Hamilton named one of the world’s most intelligent communities

The City of Hamilton has been named one of the Top7 Intelligent Communities in the World by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). This is Hamilton’s second time achieving this momentous honour having reached the Top7 in 2018.

“This is more evidence of Hamilton’s social and economic transformation in a way that is making us an example to the world,” said Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “Hamilton’s approach to workforce development, innovation, and digital inclusion, as well as our proven excellence in advanced manufacturing and research, means we are charting new paths to lasting prosperity for our people, businesses, and institutions.”

In order to be considered an “Intelligent Community” candidates are evaluated based on Six Intelligent Community Indicators (Connectivity, Knowledge Workforce, Innovation, Digital Inclusion, Community Education & Engagement, Sustainability), which provide the conceptual framework for understanding all factors that determine a community’s competitiveness and point to its success in what the Intelligent Community Forum calls, “The Broadband Economy”.

As part of Hamilton’s submission, Hamilton highlighted its strong community projects including Mohawk College City School, the Industry Education Council, the Synapse Life Sciences Consortium and private sector investments including Bell Canada’s $400 Million fibre network expansion. Partners in the bid included McMaster University, Mohawk College, Hamilton Health Sciences and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce amongst many more in the greater community.

The next step in the process to becoming the world’s most intelligent community will see an ICF judge travel to Hamilton in the Spring for a multi-day tour of the City. The world’s most intelligent community will be named in June 2020 in Dublin, Ohio.

The Intelligent Community Forum is a global network of cities and regions with a think tank at its center. Its mission is to help communities use information and communications technology (ICT) to create inclusive prosperity, tackle social and governance challenges and enrich their quality of life.