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European Innovation Council
  • News article
  • 20 September 2024
  • European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
  • 5 min read

Celebrating a decade of innovation in cities: Meet the finalists of the 10th European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital)

The European Commission unveiled today the six finalists of the 2024 European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital). The six cities have now a chance to become the 2024 European Capital of Innovation or the 2024 European Rising Innovative City.

This milestone marks a decade of celebrating European cities that lead the way in delivering cutting-edge innovations that directly benefit their citizens. Supported by the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe, the iCapital prize is awarded to cities that act as front-runners in leveraging innovation to shape more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments.

This year’s competition highlights cities that have taken steps to reshape their communities by embedding innovation into the fabric of daily life — from pioneering sustainability initiatives to fostering inclusive digital transformation. These innovative cities have not only transformed their urban landscapes but also serve as role models for others, demonstrating how innovation can be a tool for systemic change and social progress.

After an intense selection process, including interviews with twelve semi-finalist cities, a high-level jury of distinguished innovation leaders from academia, business, and policy has made its choice (check past jury members to learn more). Drawing on their expertise in like research, urban planning, digital innovation, and sustainability, the jury carefully assessed each city's application.

Commenting on this year’s finalists, Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, said:

This year’s iCapital finalists show that the most innovative cities in Europe are those that think beyond technology and put citizens at the heart of innovation. Whether through green policies, social inclusion programmes or pioneering urban technologies, these cities have demonstrated that innovation is a powerful tool for creating fairer, more sustainable and liveable environments.

The six finalists of the 10th edition of iCapital are (listed alphabetically):

The European Capital of Innovation category

  • Espoo (Finland) has pioneered a distinctive approach to innovation that hinges on collaboration, trust, and a unified vision for sustainability. By fostering a robust innovation ecosystem, Espoo emphasizes sectors like cleantech, health tech, and digitalisation. The "city-as-a-service" model serves as a platform for citizens, businesses, and public sector organisations to join forces in developing solutions to urban challenges. This model promotes co-creation, leveraging the strengths and insights of the entire community to drive forward-thinking initiatives and create a more sustainable future for all.
  • Turin (Italy) showcases a comprehensive approach to experimentation and innovation, leveraging its rich history and industrial heritage to tackle both present and future urban challenges. The city has developed a range of innovative solutions, from smart city technologies to social innovation initiatives, and has established a strong innovation ecosystem with a focus on collaboration and inclusivity. Initiatives such as the Torino City Lab platform, has allowed for the co-creation and testing of cutting edge urban solutions in real conditions in sectors like Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Environment, Food, Circular Economy, and Space Economy. 
  • West Midlands (United Kingdom) is a vibrant and diverse metropole area, home to 2.9 million people, with a rich heritage of innovation. It has developed innovative testbeds which have generated significant returns on investment, such as Urban Renewal testbed (e.g. USE IT!) to develop new approaches for uplifting communities, tech testbeds (e.g. 5G) to improve citizen wellbeing through new tech applications and mobility testbeds to improve air quality and mobility for citizens across the city-region. They have established a strong innovation ecosystem, with nine cluster organisations representing key sectors, and have a comprehensive network of accelerators and incubators that supports over 5,000 early-stage businesses. 

The European Rising Innovative city category

  • Braga (Portugal) has developed a range of innovative solutions, from tech-based clusters to cultural and creative industries, and has established a strong innovation ecosystem with a focus on collaboration and inclusivity. Through initiatives like the InvestBraga and Startup Braga programs, the city has catalysed the growth of startups and new businesses, fostering a vibrant innovation community. Braga’s forward-looking strategy emphasises sustainable development and social impact, aiming to position the city as a leader in both innovation and entrepreneurship while deeply engaging with the local community.
  • Linz (Austria) is a city of innovation and creativity, where art, technology, and society intersect. The city's innovation ecosystem is driven by a strong focus on digitalization, sustainability, and community engagement. Initiatives like the Linz City Innovation Tour and the Ars Electronica Futurelab bring cutting-edge technologies to the public, while the LIT Open Innovation Center fosters collaboration between academia, industry, and startups. Linz’s vision is to lead citizen-driven innovation, creating a dynamic, inclusive community prepared for the future.
  • Oulu (Finland) stands out as a city where innovation and nature coexist, fostering an atmosphere of innovation driven by curiosity and a commitment to improving citizens' lives. With an eye on 2030, Oulu aims to cultivate a humane, cheerful atmosphere through cutting-edge technology, entrepreneurship, and a vibrant culture of experimentation. The city takes a multi-generational approach, embracing open innovation to engage all sectors of society and business. By leveraging external resources, Oulu encourages the generation of new ideas and solutions, creating a collaborative environment that is future-ready. Through initiatives that embody the "Oulu way" of co-creation, the city unites citizens, businesses, and public organizations in a shared mission to address urban challenges and ensure a thriving community.

What’s next?

The winners will be announced at the Web Summit, in Lisbon, during an award ceremony held on 13 November 2024. The European Capital of Innovation category winner will receive a €1 million prize, while the two runners-up will each be awarded €100 000. The European Rising Innovative City category winner will receive €500 000, and the two runner-up cities will each be granted €50 000.

All six finalists are invited to join the prestigious European Innovation Council Forum working group (EIC Prizes Alumni Network), a community of innovation leaders dedicated to sharing knowledge and driving further urban innovation across Europe.

Background

The European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) awards, now in their tenth edition, have become a hallmark of recognition for cities that cultivate inclusive and dynamic innovation ecosystems. By connecting citizens, academia, businesses, and the public sector, these cities translate cutting-edge research and ideas into real-world solutions that improve quality of life and strengthen urban resilience.

The prize first took place in 2014. Past winners include Barcelona (2014), Amsterdam (2016), Paris (2017), Athens (2018), Nantes (2019), Leuven (2020), Dortmund (2021), Aix-Marseille Provence Metropole (2022), and Lisbon (2023) as European Capitals of Innovation. Past winners in the Rising Innovative city category include Vantaa (2021), Haarlem (2022), and Linköping (2023). 

iCapital is one of the five European Innovation Council Prizes granted under Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation framework programme. The prize is open to cities from all EU member states and countries associated to Horizon Europe and is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency. The winners in each category are chosen following an assessment performed by a high-level jury of independent experts.

More information

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Details

Publication date
20 September 2024
Author
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency