As Canada's largest communications company, Bell takes its hat off to the City of Québec for being named one of the seven most intelligent communities in the world. Bell provides a comprehensive and innovative suite of broadband communication services to residential and business customers in Canada.
Powered by industry-leading investments in media content and broadband networks, Bell services include high-speed Fibe Internet, Fibe TV, Satellite TV, Bell Mobility, Home Phone local and long distance services as well as IP-broadband services and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell Media, the newest division of Bell, is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media. They include CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched specialty channels. En français

The City of Oulu is the business and logistics hub for Northern Scandinavia. It focuses on Information Communication Technology, Energy, Life Sciences and Mining. Future developments in the Arctic and in surrounding northern regions form a key backdrop for growth and development in Oulu. The total investment in the Scandinavian and Barents area through the early 2020s is expected to be EUR 227 billion. Scandinavia and the Arctic Ocean, showcase the Barents Sea gas and oil fields, the Northern Sea Route (also known as the Northeast Passage), the Gulf Stream boost phenomenon, and the operation, growth and competitiveness of the region’s businesses. City of Oulu’s economic development organisation - BusinessOulu provides multiple services for startups and companies relocating to Oulu region. BusinessOulu promotes the internationalisation of regional companies and manages the international business marketing for the region.

Enterprise Saint John creates an environment for prosperity in the Saint John Community by inspiring and supporting people, ideas and investment. ESJ works collaboratively with government, industry, entrepreneurs, organized labour, and community stakeholders to make the Saint John region a magnet for innovation, creativity, and business development. Enterprise’s work encourages regional cooperation to gain greater support for major public and private sector investment, with a focus on key strategic growth sectors: Entrepreneur Development, Health & Life Sciences, Information and Communications Technology (ICT),Tourism, Energy, and Advanced Manufacturing.

FIABCI, the French acronym for The International Real Estate Federation, was founded in 1948 in Paris France. It is the only worldwide real estate association that represents all of the real estate professions. FIABCI’s objective is to help its members acquire knowledge, develop networks and optimize business opportunities all over the world. In 1974, The Real Estate Association of the Republic of China applied to become a chapter, and came to be known as FIABCI-Chinese Taiwan. Currently, FIABCI membership consists of 65 Member States and more than 120 real estate group members representing more than 1.5 million real estate professionals and more than 3,300 real estate firms in the world.

Herbert W. Hoover was an industrialist and early leader in the conservation movement, fighting to protect natural resources in both Ohio and Florida through accurate scientific research, public information and education. Founded in 1990, the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation has taken up the mantle, and established itself as a leader in funding unique opportunities that provide solutions to issues related to the Community, Education, and the Environment.

The Walsh University Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community provides a source of identity, legacy, university resources and a model for anchoring knowledge and research for education initiatives of the Intelligent Community Forum. This first-of-its-kind institute in the United States is a collaborative effort between the University and the Intelligent Community Forum, a new York-based global think tank that promotes and advocates for the use of broadband technology to transform communities. Lead and encouraged by an international board of advisors, Walsh’s Institute for the Study for the Study of the Intelligent Community: investigates new models of teacher training to best advance learning for the knowledge (creative) economy; supports and teaches the principles of the ICF movement; and creates relationships with communities around the world who are part of the Intelligent Community movement to inspire and enrich regional business and community connections through collaboration. The Institute’s presence and influence on the Walsh University campus in North Canton, Ohio increases student opportunities for international literacy, enhances understanding of sustainable community building and encourages creative social and business practices in the greater community.

The Lee Ming Construction Company provides civil engineering, design, paint project contracting business and gravel-building materials and hardware trading. It serve private and public-sector customers throughout Taiwan.

On any given day, every moment matters to someone, somewhere. And every moment, Motorola Solutions' innovations, products, and services play essential roles in people's lives. We help firefighters see around buildings and police officers see around street corners. We make supply chains visible to retailers and entire power grids visible to utility workers. We provide the situational awareness first responders need when a moment brings catastrophe. And we help companies deliver shipments at the moment they’re promised. We do this by connecting them to seamless communication networks, applications and services, by providing them with real-time information, and by arming them with intuitive, nearly indestructible handheld devices. Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of mission-critical communication products, solutions and services for government and enterprise customers. Through leading-edge innovation and communications technology, it's a global leader that enables its customers to be their best in the moments that matter.

Oulun Energia, together with its subsidiaries, provides high-standard and reliable energy services primarily in Northern Finland. It engages in the generation, transmission, distribution and sales of electricity and district heat and provides energy-related construction and maintenance services in an effective, environmentally friendly and competitive way. Northern energy is produced close to Oulun Energia´s customers, at low cost, in a reliable and sustainable way. In power plants owned by Oulun Energia, local energy resources, peat, wood, water and wind, turn into power and heat, to be transmitted through its own distribution and regional networks. Since 1889, Oulun Energia has contributed to the well-being of people in the Northern areas and prosperity to the region’s enterprises. Its headquarters are in Oulu, Finland and it is owned by the City of Oulu.

Established in 1895, Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) is a consumer-owned water and electric utility that provides high quality, reliable services to over 106,000 metered electric customers and 63,000 metered water customers throughout the City of Riverside, California. Governed by a Board of nine community volunteers, RPU maintains some of the lowest water and electric rates in Southern California and is proud to offer its customers a variety of innovative programs that provide valuable rebates and services designed to increase water and energy conservation and help promote a thriving community in which to live and work. From installing the world’s first in-pipe hydroelectric turbine, to planting more than 114,000 shade trees, to providing rebates for the installation of more than 430 solar systems citywide that produce nearly 5 megawatts of clean energy, the Utility is committed to the increased use of renewable energy resources and sustainable living practices. RPU remains committed to supporting new technologies and projects that help reduce environmental impacts within the City of Riverside and California. It meets and surpasses state goals for renewable energy that allow it to retain its water independence.

The Riverside Unified School District, the 15th largest school district in the California, is proud to offer students “Innovation in Education.” District leaders continuously search for ways to bring engaging and meaningful learning to our 42,000 students. Through the Digital Learning Revolution, RUSD has harnessed the power of technology to inspire a new generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers. The Riverside Unified School is a leader in instructional technology, drawing visitors from around the world who want to see how we integrate technology in the classroom. More than 300 teams have visited our district over the past two years to see how we are integrating technology in the classroom. RUSD remains committed to working with our city and state leaders to continue to be on the forefront of learning now and into the future. We are proud to be part of a larger community that puts education among its highest goals.

The City of Stratford, Ontario Canada is a 32,000-person community demonstrating how small cities can compete with large urban centres by innovating. Known for its small town ambience and Stratford Shakespeare Festival, North America’s largest theatre company, (and Justin Bieber) the city repositioned itself as a technology centre focused on digital media. As local factories transitioned to data intensive advanced manufacturing, Stratford secured its digital infrastructure by buying the local electrical utility and expanding its fibre network, then built a citywide Wi-Fi smart meter system over it and called it Rhyzome Networks. Two of Canada’s six major banks headquartered their IT and/or data centres there. Stratford’s was the first school board in Ontario to offer a complete high school education online, plus several high school ICT and digital media pilot programs. Two game-changing digital media and business degree programs at the new University of Waterloo | Stratford Campus make Stratford Canada’s newest university town. Stratford established itself as a regional healthcare hub for imaging and electronic medical records, with 85% of its family doctors networked via fibre and Wi-Fi. With a 25km2 footprint, Stratford now partners with global technology companies and world-class universities looking for scalable proving grounds to commercialize broadband technologies.

Founded as a cable TV operator in Taichung, Taiwan in 1998, Vee TIME Corp. offers Cable TV, IPTV, fiber broadband and 4G WiMAX wireless broadband services in Taichung City. Vee TIME employes fiber optic technology for backhaul, and coaxial cables for its network infrastructure. To address the trend toward digital convergence, Vee TIME acquired the WiMAX license for the southern region in 2007, and integrated its telecom, Internet, mobility and entertainment services onto an all IP-based cloud platform. Customers receive content and applications on any device, such as smart phones, tablets, TV, PC, game consoles, STBs via fiber broadband and 4G WiMAX wireless broadband. Vee TIME is the only quad-play telecom operator in Taiwan. Through an investment in VMAX Telecom and TaTung Telecom, Vee TIME became the only nationwide WiMAX operator in Taiwan. Vee TIME also owns the network infrastructure of Taiwan High Speed Rail, deploying over 360KM fiber broadband and over 100 WiMAX base stations along the track, and RoF (Radio over Fiber) technology to conquer the loss of signal in tunnels.

Xerox is the City of Riverside outsource partner and is proud to have played an integral role in the City’s recognition by the ICF as the world’s most intelligent community. It is the leading outsourcing company in the Public Sector, has highly skilled resources that are experienced in city government, is client driven, service delivery focused and has the capability to rapidly adapt resources to meet evolving demands. Xerox is the world’s leading enterprise for business process and document management. It offers business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing services, including data processing, healthcare solutions, HR benefits management, finance support, transportation solutions, and customer relationship management services for commercial and government organizations worldwide. The company also provides extensive leading edge document technology, services, and software. Its technology, expertise and services enable workplaces – from small businesses to large global enterprises – to simplify the way work gets done so they operate more effectively and focus more on what matters most: their real business. Xerox invests $1.5 billion in R&D each year, is a top 20 world leader for patents with 55,000 (1600 in 2010), and introduced more than 100 new products in the last three years. It serves clients in more than 160 countries.

2012’s best communities to live, work, grow and prosper in – and how they got that way

"This slim volume should be required reading for every local government, every community leader, every local college head or hospital manager and every enterprise (public or private) with half an ounce of interest in making a more prosperous place." - David Brunnen, Groupe Intellex

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With a foreword by Suvi Linden, Commissioner, UN Commission for Digital Development

In the 21st Century, the world is very much at your doorstep.

Because of accelerating advances in information and communications technology (ICT), the global economy is coming to dominate the life of the local community. It literally throws you into competition with people of similar talents and experience all around the planet. If your city or town cannot offer the right mix of skills, costs, quality infrastructure and access to markets, its economy will suffer, because ICT frees employers to shop the world for the best deal. And the “right mix” is not something fixed and immutable – it constantly evolves as poor nations become rich, tastes change and technology upends old assumptions.

But this storm cloud also has a silver lining. The same ICT revolution that threatens long-established ways of life also offers communities powerful new tools to build a better future. Communities large and small, in industrialized and developing nations, are finding ways to create prosperity, solve social challenges and strengthen their cultures on a foundation of ICT innovation. Rather than letting the global economy run roughshod, they are seizing their destinies with both hands and turning legacy into opportunity.

Inside the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2012

Seizing Our Destiny tells the story of seven cities that did just that. They did it in large part by accelerating the pace of innovation in business, government and institutions to keep pace with a more innovative world. In the process, they offer lessons on how to innovate in governing, how to build political will for change, and how to understand and adapt creatively to the demands of the new century.

Read the Reviews

Building Intelligent Communities – Book Review
"It's reassuring as a Canadian to read about municipal leaders exhibiting wisdom, commitment and leadership," writes Paul Kennedy in his review of the ICF book, "Seizing our Destiny: 2012's best communities to live, work, grow and proper in – and how they got that way". The review is in the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of IT in Canada.

Seizing Our Destiny: 2012's best communities to live, work, grow and prosper in - Book Review
"So simple, it is brilliant. A small but insightful book." Reg Nordman of Rocket Builders, reviews the Intelligent Community Forum book and highlights the five key strategies cities need to implement.

The Sunday Breakfast Book Review - "Seizing Our Destiny"
David Brunnen of Groupe Intellex reviews the ICF book and writes, "The book... looks at seven cities that recognize that in order to thrive in the digital economy they must turn legacy into opportunity."

Made Possible by the Generous Support of...

• Bell
• BusinessOulu
• Enterprise Saint John
• FIABCI-Chinese Taiwan
• Herbert W. Hoover Foundation
• Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community at Walsh University
• Lee Ming Construction Company
• Motorola Solutions
• Oulun Energia
• Riverside Public Utilities
• Riverside Unified School District
• The City of Stratford
• Vee TIME Corp
• Xerox

Co-author of new “Seizing Our Destiny” book outlines strategies to keep libraries as key information centres in the digital age

Mexico City, Mexico – Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) co-founder Louis Zacharilla is in Mexico City to help draft a future Trend Report to serve as a guidebook for the world’s libraries and the services they need to provide the public. There are an estimated 315,000 public libraries in the world and Zacharilla joins an elite group of global experts to provide the libraries with a vision of the next five years. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) brought the experts together to map out the major emerging trends in contemporary society that will affect access to information and help libraries determine what they need to do to keep their traditional position as centres of information. The IFLA is the global voice of the library and information profession with members in over 150 countries.

Co-author of “Seizing Our Destiny” outlines strategies to future-proof communities in the new broadband-based economy

Toronto ON – Smart Cities Summit January 23-24, 2013 – At the first-ever Canadian Smart Cities Summit, Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Chairman and co-founder John Jung has a key message – companies and jobs go where the talent is. “Cities that have strategies to include talent generation and retention have the most success at attracting investment and new jobs,” says Jung. Jung is the conference kick-off speaker on Wednesday, Jan. 23. He will outline the 12 steps cities must take to future-proof themselves in the broadband-based economy. The Intelligent Community Forum studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community.

Co-author of new “Seizing Our Destiny” book outlines strategies to future-proof communities in the new broadband-based economy

Oslo, Norway – 10 December, 2012 –Intelligent Community Forum co-founder Louis Zacharilla is in Oslo to deliver a presentation and moderate a symposium on creating collaborative, successful and open communities. The symposium on Tuesday Dec. 11, entitled Visioning the Open Society Forum, is part of Nobel Week events in Oslo. Zacharilla will discuss the inability of many national governments to respond significantly to the social collapse and economic stress of recent years. However he notes that a growing number of communities have found their way back to economic prosperity after being given up for ‘dead’. “The stakes are extremely high for the smaller communities and cities to get it right and to harvest their natural and embedded “intelligence,” says Zarcharilla.

Stockholm hosts the 21st Annual Global Forum and a theme "Shaping a Digital Future", which is the expertise offered by John Jung and the Intelligent Community Forum

Stockholm, Sweden Global Forum – November 11, 2012 – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community able to cope with the connected Broadband economy. Jung will discuss the platforms communities can use to increase innovation and grow their local economy. Jung travels the globe outlining the steps needed to future-proof a community and those steps lead to significant economic benefits. “Innovation is one of the main building blocks for any community that wants to expand its economy and is one of the techniques we have seen used over and over in successful communities around the world,” says Jung.

New Delhi hosts Canada-India Business Council and World Town Planning Day and Jung highlights the keys to building an Intelligent Community

New Delhi, India – November 4, 2012 – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community. At the Canada-India Business Forum Jung will lead a discussion on boosting the skills of India's workforce. Jung travels the globe outlining the steps needed to future-proof a city for the new broadband-based economy and how those steps lead to significant economic benefits. “A workforce that has the skills needed for the broadband economy is a key element for any community that wants to build its economy and is one of the techniques we have seen used over and over in successful communities around the world,” says Jung.

“Seizing Our Destiny” book title inspired by Riverside California’s transformation into a model city for high tech innovation and economic recovery

Riverside, CA – 21 October 2012 – With the International Monetary Fund scaling back its global growth forecast for 2012 to 3.3 per cent from 3.5 per cent and warning that risks of a serious global economic slowdown are “alarmingly high”, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) is offering communities worldwide, and their mayors, municipal administrators, economic development executives and educational institutions a new solutions playbook entitled “Seizing Our Destiny”. The launch of the group’s new book, available now on Amazon.com, coincides with the announcement of ICF’s 2013 list of Smart21 Communities.

There are clear strategies to build an intelligent community and intelligent communities attract new economic investment

Moscow, Russia – Moscow International Foreign Investment Forum – 17-18 October 2012 – At the first-ever Moscow International Foreign Investment Forum Intelligent Community Forum co-founder John Jung is giving a presentation detailing the steps cities need to take to future-proof themselves in the new broadband-based economy. The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community.