly desirable place to live, work and innovate in Taiwan. 

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Demet Sinmez, Smart Urbanisation Branch Manager, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.

In part 2 of this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Bob Ferguson, Senior Master Coordinator, Fairfield/Jefferson County, Iowa.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Bob Ferguson, Senior Master Coordinator, Fairfield/Jefferson County, Iowa.

My audit of New Taipei City for its Intelligent Community Certification wrapped up with insight into how cities can get the most out of the digital transformation. We visited the Sanchong Education and Activity Center, one of four locations where people of all ages (but mostly seniors) come to learn how to use digital tech. My takeaway: if you are doing digital inclusion, cover the basics– but change things based on what’s popular. The popularity list at Sanchong starts with podcasting and live streaming, followed (of course) by AI. The Center updates its courses and workshops every year to stay current. That’s how they have trained hundreds of thousands of New Taipei citizens.

I just finished my first day of auditing New Taipei City in Taiwan for renewal of its Intelligent Community Certification. Along the way, we had lunch, as the picture shows. But in between the glasses of iced tea, I picked up noteworthy, new ways that local governments can help their existing and new companies succeed: 

#1 Improving the Odds of Startup Success with Crowdfunding

New Taipei selects startups each year – including indigenous and new residents – to benefit from crowdfunding campaigns. In six years, the city has helped nearly 80 startups each crowdsource an average of US$120,000. The money isn’t really the point. It is to help startups identify their value and road-test their messaging early in their development, based on feedback from the crowd. The city team provides a professional-grade crowdfunding campaign and supplements it with product and target market analysis, media exposure, industry and government connections and access to grants. It’s an imaginative way to support the early development of new companies.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Ane Miren Ibañez Zugazaga, Director of Modernization for Bilbao City Council.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Dave Shideler, Chief Research Officer for Heartland Forward.

Fredericton’s Knowledge Industry: A Mid-Year Update on a National Contributor

In my January commentary, I shared the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 vision: to Recognize, Support, and Elevate Fredericton’s Knowledge Economy as Fredericton’s Knowledge Industry. Now, as we find ourselves halfway through the year it’s time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the momentum we’re building amongst this era of uncertainty we have all been navigating together.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Dave Shideler, Chief Research Officer for Heartland Forward.