The data for ICF’s research program comes from a continuing study of communities around the world through out Intelligent Community Awards Program. Communities benefit in two ways from submitting a nomination form for participation in the Awards Program:

• They are automatically entered into the Intelligent Community Awards Program and consideration for the Smart21 Communities of the Year.
• They are eligible to appear in ICF's annual World's 100 Most Intelligent Communities list.

The goal of the program is to provide communities everywhere – large and small, urban and rural – with evidence-based guidance on becoming an Intelligent Community, and an objective method for measuring their progress. ICF accepts nominations throughout the year and communities may complete and submit a nominations form at any time.

There are two forms to fill out to nominate your community. First:

Download and complete the nominations form, which you may complete and return by email. It consists of multiple-choice and short-answer questions, plus questions asking for a more extended description of your community’s programs. Including information gathering and filling out the form, the questionnaire requires about 2 hours to complete. Note: If you have submitted a nomination for the 2017 Awards Program or more recently, you may work off that form and update the file with any new information. 

Then:

Download and complete the theme addendum form. This form only contains three questions focused on the 2018 theme, Humanizing Data, and requires about a half hour to complete. 

To be considered for the 2018 Awards Cycle, submit both forms to ICF by September 13, 2017.

ICF analyzes your completed questionnaire using a mix of quantitative measures developed over years of experience with Intelligent Communities, and independent evaluation of your community’s programs by an international team of academic analysts.

Not ready to submit a nominations form? You can:

• Learn more about our Intelligent Community Indicators
• Read about the 2018 Theme, Humanizing Data
• Take our 15-minute Community Self-test for a first look at your community's intelligence.

From its growing data set, ICF publishes regular research reports offering insights into the key characteristics of Intelligent Communities, from broadband adoption and lifelong learning to innovation and digital equality programs. These reports help shape national and regional policies on urban and rural development, as well as validating the efforts of community leaders to build a better future.

Submitting communities will be entered into awards consideration and receive written report comparing them to ICF's global data set

(June 28, 2016 – New York City, NY, USA) – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) is accepting nominations for the 2017 Intelligent Community of the Year Awards Program. The 2017 Awards Program run by the New York-based think tank will name the 19th Intelligent Community of the Year at the Intelligent Community Awards Dinner, taking place during the ICF Summit on June 8, 2017 in New York City. The Intelligent Community of the Year is a community that is a leader in creating inclusive economic prosperity, solving social problems and enriching quality of life using information and communications technology (ICT). The 2016 recipient was Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Every year in July, we open the Intelligent Community Awards to new nominations. And every year, we find ourselves engaged in the same strange balancing act.

ICF is a global network of cities and regions with a think tank at its center. That think tank conducts research to learn how cities and regions use broadband and IT to create inclusive local prosperity, to address big social problems, and to enrich their quality of life.

New York, NY – July 10, 2014 - The Intelligent Community Forum announces the opening of nominations for the 2015 Intelligent Community of the Year Awards Program. The 2015 Awards Program run by the New York-based think tank will name the 17th Intelligent Community of the Year, a community that is a global leader in creating wealth and jobs by seizing the opportunities of information and communications technology (ICT). The 2014 recipient was Toronto, Ontario, Canada.