Dubai – With cutting-edge technology increasingly being infused into the heart of cities across the region, International Data Corporation (IDC) is delighted to announce the launch of its inaugural 'IDC Smart City Middle East Awards'. Designed to recognize and reward the region's most innovative ICT-enabled Smart City projects and initiatives, awards will be handed out across nine categories:
- Smart Tourism
- Smart Living
- Smart Public Safety
- Smart Health
- Smart Education
- Intelligent Transportation
- Smart Utilities
- Greenfield City
- Smart Govt. Administration
IDC will be accepting nominations in the above categories until December 31, 2017, with the eventual winners to be honored in front of the region's most prominent Smart City stakeholders during a dedicated awards ceremony to be hosted at Dubai's Habtoor Grand Resort on Thursday, April 5, 2018.
"Cities around the world are actively looking to become 'Smart' by leveraging technology to develop innovative solutions that address the challenges brought about rapid urbanization," says Jyoti Lalchandani, IDC's group vice president and regional managing director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. "The aim is to transform the lives of residents by enhancing public safety, transportation, education, healthcare, and other aspects that affect their day-to-day lives.
"The Middle East has become a hotbed of innovation in this regard, with cities across the region leveraging cutting-edge technology to meet the needs and expectations of their citizens, businesses, and residents. Given the sheer scope of this ongoing transformation, the time has come to recognize and reward the outstanding contribution made by the organizations that are driving Smart City initiatives and projects across the region."
The awards are open to any organization (government, public, or private) that has successfully implemented – or is currently implementing – a transformative ICT-enabled Smart City project or initiative, with nominations subject to a comprehensive multi-stage validation and judging process. Besides the widespread recognition that will accompany the awards ceremony, the finalists from each category will also have their case studies featured in a special IDC Public Report.
Nominations can be submitted by the relevant project owners only at www.idcsmartcityawards.com, where you will also find more information about the awards criteria and judging process. To learn about the wide range of partnership opportunities that are available, please contact Sheila Manek at smanek@idc.com or on +971 4 446 3154. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #IDCSMEA2018.
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About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com . Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.
IDC in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey
For the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey region, IDC retains a coordinated network of offices in Riyadh, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Cairo, and Istanbul, with a regional center in Dubai. Our coverage couples local insight with an international perspective to provide a comprehensive understanding of markets in these dynamic regions. Our market intelligence services are unparalleled in depth, consistency, scope, and accuracy. IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey currently fields over 130 analysts, consultants, and conference associates across the region. To learn more about IDC MEA, please visit www.idc-cema.com . You can follow IDC MEA on Twitter at @IDCMEA.
