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.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Mr. Stephan Satijn, Regional Minister for Economy, Finance & Business Operations, Province of Limburg

(July 2, 2025 – New York City) – During the Top7 Conference & Announcement in Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain, the Intelligent Community Forum announced that Yunlin County, Taiwan, has achieved Provisional Certification as an Intelligent Community.

The Yunlin County, Taiwan delegation at the Top7 Conference & Announcement in Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain (June 16, 2025)

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Michelle Crandall, City Manager, Hilliard, Ohio.

Binh Duong (VNA) – With export turnover reaching 18.4 billion USD in the first half of the year, an increase of 13.9% year-on-year, the industrial hub of Binh Duong province has continued to affirm its position as one of Vietnam’s leading economic bright spots.

Despite global economic uncertainties, Binh Duong has maintained strong momentum in both exports and industrial production during the first half of 2025.

Cities in Brazil, Canada, Spain, Türkiye and the USA become finalists for Intelligent Community of the Year Award

(17 June 2025 – New York, NY, USA & Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain) – At a festive, sold-out Awards dinner tonight, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) named the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2025. The announcement was made at the conclusion of the Top7 Conference hosted by Las Rozas de Madrid – a two-time Smart21 Community in ICF’s Awards program – and its mayor, Jose de la Uz.

The seven cities become finalists in ICF’s annual Awards program. One will succeed 2024 Intelligent Community of the Year Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil in December at the ICF Global Summit (www.icfsummit.com) in Binh Duong Smart City, Vietnam. Curitiba was in attendance in Spain for the program.