Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich top index of world's smartest cities

(Eco Business, 21 Sep 2020) The new ranking comes amid growing debate over the future of urban design for a post-Covid era.

Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich are the world’s smartest cities, according to an index published on Thursday amid a growing debate on the future of urban design for a post-Covid era.

From smart traffic cameras and car sharing apps to pollution monitoring and free wifi for all, cities around the world are racing to embrace technology, but researchers said the real test was whether citizens felt the benefits.

“The world’s ‘smart’ cities don’t simply adopt new technology, they make sure it truly improves citizens’ lives,” said Arturo Bris of the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD), which published the index.

The Smart City Index, now in its second year, surveyed more than 13,000 people in 109 cities, focusing on how they perceived the impact of technology in five areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and governance.

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Eco Business, 21 Sep 2020: Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich top index of world's smartest cities