On Wednesday, September 21, 2011, IFEZ signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ecuador's Ministry of National Development and Planning (SENPLADES) to apply and export IFEZ urban development model know-how to projects for developing new cities based on knowledge. The project to build a city based on knowledge is a large-scale project led by the Ecuadorian government and will be promoted as a pilot project that will lead the field of education and science and technology equipped with advanced information and communication facilities.