Pictures of the Future   Spring 2007

Livable Megacities – Curitiba

Compared to São Paulo, the city of Curitiba, which has three million inhabitants and is situated about 500 km further south, is an almost tranquil village—and an example of a city that’s in tune with the environment. "At 96 %, we have the highest literacy rate of any city in Brazil," says Mayor Carlos Alberto Richa. "We also have the lowest unemployment rate in the country, and we’re number three in the number of graduating university students." The city also ranked as a high-quality place to live on the UN’s Human Development Index. Richa’s predecessor, Jaime Lerner, planted the seed for this success (see  interview). About 30 years ago, Lerner started working to give Curitiba an effective local transit system, countless green spaces and parks, and other upgrades. The result? More than 50 m² of green space per person—about six times more than Paris—and up to 30 % less traffic than before. Siemens was also involved in Curitiba’s development. It was the first high-tech company to open an office in the city and has meanwhile forged close ties to local universities. Siemens now supports various cooperative research projects for software development and produces most of its communications solutions for corporate clients in Curitiba. Siemens is also helping to modernize the city—for example, by improving healthcare facilities. In 2006, Siemens supplied two Magnetom Avanto MRI machines to the ADBI Diagnostic Center. The mayor hopes that innovation will provide a bright future for this metropolis. "Our goal is to become a long-term high-tech hub," says Richa. "This is the best way to help our citizens maintain their high quality of life," he says.