Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Maintains World No. 8 Ranking in Smart Centres Index for Second Consecutive Assessment, Reinforcing Its Status as a Leading Smart City

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that Busan ranked 8th among 76 major cities worldwide in the 13th edition of the Smart Centres Index (SCI), published by the United Kingdom-based Z/Yen Group.

The Smart Centres Index evaluates cities’ technological innovation competitiveness based on a range of statistical indicators and expert surveys. In the 13th assessment, 133 cities worldwide were evaluated, and 76 cities that met the required criteria were included in the final rankings.

Since first entering the rankings in 2021 at 62nd place, Busan has continued its upward trajectory. By maintaining its 8th-place ranking from the previous edition, the city once again demonstrated its competitiveness as a global smart city.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Busan ranked 2nd for the fourth consecutive assessment, outperforming other major competitor cities and further solidifying its position as Asia’s leading smart city.

In this assessment, Busan received top-10 rankings across all six Areas of Competitiveness: Technology, Business Environment, Human Capital, Infrastructure, Financial Sector Development, and Reputation.

Specifically, Busan ranked 3rd in Technology, 4th in Business Environment, 4th in Human Capital, 4th in Infrastructure, 5th in Financial Sector Development, and 6th in Reputation.

The strong performance in the Technology category reflects Busan’s efforts to transform into an advanced future-oriented city through initiatives such as the establishment of the Myeongji–Noksan AI Transformation (AX) Demonstration Industrial Complex, the attraction of a blockchain-specialized cluster development project, the promotion of a Southern Semiconductor Innovation Belt, and the operation of a Busan-style integrated data platform.

In the Business Environment category, Busan also received high marks based on achievements including the additional designation of the Eco Delta City (EDC) Opportunity Development Zone, attraction of investments totaling KRW 19.4 trillion—the largest amount in the city’s history—reforms to the investment subsidy system for the shipping industry, removal of regulations governing industrial complex occupancy, and designation as a Specialized Distributed Energy Zone.

Additional initiatives that contributed to the city’s overall competitiveness include the Regional Talent Development Support Program, operation of the Busan Digital Innovation Academy, customized semiconductor workforce training for businesses, implementation of the Busan-style Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) initiative, completion of Phase 3 of the Busan International Finance Center (BIFC), expansion of policy funds supporting business growth and industrial innovation, and attraction of the nation’s first dedicated trading platform for fractional investment distribution.

Among the three evaluation dimensions that comprise the Smart Centres Index—Innovation Support, Creative Intensity, and Delivery Capability—Busan achieved 1st place in Innovation Support in the 12th assessment and advanced to 1st place in Delivery Capability in the 13th assessment.

Delivery Capability evaluates the quality and outcomes of actual innovation activities taking place within a city. The result indicates that the city’s innovation policies are producing tangible outcomes and have been recognized by the assessment organization.

Moving forward, Busan Metropolitan City plans to accelerate innovation by integrating advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and robotics into its key regional industries. Leveraging its industrial infrastructure and strengths, the city will also focus on fostering future growth industries including power semiconductors, secondary batteries, and advanced materials, while continuing its transition toward becoming a highly advanced smart city.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “This assessment is particularly meaningful because it demonstrates that Busan Metropolitan City’s sustained efforts toward innovation are producing concrete results. We will continue to accelerate digital innovation and the development of future industries while pursuing continuous innovation.”