The 10 most future-ready cities in North America: report

Source: SmartCitiesDive | Michael Brady, Senior Editor

Cities must invest more in digital and physical infrastructure to address today’s challenges but face several barriers, including a lack of public trust, a new report finds.

Cities must invest more in digital and physical infrastructure to become more inclusive, resilient, sustainable and safe, according to a report released Tuesday by ThoughtLab, a marketing and economic research company, and Hatch, a consulting firm.

“Baby steps won’t be enough. To overcome today’s urban challenges, cities must become future-ready,” the report says.

The report defines future-ready cities as those that aim to become more livable, sustainable and prosperous by addressing the needs of their citizens and by building trust among people and organizations in their communities. They also collaborate and use modern communications technologies and innovative approaches to meet their goals. These cities are “well out ahead of other cities in every area of readiness,” according to the researchers.

The researchers surveyed leaders in 200 cities worldwide, including 51 in North America, and 2,000 citizens in 20 cities, including five in North America, to name the top 10 future-ready cities in North America: