Ravi Bhat is executive for software group at IBM South Africa.

The future lies in cities. Every year, the equivalent of seven New York Cities is added to the planet. By 2050, the worldwide urban population is expected to double. This urbanisation creates massive challenges, but also real benefits for the communities that know how to make the most of this influx.

Cities that draw people who are highly educated, innovative, and entrepreneurial can create a foundation for sustainable economic growth that will make life better for everyone in the community.

Smart civic leaders worldwide are beginning to focus on how they can attract brains and creativity. They’re studying their cities’ services and shifting investment strategies so that, rather than simply trying to attract a bigger labour pool, they’re creating a systems of services that also draws in highly-skilled, innovative citizens.

During the past three years with more than 2,000 city projects around the world, we have learned firsthand some of the smart lessons from smart cities around the world. When it comes to attracting a higher-skilled workforce, cities need to take cognizance of the following factors: reducing traffic congestion; improving public safety by cutting crime and emergency response times; tailoring services with a heavy emphasis on education and training; creating more patient-centric healthcare systems. These elements play a vital role in attracting the right people with the right skills to our cities.

The future of cities is reliant on the people who make them up. It’s up to those communities to cultivate that future. Talent is a resource that cities can attract. During the next decade, the number of highly educated international migrants around the world is expected to more than triple.

Planning now is the way to secure progress going forward.