Digital City Network

Here is an article sent by Janko at Shout Youngstown (E: shoutyoungstown@gmail.com)with the question: What is the Defrag opportunity to connect to this larger network of digital cities?

Toronto Mayor David Miller signed an agreement with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom today that links Toronto with other international cities and regions in a global Digital City Network, which supports the commercialization of innovative digital media technologies and advancements. Cities that have signed on to the Network that San Francisco is spearheading include: Paris, France; Prague, Czech Republic; Dublin, Ireland; Guadalajara, Mexico; Skopje, Macedonia and Singapore.

"Businesses in Toronto's ICT sector constantly develop and use new technology to increase the city's international profile and presence in the global economy," said Mayor David Miller. "Developing partnerships with our international counterparts through initiatives, such as the Digital City Network are a positive step towards increasing global connectivity and collaboration."

"We're delighted to be working with Toronto on this initiative," said Mayor Gavin Newsom. "Both of our cities have strong ICT-based industries and creative enterprises. This agreement lays the foundation for the commercialization of new, innovative technology that will enable closer ties between our two cities and other regions around the world."

The signing was facilitated through video conference held at Autodesk in Toronto and at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and can be viewed at http://events.telemerge.ca/cityoftoronto/022107/index.php

The event was supported by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and by the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco and Telemerge Canada.

The initiative is lead by Joaquin Alvarado, Director of the Institute of Next Generation Internet at SFSU. "The Digital City Network involves cities and regions that we believe are forward-looking," said Alvarado. "Toronto was chosen to be part of the Network because of its New Media and IT industry. We were looking to partner with cities and regions that we believe are creative and technological hubs. Toronto was a perfect choice to join the Network. "

Alvarado was introduced to City Council in March 2006. At that time, he invited Toronto to be part of the Digital City Network and was encouraged to move forward to strengthen the ties between the two cities. The signing of the Digital City Network Agreement formalizes this relationship.

The nine objectives outlined in the Digital City Network Agreement are to:

- broker international relationships between educational, business, and
community-based digital media organizations
- create new business to business ventures between jurisdictions
- support the growth and innovation of existing digital media
businesses
- develop new cutting-edge digital media companies in each location
- encourage private and public investment in advanced digital
technologies and linkages between jurisdictions
- expand workforce development and education opportunities in digital
media
- provide technical support for digital media incubators and business
accelerators
- develop strategies to respond to the rapid changes in new media
technologies
- inform shareholders about emerging digital media issues, innovations
and best practices.

Toronto ICT firms have already designed and implemented some of the
world's most advanced broadband networks and technologies for business,
research and educational applications.

Projects the Digital City Network may work on include:

- promoting cultural exchanges through specific digital media projects
- identifying and supporting the development of business to business
relationships, co-productions, joint ventures and investment
opportunities
- conducting joint research and development projects
- defining Next Generation Internet in terms of networking standards
and protocols
- creating cost-effective opportunities for existing companies and to
experiment, develop and prototype products using next generation
internet technology.

For more information about the City of Toronto's ICT cluster, visit
here.