A “smart city” often evokes images of a futuristic, high-tech metropolis. However, an analysis of projects recognized by leading international forums reveals that innovation isn’t always about cutting-edge technology.

This is how Curitiba has earned awards for initiatives such as a solar power plant built on a former landfill, a health appointment app, and community gardens on abandoned land. The term smart city generally applies to municipalities that address urban challenges in a sustainable, connected, and efficient manner.

Most recently, Curitiba was named Smartest City in the World in 2023 at Fira Barcelona and took first place in the Government Excellence Awards 2024 in the United Arab Emirates with Fala Curitiba, a public consultation program on budget allocation. The city also received the 2024 Pioneering Urbanism Award from Bilbao Metropoli 30 in Spain, the 2024 World Green City Award in the Netherlands for its Urban Agriculture Program, and the 2024 Seoul Smart City Prize.

Meanwhile, based in New York, the Intelligent Community Forum curates a ranking designed to encourage unconventional initiatives and produce distinctive results. Alongside Curitiba, the top seven cities selected in 2024 include Assaí, also in Paraná; Coral Gables (Florida) and Hilliard (Ohio) in the U.S.; the Durham-Fredericton region in Canada; and Yunlin, Taiwan.

Read the full story at valorinternational.globo.com.