IBM offers $50 million to Smarter Cities

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UK cities could benefit from a new IBM competition designed to help improve IT operations managing key areas of infrastructure.

Cities from across the world will compete for a slice of the $50 million (£31 million) pledged by Big Blue as part of the Smarter Cities Challenge, meaning each grant is equal to around $400,000.

Each city must make their case to IBM and, if selected, they will not only receive funding but assistance from Big Blue specialists for three weeks.

The assistance will help boost the IT operations managing various layers of infrastructure, from transportation and communication to sustainability and healthcare.

IBM has placed a heavy focus on more effective data sharing and analysis to help different parts of a city’s pubic services coordinate better with one another.

For instance, police officers may be more effective if they have access to timely, customised data while on the move, IBM said.

"Cities are vitally important to society and the economy," said Stanley Litow, IBM vice president of corporate citizenship and corporate affairs, and president of IBM's philanthropic foundation.

"But they have enormous challenges and need the innovation, creativity and technical know-how to tackle longstanding, tough issues and plan for the future. We're excited at the prospect of helping city leaders address the most demanding challenges of our time and make their cities even more liveable."

IBM said cities with between 100,000 and 700,000 residents will benefit most from the experience, meaning various UK cities including the likes of Edinburgh, Leeds and Nottingham could gain much from being selected.

Applicants will be assessed on a variety of criteria, including their ability to prove how between two and four strategic issues could be dramatically improved with the help of better use of technology.

Having a decent track record of effective technology and data use, as well as a history of innovative problem solving, will also boost a city’s chances of winning a grant.

A number of pilot grants have been handed out in the US, including in Baltimore, Maryland and Austin, Texas.

To apply for the challenge, head here.

IBM has been driving home its 'Smart' message at full force this year, having heralded the ‘Decade of Smart’ at a company conference in May.

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