This selection, announced during an event in Curitiba (Brazil), follows the evaluation of 320 international applications. Reus shares this honor with only two other cities in Spain: Las Rozas and Murcia.
The ICF awards recognize excellence in six key pillars for intelligent urban development: digital connectivity, employment and training, innovation, citizen participation, social inclusion, and sustainability. Reus's application highlighted its policies and projects in these areas, aimed at generating economic opportunities and improving the quality of life for its residents.
“"Being part of the SMART21 Communities is a recognition of the work being done to advance towards a city model based on knowledge, innovation, talent, and digital transformation at the service of people."
The Councillor for Economic Promotion, Knowledge, and Innovation, Josep Baiges, added that 'being chosen among the 21 intelligent cities in the world encourages us to continue moving in this direction and demonstrates that investing in innovation has a return for citizens'.
The Intelligent Community Forum, founded in 2000, aims to help communities build a more prosperous and sustainable future through digital innovation. With this distinction, Reus advances to the second phase of the process, where it will detail its most outstanding projects. From this phase, the seven finalists (TOP7 Intelligent Communities of the Year) will be announced on June 16 and 17, 2026, in Limburg (Netherlands). Finally, in October, the international jury will proclaim the Intelligent Community of the Year during the Global Summit in Columbus (United States).
