November 3, 2008 - Edmonton named one of the world’s Smart Cities – again!

For the second year in a row, Edmonton is being recognized as a Smart21 Community for being an exemplary technology user onthe world stage. The coveted award from the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), an influential New York-based think tank, recognizes just 21 communities internationally for excellence in the development of a prosperous economy that maximizes broadband and information technology.

"Edmontonians can be proud of this international recognition of important attributes that we have come to expect in our community – from a top-notch education system to technological innovation that is growing our world-calibre knowledge industries,” says Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel. “Edmonton’s wealth of innovators in the private sector and public institutions provides our citizens with the means to connect with opportunities here and around the world.”

The Smart21 list includes communities that demonstrate a strategic commitment to attracting leading-edge businesses, stimulating job creation, building skills, invigorate economic growth and improving the delivery of government services. Edmonton is recognized for its challenge to diversify an economy founded on government, the booming oilsand projects and diamond mining by investing in wireless and fiber and promoting knowledge transfer to power business growth. The ICF points further to Edmonton’s partnership with the University of Alberta which has spun out more than 70 active companies, a robust health industry that includes state-of-the-art nursing school and cardiac institute, and the provincial and national institutes which are making Edmonton a leader in nanotech research and manufacturing.

Ron Gilbertson, President & CEO of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, says it’s not surprising Edmonton is now being recognized for innovation and diversification. “Over 150,000, or 15 per cent of the region’s population are post-secondary students. We have one of the best public education systems in North America, Canada’s largest technical school and the University of Alberta is on track to become one of the top 20 publicly-funded research institutions in the world.

“An overarching theme of the 2009 honorees”, says ICF Co-founder, Louis Zacharilla, “is the dedication to putting people first and building a ‘talent inventory’ that will thrive with technology and innovation.”

The Smart21 were selected from hundreds of communities from every continent, including four Canadian cities. In January 2009, the list will be narrowed down to the Top Seven Intelligent Communities, with the Intelligent Community of the Year chosen in May.

The Intelligent Community Forum studies the economic and social development of the 21st Century community. Their website is www.intelligentcommunity.org.

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