Street lights with ultra-high-speed Internet, headquarters of the largest IT companies, a huge number of successful technology startups, as well as virtual supermarkets and robots that brew coffee. Such initiatives have long been successfully integrated in the world’s largest cities. Let’s look at some of the best centers for IT projects development. You can also evaluate existing projects and get new ideas on the platform https://algorytm.ngo/.
The Most High-Tech Cities
If you dream of living in a high-tech city that surrounds you with comfort and safety, then you should pay attention to megacities that are already using IoT, blockchain, and other technologies. Moreover, they are more open to introducing new projects.
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
This beautiful and diverse city has proven itself to be an important global technology player. More than 1,500 technology companies operate here, employing more than 65 thousand people in total. It is worth noting that this is about 12% of the entire local workforce. The capital of the Netherlands is home to the headquarters of 170 international IT companies, which are always welcoming new talented specialists. For this reason, many foreigners choose this city to move to. And about 90% of the residents of the Dutch metropolis speak English.
This tech-centric city is an ideal place for startups. Amsterdam is home to many incubators and accelerators that support young talent in launching and developing new initiatives. In addition, excessive work is not advised in Amsterdam. People devote most of their time to relaxing and communicating with family. Only 0.4% of employees spend long hours in offices. For IT specialists who are considering Amsterdam for relocation, there is another nice bonus – for 8 years they can not pay taxes on 30% of their salary. Moreover, their average income is €64.4 thousand per year.
Seoul, South Korea.
The South Korean metropolis is made up of innovation. Here, even street lamps distribute super-fast Wi-Fi, smart video cameras publish pictures on Twitter, and robots prepare coffee in coffee shops. The Seoul metro deserves special attention. There are elevators for the disabled, toilets, tactile tiles, and glass ceilings between the platform and the rails. And while waiting for trains, passengers can order groceries in a virtual supermarket by scanning a QR code.
Real estate in the Korean capital is also much cheaper than in other cities across the globe. The average cost of an apartment here is $533 thousand. This is despite the fact that South Korea closes the top five most favorable countries for doing business. In addition, it breaks records for the number of patents issued. Tech conglomerates LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are among those who regularly file patent applications.
London, Great Britain.
London is Europe’s largest technology cluster. This huge city is becoming more developed every year, thanks to many technological and creative initiatives. In addition, London is the starting point for many startups, including those related to AI, financial technology, and blockchain. The UK ranks third after China and the US in terms of the number of technology startups.
In addition, the city is also home to more than a third of Europe’s fastest-growing tech companies. The offices of Barclays, BP, Monzo, Revolut, TransferWise, and ASOS are based here. This is not surprising, because the UK has provided all the conditions for running business. Talented professionals receive grants and tax breaks from the government, and you can also register a company here quickly and inexpensively. For tech professionals, there is also The Tech Nation Visa program, which makes relocating to the country easier.
New York, USA.
New York is not only a hub of banks and Broadway. The American metropolis is considered one of the most innovative cities thanks to the huge amount of venture capital and thousands of highly skilled professionals who flock here from all over the world. Technology corporations and startups make up the bulk of the local economy. WeWork, Verizon, IBM, Citigroup, Kickstarter, Twitter, and Tumblr have offices in New York. There is also a Microsoft laboratory and a Google business center here.
The city has all the necessary conditions to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Company management is against overtime: they establish flexible work schedules, regularly organize family holidays, and encourage employees not to give up vacations. The costs of living in New York correspond to the status of the city. Thus, the average rent in Manhattan is $3.2 thousand per month. This is about 82% of the average American salary. Housing in other areas is not much cheaper.
Tokyo, Japan.
Tokyo is famous for its bullet trains, the best robotics, advances in 3D modeling, and advanced software. The city attracts both very young startups and world-famous corporations: SoftBank, Hitachi, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, and Sony Corporation. The city received this status because of the local population’s hard work.
San Francisco, USA.
The San Francisco Peninsula in California is the recognized technology capital of the world. The city’s economy boomed as Silicon Valley emerged in the southwest. This innovation cluster is home to many large international companies developing computers, microprocessors, software, mobile devices, and biotechnologies. For example, the offices of Apple, Google, Facebook, HP, Intel, Amazon, Netflix, Tesla and other giants are located here.
It’s not surprising that the average rent in San Francisco today is about $3.7 thousand per month. For this amount, you can rent an apartment with only one bedroom. Living in a metropolitan area is becoming expensive, even for Silicon Valley employees. Over the past two years, the number of homeless people in San Francisco has increased by 17%, with about 5 thousand people choosing not to rent housing and sleeping in their own cars. Among local residents, complaints about drug addicts, criminals, and street dirt have become more frequent.
Wrapping It Up
Many technologies and innovations are being introduced in cities to improve the quality of life of their residents. This includes smart city systems, more efficient use of resources, high-speed internet, eco-friendly vehicles, and more. If you are interested in implementing new projects in the city or you want to support current initiatives in developing cities, we recommend that you evaluate the initiatives at https://algorytm.ngo/. Algorytm is committed to improving the lives of city residents by combining technology and creativity.