The City 2.0 reimagines the future

For the first time ever, the majority of the world’s population lives in cities. By the middle of this century, the urban population will almost double -- and the majority of this growth will happen in cities within developing countries. In 2012, for the first time, the TED Prize went not to a person, but to an idea for continued flourishing: The City2.0, an exploration of the intersection of ingenuity and urbanity. Through special TED events and gatherings around the globe, and an experiment in micro-philanthropy, this wish is about surfacing big ideas for cities, and empowering individuals and communities to move them forward.

The City 2.0 awarded ten $10,000 grants through 2013 to fund innovative ideas to make lives in cities just a little bit better. Jason Sweeney received a grant to crowdsource quiet spaces in Adelaide, Australia; Asim Fayaz, Omer Sheikh and Khurram Siddiqi moved forward on creating better street signage for Lahore, Pakistan; and Ruganzu Bruno Tusingwire worked on building an amusement park from recycled plastic bottles in Kampala, Uganda. On September 20, 2013, a TEDCity2.0 salon took place in New York City, celebrating stories of urban ingenuity from across the globe. In the 48 hours surrounding the event, 138 self-organized TEDxCity2.0 events were held in 48 countries, all with big ideas for collaborative action and sustainable solutions. In 2014, the TEDCity 2.0 Michelin Salon was held in Chengdu, China.

More than 50 TED Talks -- each with a big idea for cities -- have been shared through the website TEDCity2.org. These talks span topics in education, health, housing, technology and more, showing how each relates to life in the bustling metropolis. The site also contains video explorations of 10 award-winning projects funded through this TED Prize wish, and resources for those hoping to spark change in their cities. The site will continue to be the home of future TEDCity2.0 projects -- an online haven for movers and shakers creating the city of the future.

“I am the crucible of the future.
I am where humanity will either flourish or fade.
I am being built and rebuilt every day.
I am inevitable. But I am not yet determined.
I wish to be inclusive, innovative, healthy, soulful, thriving. But my potential can only be reached through you.

You can forge a new urban outlook. Begin by connecting. Imagine a platform that brings you together, locally and globally. Combine the reach of the cloud with the power of the crowd. Connect leaders, experts, companies, organizations and citizens. Share your tools, data, designs, successes, and ideas. Turn them into action.

Together you can:
Bridge the gap between poor and rich communities.
Spectacularly reduce your carbon footprint.
Make nature part of daily life.
Empower entrepreneurship.
Re-imagine education.
Nurture health.
I am the City 2.0. Dream me. Build me. Make me real.”