The Global City Teams Challenge (GCTC), now called the Global Community Technology Challenge, was initiated by NIST in 2014 to encourage the development and deployment of standard-based solutions for smart cities and IoT. It aims to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to create replicable, scalable, and interoperable solutions for cities and communities worldwide.

The program has evolved to include the Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Challenge (SC3), which emphasizes cybersecurity and privacy considerations in smart city initiatives. Various federal agencies, including DHS S&T and NTIA, have joined as co-hosts and partners.

The GCTC fosters innovation through Action Clusters and SuperClusters, facilitating partnerships between public and private entities. Over 200 Action Clusters involving cities, companies, universities, and non-profits have been formed, addressing a wide range of issues globally.

The program sponsors events like the Global City Teams Challenge Expo and Global Tech Jam, providing platforms for collaboration and showcasing technology solutions. Publications such as the IoT-Enabled Smart Cities Framework and Municipal Internet-of-Things Blueprint inform smart city development and guide stakeholders.

To get involved or learn more, interested parties can visit the NIST GCTC site or contact Dr. Michael Dunaway, Associate Director, Cyber-Physical Systems Innovation.