For those of you who have grown weary of all the “talk”, and are looking for a tangible program that has the potential for big things, then I encourage you to read this article, read this speech, and learn more about IBM’s recent partnership with Shenyang to monitor its water use.
Not the first water management program in China, Veolia, Suez, and others are currently active in China, there are several things that set this program apart from others who have forayed into similar projects and offer hope that this program will succeed:
1) It is a partnership with one city, Shenyang, to manage an existing problem that they have, managing and monitoring its water resources.
In Shenyang, one of IBM’s first tasks will be to analyze data from the city’s sewage and plumbing systems to determine where water is being wasted, and how access to clean drinking water can be improved.
2) IT is a program that both parties, IBM and City of Shenyang, are investing MONEY into.
Shenyang will invest 300 million yuan ($44 million) in the project over five years. IBM wouldn’t comment on its own financial contribution, but Thomas Li, director of IBM’s China research laboratory, said it would be “not less than what they put in.”
3) It is a program where both parties will build internal knowledge bases (very useful for scaling up later):
IBM will devote 20-25 researchers to the project at first, with that number likely to grow over time. IBM will also establish a joint laboratory with the city and Shenyang’s Northeastern University
Additionally, where I believe this program is superior to others, is that this is a program that is not built on a large idea in a small area (i.e. like an ecotown) where the lessons will be tough to apply directly into other areas. That, given Shenyang’s size, status, and history of heavy industry, if the program is successful it is a program that be implemented in cities of all sizes around China and address real issues that will ultimately aid China deal with one of its largest issues.
It is also a program that does not require new technology,the movement of millions of people, or rely on partners who are all in it for the equity and are not willing to put skin in the game. Both partners clearly have come together, understood the benefits of a partnership, and moved forward.