- How Did Fredericton Develop the Largest Engineering Cluster in North America?
- Reykjavík Accelerates Climate Innovation through Jakobstad Partnership
- PG Conectada Nears 100% Connectivity across Ponta Grossa
- ICF Member News
How Did Fredericton Develop the Largest Engineering Cluster in North America?
In the 1990s, when four-time Top7 Community Fredericton in New Brunswick, Canada found itself saddled with a government that was too large and a shrinking private sector too anemic to support its economy, local government responded with a series of plans and partnerships aiming to build a new economy based on its unique human and economic assets.
They sought to tap the power of the city’s universities, the region’s telecom firms, real estate developers, a public utility and small group of software investors. The city and a university developed a Knowledge Park innovation district and new courses of study that engaged students in local companies and entrepreneurship. In the 10 years from 2010 to 2020, this city of 65,000 people created 12,000 new jobs, 75% of them in technology, and developed the largest engineering cluster in North America.
Learn more about how Fredericton, a Certified Intelligent Community, built its knowledge-based economy in the Innovation course of the Economic Developers Bundle of Community Accelerator online training courses.
Reykjavík Accelerates Climate Innovation through Jakobstad Partnership
2025 Smart21 Community Reykjavík, Iceland has partnered with the Finnish city of Jakobstad in a European climate innovation initiative. To facilitate this collaboration, a delegation from the city visited earlier this summer.
This partnership stems from Reykjavík's designation as a "Pilot City," recognizing it as a model for accelerating carbon neutrality through innovative climate projects. In this capacity, Jakobstad serves as Reykjavík's twin city, enabling both to share climate expertise.
Read more about this partnership for climate innovation at https://reykjavik.is/en/news/2025/jakobstad-visits-reykjavik-finland
PG Conectada Nears 100% Connectivity across Ponta Grossa
Three-time Smart21 Community Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil has undertaken two major projects to provide universal broadband access for all citizens. The first project, PG Conectada, was launched in 2018 with the goal of democratizing internet access. It provides free internet access, delivered via fiber optic, to in all neighborhoods and public health posts. The project has 114 connection points, and 90% of the population currently has access to the service.
The city’s second project, Connectivity, was launched in 2017. It aims to provide fiber optic coverage across the entire municipality, focusing first on bringing high-speed, stable connections to underserved areas, such as low-income communities and remote regions. As of 2022, the project has achieved 100% fiber optic coverage in all 310 public buildings connected to the Municipal Government Headquarters. This has improved the provision of public services, increased transparency and control, reduced costs and improved communication between personnel and citizens.
Learn more about how Ponta Grossa achieved widespread connectivity in their ICF community profile.
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