Townsville has been selected as one of 24 cities around the world to receive a Smarter Cities Challenge grant from global technology company IBM this year.


The grants provide cities with access to IBM's experts to analyse and recommend ways they can improve through the uptake of technology. The grant for Townsville includes a study of the role that intelligent technology might play to make the city smarter, more prosperous and attractive to current and prospective residents and businesses.


IBM launched its $50 million Smarter Cities Challenge last year, to support 100 cities over the next three years.  Cities compete to secure the grants, and recipients are visited by IBM teams who suggest ways in which cities can improve the management and delivery of services.


Townsville, the only recipient of the 2011 IBM award in the Oceanic region, will  also be one of the first cities on mainland Australia to receive the National Broadband Network.