São Paulo is the most intelligent and connected city in Brazil in 2020, according to the Connected Smart Cities Ranking, released by EXAME.
- The capital of São Paulo was also in first place in 2016 and 2017. Last year, Campinas occupied the first position, and in 2018 it was Curitiba.
The list with the most intelligent and contacted cities is the result of a study prepared by the consultancy Urban Systems, in partnership with Nacta. In total, 673 municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants were mapped. The objective is to identify the cities with the greatest potential for development in the country.
The assessment took into account 70 indicators that include mobility, environment, urbanism, technology, entrepreneurship, and economics. Of the total questions, 69 gained weight 1. Only the mayor’s education indicator had a weight of 0.5. Thus, the maximum score is 69.5.
The city of São Paulo stood out in four main indicators: urbanism (ranked 2nd); entrepreneurship (2nd); economy (5th); and governance (12th).
“When we think of the smart city, it is not necessarily technological. It is an axis of mobility and accessibility, shortening the distance and creating connections. São Paulo is a city with greater independence and economic diversity in the country. Since the approval of the Master Plan, in 2014, the environment has been propitious for this ”, explains Willian Rigon, executive of Urban Systems responsible for the Connected Smart Cities Ranking.
Compared to 2019, all general notes had a slight drop. For Rigon, the COVID-19 pandemic had a moderate impact on the study because most of it was done before the country’s first case of the disease.
Florianópolis rose five positions
The capital of Santa Catarina went from the 7th place, in 2019, to the 2nd position, in 2020, with one of the highest rises in the ranking. According to Rigon, the education axis was what pulled the city up. “This question influences all others because it creates an ecosystem for growth,” he says.
More than a list, the Connected Smart Cities Ranking is a resource that public managers can use to identify the strengths and weaknesses of cities. In addition, it allows us to know and identify experiences that work in different places in Brazil.
“We want the study to improve people’s quality of life. It is a tool for public managers to use in order to improve their city. Each one needs to understand the specificities of the regions and be inspired by good practices ”, emphasizes Paula Faria, creator of the Connected Smart Cities and Mobility platform and CEO of Necta.