WEF report: Technology and data governance in cities during the pandemic

The World Economic Forum (WEF) revealed a report that explores the role of technology and data governance in cities at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic with special focus on six municipalities: Bengaluru Urban, Surat, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Tel Aviv, Lisbon, and New York City. The report, which was produced by the WEF, Deloitte India, and Indian Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), highlighted how significant investments, which were made in implementing smart solutions, have enabled data-driven cities to provide robust responses to the COVID-19 crisis. The report further looks at the initiatives undertaken by these cities and identifies common points underlying their efficiency and effectiveness. The findings highlight how these cities used digital platforms and analytics to contact citizens and ensure co-ordinated data-driven decision-making.