Each year, the Intelligent Community Forum presents an awards program for Intelligent Communities and the public-sector and private-sector partners who contribute to them. The awards program has two goals: to salute the accomplishments of communities in developing inclusive prosperity on a foundation of information and communications technology and to gather data for ICF’s research programs.

The process begins with communities filling out the ICF Awards Program Nominations Form. In the autumn, ICF’s team of analysts reviews the forms submitted, evaluating communities based on the Intelligent Community Indicators, and announces its Smart21 Communities of the Year.

The Smart21 then fills out a more extensive questionnaire detailing their opportunities, challenges, and results. ICF’s analysts review the questionnaires and, in February, ICF named the Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year.

The Top7 receive media coverage both locally and internationally and become the finalists for ICF’s Intelligent Community of the Year award.

1. Bandwidth: It represents the outstanding development of applying information technology (ICT).

2. Intellectual human resources: A strong and fast development of technology requires a well-educated labor force that has abilities to use and apply technology for working and increasing effectiveness and efficiency.

3. Innovation: The “Triple Helix” contributes to maintaining the advantages of economics at the local level. The Government invests in technology contributing to cultural development and improving services for citizens, reducing operating costs.

4. Digital quality: All residentials in the community have the right to connect bandwidth and the skills to apply it to serve necessary demands in their life and communication.

5. Sustainability: Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

6. Community commitment: to put an effort to change and to perform core values of Smart Communities.