City of Prospect was named as a top 7 Intelligent Community by the Intelligent Communities Forum (ICF) in early 2022. This recognition is a significant accomplishment and a testament to the council's long-term strategy and partnerships with community, education, and industry leaders.

Hosting a virtual visit by the ICF judges is an exciting opportunity to showcase the collaborative relationships and talent available in the community. It is great to see local students, community groups, business owners, and industry groups being involved in highlighting the achievements and strengths of the City of Prospect.

Being considered for the worldwide award is a great honour and demonstrates how the community has transformed into a desirable location for people to work, live, study, connect, and play. The City of Prospect is a shining example of an innovative and intelligent community that promotes sustainability, pioneering, and inclusivity. Congratulations again to the City of Prospect and its residents for this outstanding achievement.

Chris White, CEO of City of Prospect, said he is both honoured and humbled that Prospect is being considered for the worldwide award.

“Prospect has transformed into a desirable location for people to work, live, study, connect and play within. Both locals and visitors alike benefit from innovative businesses, sustainable solutions and a community that promotes pioneering,” Chris said.

“It’s fantastic to see our unique, eclectic, innovative and of course intelligent community featured on the global stage. The community should be very proud.”

Our intelligent community journey

City of Prospect, together with innovative businesses, educational institutions and community groups, have been delivering successful region-wide programs and initiatives across the awards' six Intelligent Community indicators, summarised below:

• broadband: encouraging deployment and adoption, and deploying our own networks where necessary
• knowledge workforce: creating economic value through knowledge, skills and ability to use information effectively
• innovation: creating a culture that engages the entire community in positive change
• digital inclusion: providing access to digital technology and connectivity, and offering digital skills training
• engagement: building a common understanding of the challenges facing the community and a shared vision for overcoming them
• sustainability: improving the quality of life for our community.

Objectives

Each year, the ICF presents this awards program for intelligent communities and the public-sector and private-sector partners who contribute to them. It provides communities with a platform for attracting international attention, stimulating inward investment and building public support for progress.

Gaining a place among the year's smart 21 is considered a badge of honour as well as the first step to greater recognition as an intelligent community positioned to prosper in the broadband economy. City of Prospect has received this award 9 times in 11 years.

The top 7 communities represent models of economic and social transformation in the 21st century. Each exemplifies best practices in broadband deployment and use, workforce development, innovation, digital inclusion and advocacy that offer lessons to regions, cities, towns and villages around the world. For the first time in it’s Intelligent Communities journey, 2022 saw City of Prospect make it to the Top 7, with the resulting invitation to attend the ICF Global Summit in October.

The intelligent community of the year is named on the closing day of the global summit each year.

City of Prospect - intelligent community awards

• 2022 – Smart 21 and Top 7
• 2021 – Smart 21
• 2020 – Smart 21
• 2019 – Smart 21
• 2017 – Smart 21
• 2015 – Smart 21
• 2014 – Smart 21
• 2013 – Smart 21
• 2012 – Smart 21

The top 7 finalists for 2022

(Listed in alphabetical order)

• Binh Duong Smart City, Vietnam
• Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
• Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, Canada
• Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
• New Taipei City, Taiwan
• Prospect, South Australia, Australia.

While New Taipei City was crowned the winner at the 2022 global summit in Ohio, USA, City of Prospect’s intelligent community has recently been featured on the global stage as part of the Intelligent Community Awards for 2022.