Deadline: 18 November 2015
European Commission is inviting applications from the cities having a population above 100,000 inhabitants or established in an EU member or in associated country for its European Capital Innovation Awards 2016.
It will aim to provide European level recognition to those cities that make the most to promote innovation within their communities and thereby improve the quality of their citizens’ lives. It will address the challenge of fostering innovation through actions at city level, by acknowledging innovative solutions to build up an innovation ecosystem and ideas to further expand and scale up these initiatives, thereby leveraging and inducing further systemic innovation in cities.
Award Information
- First prize of EUR 950 000
- Second prize of EUR 100 000
- Third prize EUR 50 000
Award Criteria
- Innovative – in terms of concepts, processes and tools;
- Inspiring – attracting talent, resources, funding, investment.
- Integrated – covering the entire innovation ecosystem and its links with Europe 2020.
- Interactive – facilitating the interactions within the innovation ecosystem, particularly ensuring citizens’ involvement and engagement.
- Impactful – outlining the city’s potential to realize the expected impacts of the prize and its current commitment towards future, sustainable plans based on the above mentioned achievements.
Eligibility Criteria
Contestants for the “European Capital of Innovation Award 2016” shall comply with the following eligibility criteria to participate:
- The candidate cities must be established in an EU Member or in Associated Country and have a population above 100,000 inhabitants
- The submission consists of a complete application.
- The achievements must relate to completed or on-going initiatives started after 1st January 2012.
- The achievements have not been previously awarded with a monetary prize by an EU institution.
How to Apply
Applicants should read the application guide available on the website and then submit their application on the participant portal.
For more information, please visit research & innovation award.
