CorpComms Magazine

IT systems consultancy IBM is devoting $50 million (£31 million) to providing technology, consulting and infrastructural services to 100 cities worldwide.

The Smarter Cities Challenge is the single largest philanthropic investment on the company's books. Teams of senior consultants will advise city authorities on how to enhance municipal services, improve infrastructural efficiency, raise citizen engagement and promote successful growth.

Activities will be tailored to each city, looking at the precise interaction between factors such as the administration of healthcare, education, social services, transportation, communications, sustainability, safety, budget management, energy, and utilities.

The programme draws on experience gathered on other international pro bono city management initiatives. Over the last three years, IBM's Corporate Service Corps grant programme has conducted work with local government, voluntary groups and small businesses in cities such as Rio de Janeiro in southern Brazil; Ho Chi Minh, the largest city in Vietnam; and Chengdu, the capital of Szechuan province in China, to synthesise business, technology and societal concerns.

IBM is conducting a series of pilot schemes in US cities, starting with Baltimore, Maryland and moving on to Austin, Texas, and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, to generate a basic model for activities elsewhere.

Cities can apply for the grant by proposing between two and four strategic issues to which IBM analysis and technology could potentially be applied. Cities of all sizes are eligible, but it is believed that those with populations between 100,000 - 700,000 will benefit most from involvement.

The company will favour proposals which demonstrate that the grant has the potential to substantially enhance a city's capacity to act on key issues, and that the city is ready to match IBM's investment with its own commitment of time and expertise.

The planet shoulders new urban development equivalent to the landmass of seven New Yorks every year. In 2008, according to research from the United Nations, more than half the world's population were living in cities for the first time in history. By 2050, IBM estimates that seven out of ten humans will live in cities. Ensuring the successful strategic development of this urban expansion has never been more vital.

Stanley S. Litow, Vice President of corporate citizenship and corporate affairs at IBM and President of IBM International Foundation, said: 'Cities are vitally important to society and the economy. But they have enormous challenges and need the innovation, creativity and technical know-how to tackle longstanding, tough issues and plan for the future. We're excited at the prospect of helping city leaders address the most demanding challenges of our time and make their cities even more liveable.'

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