There is an increasing demand for places to live that have infrastructure suited for the 21st century. Cities are emerging as hubs and the heart of technological innovation; characterised by an ongoing shift from technology parks in suburban areas, to entrepreneurial activity within cities, especially during the age of COVID-19. The continuous rise of tech cities provides opportunities for businesses and employment. Traditional manufacturing and routine cognitive skills jobs are diminishing and the creation of new sources of employment and growth is vital to maintain competitiveness, reduce poverty, and increase shared prosperity to help lessen the impacts of the pandemic. “Urban tech” and “smart cities” technologies are changing how residents engage city services and move through public space.
A global tech market advisory firm has found that there are currently over 13,000 microcities globally, their research states. Microcities or “cities within cities” are amenity-packed and designed to meet the needs of technology-driven residents. Microcity clusters are generally located in and around airports, ports, international rail stations, venues, malls, corporate and university campuses, office parks, and other highly concentrated urban zones. This way, developers can make not only a community for citizens but places that cater to the needs of the public especially during this new normal brought upon by the pandemic.
Tech firms predict microcities will remain key for urban technology innovation. A wide range of technology vendors provides a robust range of options such as private 5G networks, data analytics and AI, IoT platforms and industrial systems for airports, campuses and railway stations for these microcities or urban tech cities. Common technologies deployed across all microcity types include smart cameras and biometrics, robotics and automation, digital signage, private Wi-Fi and 5G networks and other advanced technologies. These innovations and solutions allow developers to address specific challenges related to people flow management, access and security, overall customer experience and environmental impact while generating cost savings through maximising operational efficiencies.
The Philippines is a perfect prospect for urban tech. And within the nation, the city that best reflects what a true tech hub might stem from is Cebu City, the second-largest metropolitan. The Philippines is the fastest growing economy in Asia and Cebu is the fastest growing city in the Philippines. An article list several reasons why Cebu is the perfect candidate for an urban tech hub including rapid growth, rapid growth, better traffic, lower cost of living and readily available commercial and residential options
Cebu’s IT Park and Business Parks may be nearly at leasing capacity, but many more commercial and residential projects are being built. Anyone who has spent time in Cebu recently will be surprised at the sheer volume of construction either under way or earmarked to start shortly. Alongside the continuing expansion of IT Park and Business Park, a plethora of exciting new developments are due to be completed over the next 4–5 years providing an ever-expanding range of living and working environments for entrepreneurs.
The recently concluded the Roadmap Study for Sustainable Urban Development in Metro Cebu (Metro Cebu Roadmap) citing solid growth of 5.8% GDP and 1 million new jobs to be created by 2050 once the roadmap is fully implemented. The roadmap can be the city’s blueprint for sustainable economic development and provides all local stakeholders with a clear vision for the future. Also, there is the exciting prospective addition of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System which is a mass transit system for Cebu City.
Nations are also looking for ways to keep up with the ever-changing framework of technology and the pandemic only hastened the inevitable process. The unending marathon of making a sustainable future for every country drives the inspiration behind the development of urban tech cities. Microcities built on the ideas mentioned in the research aim to create a more effective, data-driven, safer and improved technological experience for citizens and their government.
