Tallinn was awarded the Netexplo Smart Cities 2020 Prize from UNESCO and Netexplo
in the digital development category. The prize will be presented at the Netexplo Forum
in Paris, March, 2020.
According to Toomas Sepp, City Secretary of Tallinn, such high recognition is
significant, as it acknowledges the fact that we are on the right track with our digital
development and implementation of new technologies.
"All the more so as information technology is a fast-paced field where competition is
growing year by year, and as a result, each community is ever more facing complex
challenges. Tallinn's success story, which sets us apart from others, lies primarily in
public e-services and electronic administration, or so-called paperless city government,"
Sepp noted. "This way, residents can apply for all services in the city as e-services.
Applications are processed using specially designed information systems that are fast,
secure, environmentally and user-friendly. Likewise, official documents are no longer
produced on paper by the city government; instead, historical city management has
been transformed into future solutions or e-solutions. At the same time, Tallinn provides
its citizens with convenient and operational information about city life, and its open
government data will also allow many companies in the new economy to develop.
"
A partnership between UNESCO and the Netexplo International Observatory analyzes
cities around the world and awards Smart City awards each year to highlight innovative,
sustainable and inclusive urban solutions in ten areas: attractiveness, data, education,
sustainable development, finance, housing, mobility, digital development, carbon
neutrality, and transport. The winners of 2020 were announced at the UN World Cities
Day.
"Tallinn is one of the top ten cities in the world awarded in various fields. The Digital
Development category recognizes the use of new technologies and the creation of
innovative services to improve the quality of life of city dwellers," said Thierry Happe,
president and co-founder of the Nepexplo Observatory, who presented the award to
Tallinn.
In addition to Tallinn, the top ten Netexplo Smart Cities 2020 include Austin (USA),
Dakar (Senegal), Espoo (Finland), Medellín (Colombia), Shenzhen (China), Santiago
(Chile), Singapore, Surat (India) and Vienna (Austria).
Netexplo is an independent observatory studying the impact of digital technologies on
society and business since 2007. The partnership between Netexplo and UNESCO has
existed since 2011. More info at https://en.unesco.org/news/world-cities-day-innovation-heart-city-and-list-smart-cities-2020.
Comments