Connected Urban Development (CUD) is a partnership between Cisco and cities around the world to create urban communications infrastructures that demonstrate how network connectivity can reduce carbon emissions in urban environments. By using network connectivity for communication, collaboration, urban planning, and other activities, CUD will help change the way in which cities do the following:

• Deliver services to residents
• Manage the flow of traffic
• Operate public transportation
• Use and manage real estate resources

Changing the way cities operate has a positive impact on the ways in which citizens work, live, and play.

Launched in 2006, CUD is a 5-year program, in which Cisco has invested US$15 million in people, research, and equipment to help create a global community of cities committed to addressing environmental sustainability.

Connected Urban Development is one of two Cisco initiatives that were born from Cisco's participation in the Clinton Global Initiative, an endeavor of the William J. Clinton Foundation to develop innovative solutions for some of the world's most pressing challenges. The second initiative, Carbon to Collaboration, is an internal program that focuses on reducing the overall carbon footprint of Cisco employees.

In the first phase of CUD, partnerships were established with the cities of Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Seoul to support their innovative use of technology in reducing carbon emissions, while, at the same time, fostering economic growth. During this phase, three CUD conferences took place. The first, "Connecting Cities: Innovation for Sustainability," was co-hosted by Cisco and the City and County of San Francisco February 20-21, 2008. The event brought together city business leaders and planners, researchers, and academics from around the world to share best practices in sustainability and develop innovative environmental solutions. (Learn more about Connected Urban Development Global Conference 2008 in San Francisco)

Following the success of the San Francisco event, Cisco and the City of Amsterdam co-hosted the second CUD conference in the Netherlands, September 23-24, 2008. The conference theme was "Connectivity for Sustainability," a main topic of the CUD initiative. The event provided a platform for attendees, world-class thought leaders, and public officials to participate in interactive sessions and workshops designed to explore new and innovative ways to develop information and communications technology (ICT) solutions for urban sustainability. (Learn more about Connected Urban Development Global Conference 2008 in Amsterdam)

he third CUD Global Conference was held in Seoul, South Korea May 21-22, 2009. Co-hosted by Cisco and the City of Seoul, the topic of the conference was "Connecting Cities for Sustainable Living: An Urban Revolution."

In 2010 Cisco announced the transition of the CUD program to the Smart 2020: Cities and Regions initiative, led by The Climate Group, in 2010. The next phase of the initiative will focus on engaging with a wider network of innovation communities:

Partnership for Urban Innovation: Global Conference, June 17 and 18,2010

During the Shanghai World Expo, Connected Urban Development expanded to include a wider network of cities, companies, and other organizations to help realize the role that connected and integrated urban infrastructures and services play in enabling sustainable communities.

The Cisco Internet Business Solution Group (IBSG) continues to expand on the successful CUD blueprint with new and existing urban communities under through the Cisco IBSG Urban Innovation Practice.

Learn more about Connected Urban Development
Visit the Connected Urban Development collaboration website
Download presentation materials from Connected Urban Development Global Conference San Francisco
Download presentation materials from Connected Urban Development Global Conference Amsterdam
Download presentation materials from Connected Urban Development Global Conference Seoul
Download presentation materials from the Partnership for Urban Innovation Global Conference Shanghai

An overview of the Connected Urban Development (CUD) program, with quotes from keynote speakers at the global conferences in San Francisco and Amsterdam.

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