Da Nang wins IBM grant to become smart city

VNRE -  Da Nang is one of 33 cities worldwide that will receive an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant in 2012.

The Smarter Cities Challenge, launched in 2011 and worth US$50 million, is one of IBM's largest philanthropic initiatives. Over three years, leading IT experts from IBM will work with 100 cities around the world on key urban issues.

In Da Nang, IBM will send experts to the city to look into its socio-economic development, and study ways to supply better urban services and attract greater participation of its citizens.

The corporation and local authorities will consider and propose ways to better manage transport, water supply and drainage, as well as waste water from industrial zones and factories and food safety and hygiene.

IBM has experience of dealing with these issues in other Asian countries such as Singapore and China.

Pham Kim Son, director of Da Nang's Information and Communications Department, said IBM's information technology solutions would help solve the challenges faced by Da Nang during its development.

Son said he believed IBM would be a leading IT partner and help Da Nang become a smarter city thanks to its expertise and experience around the world.

"When Da Nang becomes a smart city its citizens will have every comfort, public services will be better managed, as will its natural resources," Son said.

Peter Williams, the chief technology officer for IBM Big Green solutions and business models, said Da Nang would become a technology centre in the near future.

He said Da Nang, when it became a smart city, would be able to deal with global problems such as environmental pollution, natural disasters and traffic jams. The residents' living standards would improve markedly, he added.

When the city's administrative centre becomes operational, it will apply IT solutions to its managerial work and create the best conditions for enterprises and residents to prosper. Da Nang is also on the way to becoming a green city, which involves protecting its water resources, while developing its tourism industry sustainably, local officials said. 

Via VNS