Cisco, Gale International to jointly develop Songdo IBD

As this significant global market transition continues, driven and enabled by the network, Cisco is well positioned to help cities bring sustainability, economic development, and a better quality of life for their citizens. In this endeavor, Cisco with its Smart+Connected Communities initiative has partnered with Gale International bringing together complementary skills, capabilities and solutions to create smart, sustainable cities of the future.

Cisco is building on its collaboration with Gale International in Sondgo International Business District (IBD) in South Korea and intends to jointly develop and deliver a robust, repeatable platform and transformational solution set that will help customers deploy Smart+Connected Communities solutions globally.

The company has signed a framework agreement with Gale International to establish the ‘Cisco Global Center for Smart+Connected Communities’ in Songdo IBD, a 1,500-acre new city being developed off the coast of Incheon by Gale International and POSCO E&C under the auspices of the Incheon Free Economic Authority. Cisco has also announced it would work closely with Incheon Metropolitan City to develop network-enabled innovation and to support sustainable economic development in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). 

Wim Elfrink, Chief Globalization Officer and Executive VP – Cisco Services, commented, “The vision for this new city is truly transformational, giving residents, businesses and government leaders within Songdo the opportunity to experience the city of the future—today. Our collaboration on Songdo IBD with Gale International is a living example of the globally replicable model we are building for Smart+Connected Communities. We are thrilled to be part of such a groundbreaking initiative, working closely with Gale International to develop new business models for managing and delivering urban services using the network as the platform for transforming cities and countries.”

“Cisco’s products, solutions, services, and a wide ecosystem of partners, leveraging the Urban Services Platform, will help the customer throughout the entire lifecycle of building an urbanized center from planning to execution. The solutions across different tracks such as real estate, utility distribution and management, transportation, safety and security, education, health and government ensure that all the needs of an urban or rural citizen as well as the infrastructure are addressed. Cisco’s proven experience of working with governments and industries are demonstrated in the maturity of its solutions and services,” added Elfrink.

The collaboration combines the Cisco Smart+Connected vision with Gale International’s experience as a smart-city builder to provide a connected and sustainable living and working experience to communities worldwide. Cisco shares a common vision with Gale International that in cities of the future urban services will be delivered more innovatively, and cities will be managed more efficiently using technology that enables newer models of managed and hosted services within public-private partnerships.

Stan Gale, Chairman and Managing Partner of Gale International, pointed out, “We are globalizing the real estate industry by identifying and deploying integrated solutions in a unique replicable model. City-scale development must fit the needs of the visionary communities daring to undertake them. The city of Incheon is to be commended for their vision. More than a decade ago, they believed that Songdo IBD could deliver a better quality of life and deliver economic benefit to the people of Korea.”

“We are excited about this vision and look forward to working closely with IFEZ, Cisco, and other partners to make Songdo IBD and IFEZ the successful model for sustainable cities of the future,” asserted Gale.

The two companies intend to partner to help accelerate the development of such smart and connected cities, which will be designed to improve economic development, environmental sustainability, and the quality of life for citizens. They will also assemble a broad ecosystem of strategic design, development and technology partners to enable and drive network-enabled city-scale innovation.