September 19: The Obama Administration has announced a new “Smart Cities” initiative that will invest over $160 million in federal research and leverage more than 25 new technology collaborations to help local communities tackle key challenges such as reducing traffic congestion, fighting crime, fostering economic growth, managing the effects of a changing climate, and improving the delivery of city services. The new initiative is part of the Administration’s overall commitment to target federal resources to meet local needs and support community-led solutions. As part of the initiative, the Administration announced:

• More than $35 million in new grants and over $10 million in proposed investments to build a research infrastructure for Smart Cities by the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Standards and Technology.
• Nearly $70 million in new spending and over $45 million in proposed investments to unlock new solutions in safety, energy, climate preparedness, transportation, health and more, by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• More than 20 cities participating in major new multi-city collaborations that will help city leaders effectively collaborate with universities and industry.

The Administration’s Smart Cities Initiative will begin with a focus on key strategies such as creating test beds for “Internet of Things” applications and developing new multi-sector collaborative models; collaborating with the civic tech movement and forging intercity collaborations; leveraging existing Federal activity i.e. from research on sensor networks and cyber security to investments in broadband infrastructure and intelligent transportation systems, and pursuing international collaboration as 54 percent of the world’s population live in urban areas and continued population growth and urbanisation will add 2.5 billion people to the world’s urban population by 2050. The associated climate and resource challenges demand innovative approaches. Products and services associated with this market present a significant export opportunity for the U.S., since almost 90 percent of this increase will occur in Africa and Asia.