Right this moment, the Fee has revealed the winners of the 2024-25 European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital), celebrating a decade of recognising cities that prepared the ground in delivering modern options for his or her residents. This 12 months’s high prizes, funded below the EU analysis and innovation programme Horizon Europe, had been awarded to the cities of Torino and Braga.
Torino showcases a complete strategy to experimentation and innovation, leveraging its wealthy historical past and industrial heritage to deal with each current and future city challenges. Braga has developed a variety of modern options, from tech-based clusters to cultural and inventive industries, and established a powerful innovation ecosystem with a deal with collaboration and inclusivity.
The award ceremony passed off on 13 November 2024 in Lisbon on the Net Summit, one of many world’s largest know-how occasions. Commissioner Iliana Ivanova handed the awards to cities which have embedded innovation into every day city life, advancing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities. The ceremony introduced collectively the mayors from profitable cities and previous iCapital winners.
Along with the principle class winners, the Fee has introduced the first and 2nd runners-up for every class:
European Capital of Innovation class
- West Midlands Mixed Authority, third place
European Rising Modern Metropolis class
The European Capital of Innovation class winner, Torino, has acquired a €1 million prize, whereas the 2 runners-up have been awarded €100 000 every. The European Rising Modern Metropolis class winner, Braga, has acquired €500,000, and the 2 runner-up cities have every been granted €50,000.
Background
Supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) below Horizon Europe, the European Capital of Innovation Awards – also referred to as iCapital – rejoice cities with dynamic, inclusive innovation ecosystems. The competitors acknowledges these city centres that efficiently join residents, tutorial establishments, companies, and public authorities to drive transformative change.
This 12 months celebrates the tenth anniversary of the iCapital Awards. The prize first passed off in 2014. Previous winners embrace 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. Previous winners within the Rising Modern metropolis class embrace Vantaa (2021), Haarlem (2022) and Linköping (2023).
iCapital is likely one of the 5 EIC Prizes granted below Horizon Europe. The prize is open to cities from all EU member states and international locations related to Horizon Europe and it’s managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Govt Company. The winners are chosen following an evaluation carried out by two high-level juries of unbiased consultants.
