The city of Izmir, known in classical antiquity as Smyma, has more than 3,000 years of recorded history and has been a human settlement since the Neolithic period. It has played a key role in the region's economy for centuries as a major trade port city and population center and is currently home to over 3 million citizens. Izmir is also home to many remarkable landmarks, including the Agora Open Air Museum of Izmir, the Kemeralti bazaar originally established by the Ottomans and the Izmir Bird Paradise sanctuary, which contains 205 recorded species of birds. Cultural events such as the Izmir International Festival, the Izmir European Jazz Festival and the International Izmir Short Film Festival draw visitors from around the world each year.

But Izmir’s story is one of dire challenges as well as flourishing tourism and trade. The Greco-Turkish War of the early 20th century devastated the city, which was then gradually rebuild under the Turkish Republic beginning in 1923. Nearly a century later, Izmir was struck by the Aegean Sea earthquake and tsunami. The city has treated these disasters and its recovery as opportunities to modernize itself and provide new opportunities for its economy and populace to grow.

Free Public Broadband Access

In 2015, Izmir launched the Wizmirnet project, an ambitious initiative that aimed to provide citizens with wireless, high-speed, free and unlimited internet access across the city. Currently, free internet service is offered at 550 locations, including 85 parks and squares, and extends services to public transportation options such as 20 ferries, 60 buses and 17 metro stations, along with rural areas encompassing 79 villages. This extensive network ensures uninterrupted communication for all citizens, enhancing digital connectivity in both urban and rural settings.

Training through the Vocational Factory

Izmir places significant emphasis on equipping its citizens with applicable skills through its Vocational Factory, which evolved from IZMEB Centers established in 2006. Offering free courses across approximately 215 branches in 33 centers, the Vocational Factory provides training aimed at creating a qualified workforce aligned with labor market needs. These programs are designed to counter unemployment and drive sustainable economic growth in the region. Since 2017, the Employment Development and Support Unit has bolstered this effort, focusing on accommodating the demands of the labor market. Since their establishment, these initiatives have contributed to a steady increase in employment rates.

Establishing an Entrepreneurship Center

A keystone of Izmir’s growth is its vibrant Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. The Entrepreneurship Center Izmir, inaugurated in 2021 in partnership with TÜSİAD and supported by local universities, serves as the nucleus for nurturing local entrepreneurs. By offering resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, the center supports startups and fosters innovation across various sectors including agriculture, sustainable transport and information technologies. Participants receive online and face-to-face training sessions and participate in meetings with industry leaders and investors, as well as gaining access to facilities like the Fabrication Laboratory Izmir for research and development. The Entrepreneurship Center’s program cycle includes determining a new theme, accepting applications, evaluation, training and acceleration, followed at the conclusion by sharing investment-ready projects with the public.

Each year, the center focuses on a new theme reflecting strategic priorities. In 2021, the spotlight was on Agricultural Entrepreneurship, followed by Smart and Sustainable Transportation in 2022 and Information Technologies in 2023. These programs encompass several stages – from basic training to mentoring and acceleration – culminating in events like Demo Day where entrepreneurial projects are presented to investors.

Improving Public Services and Ensuring Access

Izmir created its Metropolitan Municipality E-Transaction Center in 2008, which allows citizens to perform municipal transactions and access local services online. This initiative not only enhances service delivery but also promotes transparency, accountability and efficiency within the administration. Additionally, the city developed a corporate WhatsApp application supported by AI in 2021 to offer instant information on municipal services. Services accessed through this platform include complaint submission, tracking inquiries and accessing information on transportation, events and IZSU transactions. The artificial intelligence component ensures optimized responses and swift resolutions. The WhatsApp application is currently used by approximately 20% of Izmir’s population and the city aims to improve those numbers in future years.

Making use of the internet availability provided by Wizmirnet, the LoRaWAN project uses low-power sensors and wireless communication to monitor and gather data on a range of urban factors, including weather conditions and natural disasters. The data collected via 20 radio towers integrated with meteorological and temperature modules covers 80% of the city. This initiative assists authorities in effectively managing urban risks. Izmir has further digitized the process of reporting and handling disasters as well via the Acil Izmir (Emergency Izmir) Mobile Application, which allows a citizen to report their current condition to fire brigades and other disaster relief workers instantly.

Using AI to Improve Quality of Life

Harnessing the power of AI, Izmir has developed several initiatives aimed at improving urban living conditions. The Carbon Map project uses AI to calculate air quality and carbon emissions at district and neighborhood levels, guiding reforestation efforts to enhance air quality. Additionally, the Smart Notification System leverages AI to detect forest fires before they spread, considerably enhancing emergency response times.

The city’s Dynamic Detection System employs AI and image processing to monitor city conditions in real-time, focusing on areas such as waste management and emergency situations. Izmir has currently completed its modeling and training phases for the Dynamic Detection System and is in the process of integrating the System through database connections.

Izmir is a compelling example of a modern city that intricately weaves technology, innovation and sustainability into the fabric of urban development. The city stands as a model for smart and sustainable urban planning and aims ever to improve as its projects expand and provide new opportunities for growth.

Population: 3,088,000

Website: www.izmir.gov.tr

Smart21 2024