Intelligent Community Forum comes to London: 4-6 June

ICF is a global research organization based in New York.  Last year The RSA added its support to a proposal that ICF should hold its 2018 Global Summit in London. 

 Right now, in Australia, Canada, Finland and Taiwan there are cities being assessed for the title of Intelligent Community of the Year.  Which one of these will take over from the current title-holder (Melbourne) will not be known until the end of the Summit. 

 Before we reach that climax on Day 3, delegates will have enjoyed great speaker presentations from Andy Burnham (Metro Mayor Greater Manchester), Sir Nigel Shadbolt (Open Data Institute), Theo Blackwell (London’s Chief Data officer), Miranda Sharp of Ordnance Survey, Margot James (Digital Minister, DCMS), Kathy Oldham (Chief Resilience Officer, Manchester) and Andrew Carter, CEO of Centre for Cities. 

 All these and many more will be focused on what makes an ‘Intelligent Community’? 

If you’ve not heard of ‘Intelligent Communities’, think ‘Smart’ and then add inspired leadership with community engagement.  Topics include Humanising Data, AI - opportunities and threats, Employment Futures, Connectivity, Resilience, the Smarter London Board and a Matchmaking session for global inter-city deals.  See the full programme hiding behind this link.  

The RSA has recently reviewed ‘The New Localism’ by Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak. They make a strong case for greater local empowerment of cities and communities and bolder, inspired, local leadership.  Much of their work is informed by experience in the USA but applies well to the UK – particularly as elected mayors (and the newish metro Mayors) find new (non-partisan) ways to approach local social and economic challenges.  This theme has been well supported by The RSA’s recent studies on an Inclusive Economy and the Cities Commission. 

 Why do some places thrive whilst others decline?  The Intelligent Community Forum answers that question by sharing the experiences, successes and failures, from which we can all learn lessons.  All local economies, all communities, have different priority needs.  In understanding those priorities and using the shared experiences of others, local communities can resolve many of their greatest challenges regardless of whether those needs are fully recognized in Whitehall. 

For more insight into the Intelligent Community Forum read our 9-part weekly blog series that kicked off on 5th April with ‘Local Fabrics’.  

You can register here.  ICF/NextGen don't wish to exclude anyone from their events if the registration fee is prohibitive. Please contact Marit Hendriks to apply for a free pass.