IBM has announced the 16 cities that will be participating in this year’s Smarter City Challenge and Ghana’s city of Sekondi is the only African metropolis named. Others are Allahabad, India, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Athens (Greece), Denver, (United States) Detroit (United States), Huizhou, (China), Melbourne, (Australia), Memphis, (United States), Rochester, (New York, United States), San Isidro, (Peru), Santiago, (Chile), Surat, (India), Taichung, (Taiwan), Vizag,(India) and Xuzhou, (China).
The challenge is a competition among cities to engage and attract new residents, businesses and visitors. It entails constant attention to providing a high quality of life and vibrant economic climate.
During the challenge, IBM will send its experts to the 16 cities to help with critical issues ranging from jobs creation, transportation, and public safety, to healthcare, revenue, social services, and public works.
Sekondi and other participating cities were selected from more than 100 cities around the world that applied.
When this challenge is completed, more than 130 cities across the world would have paricipatted IBM will have made Smarter Cities Challenge grants to more than 130 cities worldwide chosen from more than 600 applicants, with about 800 of IBM top experts delivering pro bono services valued at more than $66 million.
IBM said each consulting engagement has a commercial value of US $500,000.
Jennifer Crozier, IBM’s Vice President of Global Citizenship Initiatives, said: “With the help of our experts, cities around the world are now able to better use data and transform the way they engage citizens, deliver service, and make their cities more liveable. We thank all those who have applied and feel fortunate to be in the position of providing IBM’s best talent, innovation, and resources to help so many cities improve. Over the next year, we’re eager to work with this new group of leaders to make their cities smarter.”
During the initiative, IBM Smarter Cities Challenge teams made up of six IBM experts will spend three weeks working closely with city staff in Sekondi, analyzing data about a critical issue facing the municipality. Team members will consider diverse perspectives on the topic through meeting with local officials, citizens, businesses, and not-for-profits. Best practices used by other cities are studied. After working closely with city leadership, the IBM team then recommends innovative and specifically tailored ways to address the issue it studied in that particular city, providing a road map on how the city can improve