The city of Helsingborg is one of 12 finalists in the European Capital of Innovation 2020. The winning city, announced during European Research and Innovation Days (22-24 September), will receive the honor and one million Euros. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
Linda Skoglund, Quality Manager, City Planning Department, City of Helsingborg.
Since 2014, EU cities have been able to compete for the title of European Capital of Innovation (iCapital), with previous winners including Nantes, Athens and Amsterdam. It is the development of innovation systems to meet societal challenges and quality of life that is assessed. Now Viable Cities member Helsingborg has a chance to win. Linda Skoglund, quality manager at Helsingborg's urban planning administration, is delighted.
- "It's great to get confirmation that we are doing the right things and that our efforts can also inspire others. In this work, we of course hope that a final place will lead to new exciting collaborations and partnerships for the city and other actors so that we can create more quality of life for our residents and a more sustainable city.
The final is the result of long-term work on innovation-driven development in the city of Helsingborg.
- This is work that we started a long time ago. We have worked very hard to provide tools and courage for city managers to lead and welcome innovation and engage all employees in innovation work. Through the innovation initiative H22, we have even more clearly set a high ambition where the city should not only build innovation power itself, but where we focus on inviting business, associations, academia and residents to be co-creators.
Linda Skoglund is convinced that innovation is necessary to meet the challenges we face, but does not believe in a one-size-fits-all template for all cities.
- I think it is important to start from the challenges the city has, innovation is not an end in itself but a means. But I really believe in helping each other across borders, the city can't solve everything on its own but must co-create with business, associations and residents, and be brave together. Innovation work is not easy, but it is always exciting and instructive.
Read more about Helsingborg's development work on their website.
All finalists
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Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
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Espoo (Finland)
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Ghent (Belgium)
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Groningen (Holland)
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Helsingborg (Sweden)
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Leeuwarden (Holland)
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Leuven (Belgium)
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Linz (Austria)
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Milan (Italy)
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Reykjavik (Iceland)
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Valencia (Spain)
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Vienna (Austria)
More about the competition
The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) competition is funded by Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation program. It recognizes cities as unique actors in promoting innovation and making a significant contribution to resilience, sustainability and quality of life. Cities in EU Member States and in countries associated to Horizon 2020 can participate in the competition.
Umeå and Gothenburg participated in the 2018 competition and both reached the final. Umeå went one step further and came second (runner-up).
Previous winners
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Barcelona won the first competition in 2014 for its use of new technologies to bring the city closer to its citizens and promote economic growth.
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Amsterdam won in 2016 for an innovation ecosystem with four dimensions: smart, start-ups, viability and digital social innovation.
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Paris became Europe's Innovation Capital in 2017 for its support for the development of start-ups and initiatives that invite citizens to co-create the city.
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In 2018, Athens won because, despite many challenges, it uses innovation to support local community development.
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Nantes received the title in 2019 for its work on using democratic participation to address challenges such as energy, ageing, the digital transition and social inclusion.
Price
The winning city receives the title of European Capital of Innovation 2020 and €1,000,000 to support its innovation activities and improve its ability to engage individuals, public organisations, academia and businesses in co-creating positive societal development.
