The Seasteading Institute has announced that it will start construction on the world's first floating water city in 2019.

The San Francisco-based institution will build these cities in French Polynesia as micro-nations for tech innovation. The Seasteading Institute was founded based on Silicon Valley's need for more flexible innovation communities where they could develop in peace.

The 'Floating Island Project' has developed a special governing framework whereby French Polynesia will allow the islands political autonomy in exchange for environmental, social and economic benefits. By locating the floating cities in calm, territorial waters of French Polynesia, the Seasteading Institute is able to keep costs of building lower than if the islands were located on rough open ocean waters.

The islands would consist of modular platforms 50 square meters in size that could connect and each support three storey buildings.