Campinas has overtaken São Paulo as the most connected city in Brazil.
The city, home to over one million inhabitants, claimed first place in the Connected Smart Cities 2019 ranking, released on Tuesday (17).
In the previous year's ranking, the city had placed fifth.
It stood out in four categories: economy, technology and innovation (first place), entrepreneurship (second), governance (third), and mobility (fourth).
São Paulo and Curitiba took second and third place, respectively. The ranking, developed by Urban Systems and Sator, also evaluated urbanism, environment, health, safety, education, and energy.
The ranking leader hosts 5 technology parks and 5 startup incubators. It recorded a 4.9 percent growth in the number of technology companies and 21.9 patent filings per 100,000 inhabitants. See the full list of cities featured in the ranking.
The rise of "mid-sized cities"
The ranking reflects a movement that has been taking shape in Brazil for some time. The Southeast capitals are no longer the sole hubs of technology and innovation, as inland cities are increasingly claiming their place on the map.
In São Paulo state, notable examples include Ribeirão Preto, which is becoming a startup breeding ground, and Presidente Prudente, where the city government developed a physical space to bring together startups, entrepreneurs, and researchers. São José dos Campos was recognized as the most innovative city in the country.
There is also a decentralization of technology and innovation hubs, which for a long time revolved around São Paulo. In the South, Curitiba is considered the fourth best city in the country for entrepreneurship.
The city has played a prominent role in the CSC ranking for some time: it finished first the previous year and continues to hold a TOP 3 position.
Florianópolis is also closely following Curitiba's success. The city's technology sector recorded BRL 6.7 billion in revenue in 2018.
The local ecosystem has doubled over the past four years, according to Daniel Leipnitz, president of the Catarinense Association of Technology (ACATE).
Source: Starse