European Capitals

of Innovation
2016-2019

Places that bring

ideas to life

#iCapitalAwards

Research and
Innovation
EUROPEAN CAPITALS OF INNOVATION – 2016-2019 – Places that bring ideas to life
European Commission
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

Email: rtd-i-capital@ec.europa.eu

European Commission
B-1049 Brussels

Manuscript completed in February 2020.

This document has been prepared for the European Commission, however it reflects the views only of the authors, and the European
Commission is not liable for any consequence stemming from the reuse of this publication.
More information on the European Union is available on the internet (http://europa.eu).

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020

PDF ISBN 978-92-76-14634-6 doi:10.2777/442734 KI-02-19-995-EN-N

© European Union, 2020

Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The reuse policy of European Commission documents is regulated by Decision
2011/833/EU (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39).

For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the copyright of the European Union, permission must be
sought directly from the copyright holders.

PICTURES CREDITS:
Cover: © European Commission, DG Research and Innovation
Inside pages:
p. 9: © European Commission – p. 10: iStock/590269430 © benkrut – p. 11: © Régis Routier, Ville de Nantes –
p. 11: © YHNOVA, Batiprint 3D – p. 12: © Stephan Menoret, Nantes Métropole – p. 12: © Patrick Garçon, Nantes
Métropole – p. 13: © CartoQuartiers – p. 14: iStock/486812737 © repistu – p. 15: iStock/697083606 © NXiao –
p. 16: iStock/943830678 © Janus_Orlov – p. 17: iStock/477636345 © theasis – p. 18: iStock/5009488301
© Leonid Andronov – p. 19: iStock/174071275 © AleksandraGeorgiev – p. 20: iStock/934906480 © milangonda –
p. 21: © NiAN-Nikos Anagnostopoulos – p. 22: © NiAN-Nikos Anagnostopoulos – p. 23: © NiAN-Nikos
Anagnostopoulos– p. 24: © Dennis Borup – p. 25: © Ralph Larmann – p. 26: © Karl Bruninx –
p. 27: iStock/1096991840 © saiko3p – p. 28: iStock/531123447 © Niklas Emmoth – p. 29: iStock/ 853151178
© Niklas Emmoth – p. 30: iStock/922005654 © Augustin Lazarolu – p. 31: iStock/1042569776 © Drazen_;
iStock/912117660 © igor_kell – p. 32: © Lisa George – Yes We Camp; iStock/533449058 © Bychykhin_
Olexandr – p. 33: ©UP/SIDE/DOWN/TOWN – p. 34: iStock/834550564 © Sean Pavone – p. 35: iStock/1027063558
© vitacopS – p. 36: iStock/590047232 © tunart – p. 37: © decode – p. 38: © Freezones – p. 39: © Resilio –
p. 40: AdobeStock/134924528 © Cardaf.
 EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EUROPEAN CAPITALS
OF INNOVATION
2016-2019

Places that bring ideas to life

2020 Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................................5

ABOUT THE PRIZE.......................................................................................................................7

NANTES – TOGETHER ON THE INNOVATION JOURNEY..............................10

EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF INNOVATION 2019
⇢ The Great Debates........................................................................................................................................... 11
⇢ Yhnova .................................................................................................................................................................. 11
⇢ SmartCity demonstrator district.............................................................................................................. 12
⇢ CartoQuartiers.................................................................................................................................................... 13

ANTWERP........................................................................................................................................14
⇢ Sponge 2020 and Wolvenberg ................................................................................................................ 14
⇢ Curant .................................................................................................................................................................... 14

BRISTOL...........................................................................................................................................15
⇢ Children’s Charter and Equality Charter ............................................................................................. 15
⇢ City Funds ............................................................................................................................................................ 15

ESPOO...............................................................................................................................................16
⇢ City as a Service .............................................................................................................................................. 16
⇢ Hack with Espoo .............................................................................................................................................. 16

GLASGOW.......................................................................................................................................17
⇢ Circular Glasgow .............................................................................................................................................. 17
⇢ Centre for Civic Innovation ........................................................................................................................ 17

ROTTERDAM..................................................................................................................................18
⇢ PortXL...................................................................................................................................................................... 18
⇢ Resilient Botu 2028 ....................................................................................................................................... 18

2
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ATHENS – GRASS-ROOTS RENAISSANCE..............................................................20

EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF INNOVATION 2018
⇢ Polis2........................................................................................................................................................................ 21
⇢ Curing the Limbo.............................................................................................................................................. 21
⇢ Kypseli Market.................................................................................................................................................... 22
⇢ Athens Digital Council .................................................................................................................................. 22
⇢ SynAthina ............................................................................................................................................................ 23

AARHUS............................................................................................................................................24
⇢ TAPAS...................................................................................................................................................................... 24
⇢ IOT project on traffic and weather.......................................................................................................... 24

HAMBURG.......................................................................................................................................25
⇢ DIPAS....................................................................................................................................................................... 25
⇢ DESY........................................................................................................................................................................ 25

LEUVEN............................................................................................................................................26
⇢ Leuven MindGate.............................................................................................................................................. 26
⇢ Leuven 2030....................................................................................................................................................... 26

TOULOUSE......................................................................................................................................27
⇢ Violette................................................................................................................................................................... 27
⇢ Toulouse Aerospace Innovation Campus............................................................................................. 27

UMEÅ..................................................................................................................................................28
⇢ Gendered landscape tour............................................................................................................................. 28
⇢ Frizon....................................................................................................................................................................... 28

3
PARIS – REINVENTING THE CITY..................................................................................30
EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF INNOVATION 2017
⇢ Paris Code/Paris Fabrik.................................................................................................................................. 31
⇢ Arc de l’innovation........................................................................................................................................... 31
⇢ Les Grands Voisins........................................................................................................................................... 32
⇢ PLACE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32
⇢ Reinventing Paris/Embellir Paris............................................................................................................... 33

TALLINN...........................................................................................................................................34
⇢ X-Road.................................................................................................................................................................... 34
⇢ Sustainable City Gardening Network ................................................................................................... 34

TEL AVIV..........................................................................................................................................35
⇢ DigiTel Resident Card..................................................................................................................................... 35
⇢ CityZone ............................................................................................................................................................... 35

AMSTERDAM – COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT SHOWS THE WAY...................36

EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF INNOVATION 2016
⇢ DECODE.................................................................................................................................................................. 37
⇢ Amsterdammers, Maak je Stad!............................................................................................................... 37
⇢ Freezones.............................................................................................................................................................. 38
⇢ Startup in Residence....................................................................................................................................... 38
⇢ Resilio .................................................................................................................................................................... 39

TORINO.............................................................................................................................................40
⇢ Torino Social Impact....................................................................................................................................... 40
⇢ Co-City.................................................................................................................................................................... 40

4
 FOREWORD

P
rizes recognise outstanding achievements and stimulate efforts
in pursuit of noble goals. They are a very effective means
of addressing challenges by bringing people together and
developing creative breakthrough ideas. The European Commission
uses them to foster innovation and create role models to inspire others.
The European Capital of Innovation Awards is a prize for European cities
that have successfully harnessed innovation to improve the wellbeing of
their citizens and overcome the societal challenges of the 21st century
– such as inequality, climate change, urban mobility and planning, and
digital solutions, to list just a few. The prize champions cities as key
players in leading a local change towards a more sustainable society
and keeping Europe a friendly place to live for the next generations.
The prize promotes Europe’s unique urban model, where cities have a strong focus on sustainability and nurture
a culture of civic engagement and participation, while building thriving ecosystems. Public authorities work
hand in hand with entrepreneurs, researchers and citizens to find the best urban solutions. Our winning cities
demonstrate that there is no limit to innovation – innovation in Europe’s cities and towns occurs across all
sectors and disciplines. I am extremely proud that innovation is gaining its place in areas such as education
and culture, providing citizens with the necessary skills and mind-set to experiment and co-create our future.
This booklet brings together the best urban innovation practices from all corners of Europe and beyond.
The projects we have chosen here show just how important municipalities and other local actors can be in
promoting innovation with and for people. Each year, the European Commission awards EUR 1.5 million to the
most innovative cities to ensure these best practices are shared and replicated elsewhere. European Capitals of
Innovation are “places that bring ideas to life” and help drive Europe forward.
Considering the potential of the prize to have strong positive impact for Europeans, the Commission will continue
to award it under the Innovation Ecosystems actions of Horizon Europe. So, innovative cities of Europe, prepare
to become the next European Capital of Innovation!

Mariya Gabriel,
European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

5
6
 ABOUT THE PRIZE

T
he European Capital of Innovation Awards is Following a pilot edition in 2014 – which recognised
an annual prize that recognises the European the city of Barcelona, as well as Groningen and
cities that best harness the results of Grenoble – the award contest has been held
innovation to improve the lives of their inhabitants. annually since 2016, with all evaluations conducted
by a jury of high-level experts in the field of urban
In particular, the prize gives exposure to cities that:
innovation working independently of the European
⇢ contribute to open and dynamic innovation Commission.
ecosystems;
The activities described in this book were
⇢ involve citizens in governance and decision-making; suggested by the municipal innovation officers of
⇢
use innovation to improve the resilience and the cities that have received awards since the full
sustainability of their cities. launch of the prize. They are some of the best
examples of the work done by municipalities in
Each year, the winning city is named ‘European Capital the field of urban innovation, and illustrate the
of Innovation’ and receives EUR 1 000 000 to vibrant innovation ecosystems of today’s most
honour and raise its visibility as a role-model. innovative European cities.
The ‘runner-up’ title gives recognition to the next best-
performing cities. It comes with a EUR 100 000 prize
to scale up existing innovation activities.
Finalist cities, acknowledged for their efforts in pro-
moting innovation, are invited to join the European
Capital of Innovation alumni network to share ideas,
and exchange and replicate best practices.

7
 Umeå

Aarhus
Glasgow
Groningen
Hamburg
Antwerp Amsterdam
Bristol Rotterdam
Leuven

Paris
Nantes
Grenoble
Torino
Toulouse

Barcelona

8
Espoo

Tallinn

The iCapital Network

⇠ EUROPEAN CAPITAL
OF INNOVATION

RUNNER-UP ⇢

Athens

Tel Aviv

9
Nantes
iCapital 2019 Innovation by and for all

Together on
the innovation Although small compared to previous iCapitals,
journey Nantes faces demographic, economic, digital,
and technological challenges common to
many larger cities across Europe. Partnerships
with inhabitants, stakeholders and other
municipalities are providing solutions.

O
ver 10 000 people move to the Nantes
metropolitan region each year. To welcome
them and improve local quality of life, Nantes Nantes is using the iCapital prize to extend
is building a city based on citizen participation in initiatives for citizen innovation to all parts of the
policymaking and innovation. It aims to increase metropolitan area, to strengthen the Nantes City
trust in democracy and add to ideas from its Lab and to hold a major innovation event in October
businesses, research organisations and civil society. 2020. This event will be held with Eurocities,
the iKEN iCapital Alumni Network co-innovation
The authority has developed a range of tools
platform and the La 27e Région public-policy lab.
that engage people in the city’s evolution, such
as the “Great Debates” for policy design or a
crowd-sourced map of services. To promote social
and business innovation, the metropolis has also “People are very proud to have the
created an array of business accelerators, SME
award. It gives incredible energy to every
incubators and innovation events.
stakeholder.”
In particular, the city supports partnerships that
transform technical innovation into social innovation. Béatrice Merand, General-Director for Economic
Development and International
International partners generate further inspiration.
Attractiveness, Nantes
Nantes is an active member of city networks such
as Eurocities and participates in cross-border
innovation programmes like the mySMARTLife
project to reduce its carbon emissions.

523 km2 – 639 000 inhabitants – https://metropole.nantes.fr

10

The Great Debates
The Great Debates offer citizens the opportunity
to provide direct input into strategic policies.
Online and face-to-face debate on a municipality-
proposed topic is followed by a feasibility study
of suggestions, development of commitments and
implementation.
The 2018 Great Debate examined how to achieve
a transition to sustainable energy. Over 200 days,
53 000 people contributed to a final roadmap of
33 commitments. Targets include EUR 100 million
of building renovations to reduce heat losses and
energy poverty, reducing car use by 30 % by 2030
and an “Office of the Earth” to support 500 new
projects by 2025. Five hundred citizens also par-
ticipated in sustainable-energy activities such as
crowdfunding for a solar power plant.
An independent commission of 30 citizens and
stakeholders and two elected officials monitors
progress towards the commitments.
The Great Debates have also covered the aging
population and the sustainable use of the Loire
River. Setting up a debate costs just EUR 1 per
inhabitant in this inclusive format devised by
Nantes, which is ready to be used in other cities.
⇢⇢https://dialoguecitoyen.metropole.nantes.fr
11
FEATURED PROJECTS
Yhnova
Social-housing building costs are increasing dramat-
ically in Nantes. The Yhnova project is investigating
3D printing as a possible response.
The University of Nantes, a social-housing owner,
manufacturers, local construction companies and
architects have developed a robot that can print a
single-level home in 54 hours. Yhnova has built its
first house – a 95 m2 five-room building – on a site
provided by Nantes Métropole Habitat, a public body.
The robot prints out the walls, including spaces
for windows and doors, in plastic insulation foam,
which it then covers with concrete. Construction
costs 20 % less than conventional building methods
thanks to the rapid production and cheap materials.
In March 2018, a family with four children moved
into the home. The building was produced as part of
the Nantes Métropole CityLab initiative – it is a liv-
ing example of the robot’s potential for affordable
public housing that is also energy-efficient thanks
to its on-site, fast construction and good insulation.
⇢⇢http://batiprint3d.fr/en/
SmartCity demonstrator
district
The Loire’s Île de Nantes (Island of Nantes) in the
heart of the city has been transformed from a
former shipping hub into a leafy living lab. The
SmartCity demonstrator district offers inhab-
itants the chance to try out digital technologies
that could improve public spaces and well-being.
Citizens then deliver feedback on the innovations
to the project managers who fine-tune services to
public needs.
Experiments running in 2020 include street lighting
that adapts its brightness to the level of pedestrian
and vehicle traffic, saving energy and collecting
road-use data for the city. Another trial has installed
solar panels on a foot- and cycle path to produce
electricity for services to be chosen by the public. A
third is testing a solar-powered automatic bicycle-
tyre pump to promote healthy transport.
SmartCity is run by Samoa, the municipal company
responsible for buildings, transport and public
spaces in the Île de Nantes.
⇢⇢https://www.iledenantes.com/s-informer/
12
NaonedIA
The NanoedIA collective shares a common am-
bition to create ethical, sustainable artificial
intelligence (AI) for everyone. Launched in June
2018, the group aims to create a regional AI
culture based on eight principles: transparen-
cy, traceability, high ethical standards, privacy
by design, independent governance, breaking
down barriers between algorithms and data
sets, sharing scientific and technical culture,
and human-machine cooperation.
The association is working on three services for
local stakeholders. An experimentation section
tests new public and private services, such as
for affordable housing, private debt reduction
and eye health. A studio brings together local
researchers, developers and analysts to support
the development of AI projects. Finally, a training
team raises awareness of AI and offers courses
for developers and potential AI users.
In just 18 months, NanoedIA grew from its initial
30 members to 80 participants, drawn from research
organisations such as Nantes University, local SMEs,
national and global companies, journalists and user
groups, and legal and technical experts.
⇢⇢http://naonedia.fr/
CartoQuartiers
Citizens and associations are generating this online The interactive mapping emerged from a citizen
map of thousands of sustainability, cultural and workshop organised by Nantes Métropole. By the
social services in the Nantes metropolitan area, with end of 2019, coverage had expanded from mapping
additional data from the Nantes Métropole open across a few neighbourhoods to over 5 000 services
data platform. Inhabitants and visitors can search across the whole region.
the map to discover resources such as self-service
CartoQuartiers is a local hit. It has been consulted
bike rentals, social centres, sustainable-energy
over 80 000 times and has received a French Open
demonstrators and shared gardens.
Data Trophies Jury Prize.
With partners such as Nantes Greeters, the local au-
thority moderates and verifies the uploaded photos,
⇢⇢https://www.cartoquartiers.fr/
links and descriptions. The shareable guide relies on
ESRI mapping technology and an OpenStreetMap base.

13
ANTWERP
Runner-up 2019 The Big Link

A green ring for Antwerp’s Big Link is covering up large parts

the diamond city

of its ring road to connect the city and create
new living spaces.

A
n example of the city’s innovative governance, “As a city we really benefited from the
this mobility initiative was broadened to an participation and input of citizens and
urban development project. It is breathing
citizen movements, inspiring and pushing
new life into the local economy and port, making
the historic city of diamonds more liveable and us to be as ambitious as they were,
resilient to climate change. The first phase, costing making a giant leap for Antwerp in terms
EUR 1.5 billion, is covering sections of the ring of mobility and liveability.”
road to connect some city districts, reduce traffic
Koen Kennis, Deputy Mayor, Antwerp
noise and pollution and create new green areas.
Continued engagement with residents will ensure
the project’s success.
Sponge 2020 and
Wolvenberg
Curant Both projects are experimenting with how to make
the city more climate-change resilient. Sponge 2020
Unaccompanied migrants aged between 17 and
is turning the car park at the ‘Gedempte Zuiderdokken’
22 received a helping hand, thanks to this recently
into ‘Dok Zuid’, a green space for leisure/public use
ended project. It filled a gap in Belgium’s government
and rainwater harvesting. Gutters of nearby houses
support by caring for minors who reach legal adult-
feed into a 1 million litre tank, from where the water
hood. Curant provided psychological help, training
can be used to clean streets, water trees or be purified
programmes and case management as part of a
for drinking. Meanwhile, the Wolvenberg recreational
holistic approach. Social support took the form of
nature park is being adapted to prevent flooding. It
matching refugees with local volunteer ‘buddies’
will feature two cup-shaped spaces and a wet zone/
and having them become flatmates, to help them
play forest for absorbing up to 4 800 m³ of water.
learn Dutch and integrate into Belgian society.

⇢⇢https://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/ ⇢⇢https://www.interreg2seas.eu/nl/sponge-2020
antwerp ⇢⇢https://www.agvespa.be/nieuws/defini-
tief-ontwerp-recreatief-natuurpark-wolven-
⇢⇢https://www.antwerpen.be/nl/overzicht/co- berg-en-entree-grotesteenweg
housing-curant-1

204 km2 – 525 000 inhabitants – https://www.antwerpen.be/nl/home

14
A fair, healthy and sustainable city
BRISTOL
Runner-up 2019
Working as One
T
he One City Approach responds to issues such
as inequality and resource sustainability that
cut across city departments and social groups.
There are three elements – a One City Governance
Model based on a city-as-a-system view, the City
Office stakeholder partnership hub and the co-
created One City Plan for a sustainable, inclusive
Bristol by 2050.
City Funds
Established in 2019, City Funds is an innovative
way to finance initiatives to reduce poverty and
create a sustainable city. It combines local public
and national funds with private sector donations
collected by the initiative.
A board of volunteers from commercial, civil society
and public sector organisations oversees activities,
while grants target city priorities mapped against the
One City Plan and the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals.
The 2020 fund, worth EUR 11.9 million, has focused
on economic inclusion, community initiatives, child
hunger and a carbon neutral, zero-waste Bristol.
⇢⇢http://www.bristolcityfunds.co.uk
110 km2 – 456 000 inhabitants – https://www.bristol.gov.uk
15
Partnership drives Bristol’s reinvention of how
to solve social and environmental challenges.
In its ‘One City Approach’, institutions,
businesses and communities co-create
solutions for city-wide success.
“Bristol has created a whole-city approach
that encourages shared responsibility
for socio-economic and environmental
outcomes.”
Andrea Dell, Head of City Office, Bristol
Children’s Charter and
Equality Charter
Bristol’s charters engage public, private and civil
society organisations in action for key city priorities.
Over 100 organisations have signed the Children’s
Charter – ten pledges that prioritise children’s
welfare in policy decisions and are aligned with the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Signatories to the Equality Charter promise to
increase equality, diversity and inclusion citywide.
They receive an information and advice toolkit, along
with peer support from the Bristol Equality Network,
which also monitors their progress.
Two other charters promote women in business and
better ageing.
⇢⇢https://news.bristol.gov.uk/news/bristol-
launches-first-city-wide-pledge-to-children
⇢⇢https://www.bristol.gov.uk/people-communi-
ties/bristol-equality-charter
ESPOO
Runner-up 2019 Espoo – City as a Service

A networked
city at your The heartbeat of Finland’s second-largest
metropolis is treating residents as customers

service and empowering them to co-create services

and green growth that improve their lives.

E
spoo has bounced back from the rapid
decline in flagship employer Nokia from 2007
to become a decentralised, smart city that
nurtures experimentation and collaboration for
“It’s in our DNA and culture to be innovative.”
zero-carbon growth – to become one of Finland’s
leaders in innovation, sustainability and education. Päivi Sutinen, Director for City as a Service
Espoo’s City as a Service model promotes city-wide Development, Mayor´s Office, Espoo
capabilities sharing, while the Iso Omena Service
Centre is one example of a city experiment in
community building and using artificial intelligence
and robotics to help residents.
City as a Service
The City as a Service model promotes urban
Hack with Espoo development through innovative procurement,
resource- and knowledge-sharing. One application,
This course for high-school children has been
Spaces as a Service, is a new way to administer
organised twice, by the city and partner IT companies.
use of public and private spaces to cut costs
Children hunt down bugs in city computer systems still
and inefficiencies. School as a Service is another
under development and receive a stipend if they find
initiative. Here, in one case, high school teaching
a critical security weakness, with one stipend already
was taken to Aalto University, to share under-used
awarded in 2019. Children learn about hacking tools,
facilities such as laboratories, saving the school
information security and online responsibility and
money and improving its education offering. In turn,
develop skills for possible jobs. The course has been
schools become learning centres and innovation
picked up by other Finnish cities and Espoo is looking
platforms that companies, communities and NGOs
at how it can be scaled up in future.
can use to offer better services.

⇢⇢http://bit.ly/HackwithEspoo ⇢⇢https://www.slideshare.net/PiviSutinen/city-
as-a-service-caas-development

528 km2 – 290 000 inhabitants – https://www.espoo.fi/en-US

16
People make Glasgow innovate
GLASGOW
Runner-up 2019
Data-driven
development
With its three universities and thriving IT and
science sectors, the city is resolving social
issues from a heavy-industry past and greening
modern business.
Stakeholders co-design solutions in a Centre for
Civic Innovation. An innovation fund, IT test suite
and accelerator programmes add to Glasgow’s
strategy for a prosperous economy for all, and
cooperation with other iCapital cities.
Circular Glasgow
Glasgow aims to become a truly circular city,
starting with business. Support for SMEs includes
Circle Assessments that identify revenue streams
and savings from waste and Circle Workshops on
how to become more sustainable.
Circular Glasgow has also worked with design
and communication industries to promote
circular business models. More generally, it has
held a Circular City Challenge that reached over
600 000 people worldwide. The challenge led to
three solutions to reduce waste from events and
conferences, a major local industry.
⇢⇢https://circularglasgow.com
175 km2 – 626 000 inhabitants – www.glasgow.gov.uk
17
The home of the telephone, ultrasound and
more, Glasgow excels in technological innovation.
Now city leaders and citizens are exploiting
information technology to reduce poverty,
inequality and threats to the environment.
“We use data to make better decisions
and citizen-led design to frame problems
and break them down into deliverables.”
Stephen McGowan, Creative Design Lead,
Centre for Civic Innovation, Glasgow
Centre for Civic Innovation
This centre uses data to improve public services.
Citizens identify problems and a team of designers,
data scientists, analysts and technical experts
develop IT solutions that tap into Glasgow’s vast
reserve of data.
Outcomes of this “Design with Data” approach include
a system to automate allocation of school clothing
grants, benefitting 5 000 additional children, and
a model to identify unregistered landlords.
The centre has also created data dashboards to help
local councillors make better decisions. The council
is improving staff data skills to expand its use of
digital resources.
⇢⇢https://designfordata.org/
ROTTERDAM
Runner-up 2019
Making it
happen in
Rotterdam
The bombing of World War II and the 1953 flood
destroyed much of the city, but its renaissance
resulted in a resilient, modern port city. Rotterdam’s
innovation policy is geared to modern challenges
such as better matching education to industry
needs and ensuring equal opportunities.
The key is cooperation – helped by membership
of city networks like 100 Resilient Cities and C40
Cities Climate Leadership Group.
PortXL
This ‘maritime accelerator’ with branches in
Singapore and Antwerp supports start-ups with
fresh ideas, new technologies and business
models. PortXL provides mentoring, funding, and
opportunities for port-related tech ideas in fields
like transport, energy and chemicals. It is helping
to scale up over 80 pilot projects, such as: Waste
Shark, a floating device that gobbles up rubbish
drifting in ports; Whalewashing, a floating robot
that cleans and inspects ship hulls; and Forward
Water Technologies, which has an innovative, low-
cost method to purify wastewater.
⇢⇢https://portxl.org/
319 km2 – 644 000 inhabitants – https://www.rotterdam.nl/
18
Team up, scale up, share and learn
Rotterdam is a master of social and economic
reinvention. A make-it happen mentality and
the skills and ideas of its multicultural mix
of citizens are key to success.
“The make-it-happen mentality of the
citizens of Rotterdam continues to
be a magnificent source of ideas and
inspiration for innovation.”
Murat Altunbas, Advisor EU-affairs, Rotterdam
Resilient Botu 2028
This initiative aims to uplift the Bospolder and
Tussendijken (BoTu) areas, whose 7 000 households
are among the poorest in the Netherlands. The
municipality asks residents what they need to
boost their resilience, reduce poverty and improve
employment and education. Cooperation between
residents, the municipality, housing department
and private entities aims to break barriers and
increase trust. Paired with this, BoTu is striving to
be one of the first climate-resilient neighbourhoods
with a sustainable, zero-emission energy supply.
⇢⇢https://www.gobotu.nl/?lang=en
19
ATHENS
iCapital 2018
Grass-roots
renaissance
I
n 2010, the municipality of Athens faced
major cuts in resources and greater pres-
sure on public services. The city revamped
its policymaking processes to innovate quickly
so that, along with its citizens, it could revive
the local economy, build up infrastructure and
rebuild the residents’ confidence in their city.
Cooperation with citizens and civil society
was essential. The city made the most of its
limited resources by directing training, infra-
structure and funding to community, business
and NGO-led initiatives. These helped to re-
generate neighbourhoods, integrate refugees,
improve education and digital access. The city
now has new businesses, a more attractive ur-
ban environment, a revived cultural scene and
better services.
39 km2 – 664 000 inhabitants – www.cityofathens.gr
20
From doer to facilitator
Athens was hit hard by the refugee and
economic crises, leaving the city with severely
reduced resources to meet immense social
challenges. Grass-roots innovation has filled the
gap, revitalising the city for the 21st century.
Inclusion made the approach work. The inno-
vation-support processes were accountable
and transparent, while citizens were consulted
on decisions throughout. The whole city could
test ideas for positive change.
The municipality now brings groups together to
improve the city rather than directing change
from the top. That proves that innovation allows
cities to do more with less.
“The city has changed from being a doer to
being a facilitator and enabler to deal with
fragmentation and improve cooperation.”
Elena Papalabrou, Special advisor in civil society
and social innovation, Athens

Polis2
Polis Squared invited citizens to co-create the city.
There are two phases to the project. The first is a
call for ideas from citizens, businesses and organ-
isations to improve the quality of life and coop-
eration in neighbourhoods, streets and buildings.
Successful initiatives receive small grants, advice
and training to run their projects.
The second part concerns reviving closed shops in
the centre of Athens, where many businesses had
been abandoned after the financial crisis. Here,
artists, creative industries and small enterprises
have received free ground-floor space along three
central main streets. In return, they hold events
and educational workshops for the general public.
21
FEATURED PROJECTS
The project is empowering residents and busi-
nesses to improve the city’s urban environment
and sense of community. It is a win-win arrange-
ment in which innovators receive support to try
out new ideas, and in return they make the city
more sustainable.
⇢⇢www.polis2.thisisathens.org/en
Curing the Limbo
This social integration programme enables refu-
gees who have been granted asylum to interact
with the citizens of Athens, learn about their neigh-
bourhoods, cultivate job skills, and contribute to
city life, while creating their own identity.
Funded by the EU as part of its Urban Innovative
Actions initiative, the programme gives refugees the
skills and social connections they need to leave the
‘limbo’ of inactivity they experience before receiving
the right to stay.
Participants attend courses in Greek, English, cre-
ative skills such as media and photography, and
ICT. They also receive affordable housing and fol-
low professional job counselling tailored to their
needs. Furthermore, refugees are integrated in
city life through public events organised by local
citizen groups. Activities are based on the require-
ments of each neighbourhood, defined by the lo-
cal groups, and on the skills and needs of refugee
participants.
⇢⇢curingthelimbo.gr/en
Kypseli Market
The Kypseli Municipal Market building dates back to
1935. Its impressive architecture is typical of Athenian
modernism. Despite being threatened with redevelop-
ment over the years, support from leading citizens in
its neighbourhood protected it. Today, the building has
been transformed into a collective space for communi-
ty groups. Artists, social enterprises and citizen groups
can use the building to set up innovative education and
22
cultural activities for local residents and visitors,
supported by a viable business plan.
The new use of the space was selected after consul-
tation with local residents and other stakeholders.
Impact Hub Athens, a network of social entrepre-
neurs, manages the building, while the renovations
have been financed from EU Cohesion Policy funds
for Greece. In June 2018, the renovation took an-
other step forward when tenants were selected to
take on the eight previously empty shops within the
market building, which now provides services and
products for the community.
⇢⇢athens.impacthub.net/en/kypseli-munici-
pal-market/
Athens Digital Council
Leaders of the largest digital and telecommunications
companies in Greece and senior professors at major
Greek universities have come together to encourage
technological innovation in Athens government ser-
vices and boost digital skills throughout the city. The
Digital Council, under the coordination of the Chief
Digital Officer, is helping the municipality to reach
more people, become more transparent, efficient and
effective in delivering services, and improve residents’
chances of finding work.
Innovations from the Digital Council’s work with the
municipality include pilot waste-management sys-
tems and smart lighting in the city centre, among
others. Thousands of residents can also access dig-
ital skills training from Digital Council members in
Athens Open Schools and Start Project.
Athens municipality oversees the Council while
the Athens Partnership, an independent non-prof-
it organisation promoting high-level partnerships
with the city, coordinates private-sector support.
The collaboration aims to make Athens one of the
world’s leading digital cities and improve life for
all Athenians.
⇢⇢http://athenspartnership.org/digital-council
23
SynAthina
SynAthina is a digital platform that brings together
and supports citizen groups engaged in improving
quality of life in the city. A City of Athens initiative,
the platform was created in July 2013. By adding
activities to it, organisers can generate publicity
and connect with other groups, citizens and spon-
sors. A SynAthina kiosk in the city is also available
for meetings, activities or information events, free
of charge, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
This free-of-charge, open-access support for commu-
nity initiatives empowers social innovation in the city.
Through SynAthina, people can also share ideas with
the local authorities on how to improve regulations or
simplify government procedures. At the same time,
by hosting information about grass-roots initiatives,
the city has insights into residents’ priorities and can
spot activities that local governments could copy to
improve local services.
⇢⇢www.synathina.gr/en
AARHUS
Runner-up 2018
Social coherence
with innovation
F
ounded by the Vikings, this harbour city fos-
ters inclusion and cooperation along with care
for the environment, with help from a local
volunteering culture. One municipality initiative is
helping to integrate expats, international students
and refugees. Other city actions have halved mu-
nicipality CO2 emissions over the last 10 years and
promoted technology for greener mobility. Numer-
ous ‘test beds’ provide spaces to research and
experiment with the latest smart city technology,
maintaining the innovation momentum.
TAPAS
The Testbed in Aarhus for Precision Positioning and
Autonomous Systems (TAPAS) is a free test platform
for a GPS system being developed to provide accurate,
fast, real-time positioning, even for moving objects.
The system is contributing to the city’s innovation
goals by enabling businesses, research institutions
and public authorities to develop new areas of activity.
Its 1 cm2 resolution makes it perfect for self-driving
cars, drones and other smart city solutions, as tech-
nologies like these will depend on centimetre-level
positioning.
The platform is funded by the Danish Agency for Data
Supply and Efficiency.
⇢⇢https://bit.ly/2GgKV9z
469 km2 – 340 000 inhabitants – https://aarhus.dk/english/
24
A city for everyone, a sustainable
city on the move
Aarhus is Denmark’s second-largest and
fastest-growing city. The municipality wants
to maintain the city’s social coherence while
reducing its environmental footprint.
Tech-savvy innovations are the solution.
“New, valuable innovation happens when
different bodies and disciplines come
together. There are great solutions for all
types of projects.”
Sebastian Bønding Rasmussen,
Smart City consultant, Aarhus
IOT project on traffic
and weather
A network of road sensors linked to GPS monitoring
has been set up around Aarhus to protect drivers
against winter weather and use salt-gritting re-
sources more efficiently.
Data from the sensors and GPS monitoring is
matched with official weather forecasts to pre-
dict which roads will be covered in snow and ice in
the coming days. The municipality then limits its
salt-gritting operations to only those roads.
This smart road-protection planning is also good for
the environment as less salt seeps into the soil and
fewer gritting journeys are needed, thereby reducing
maintenance-vehicle emissions.
⇢⇢www.smartaarhus.eu
Connect, collaborate and create
HAMBURG
Runner-up 2018
All on-board
for the future
T
his 800-year-old seaport is steaming into the
21st century and facing new societal problems
with an openness to new ideas that has helped
make it one of the 10 most liveable cities in the
world. It is attracting the brightest and best minds in
science, business and academia who are using data
solutions and transparent public participation to
find solutions for issues ranging from housing and
urban mobility to accommodation for refugees.
DIPAS
The Digital Integrated Participation System is a dig-
ital platform for residents of Hamburg to informally
participate in developing products and services. With
DIPAS, citizens, public and private institutions can
access city information and contribute to shaping
urban living spaces. This reinforces the city’s status
as a leader in developing new urban planning and
construction processes.
The Ministry for Urban Development and Housing is
cooperating with the HafenCity University and Agency
for Geoinformatics and Survey to develop DIPAS.
⇢⇢www.hamburg.de/dipas/
775 km2 – 1 860 000 inhabitants – www.future.hamburg
25
Hamburg is giving its residents the tools
to take responsibility for their city’s future
with practical solutions such as digital
participation systems and collaborative
innovation parks.
“We seek to share our insights and
contribute towards a healthy culture
of innovation in Europe.”
Sascha Jacobi,
Project Manager Innovation,
Hamburg
DESY
The Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron is a nation-
al research centre and one of the world’s leading
particle accelerator centres. It builds research tools
for scientists to use for applications ranging from
exploring elementary particles to studying new
nanomaterials. It is contributing to innovation by
conducting basic research, which is the foundation
for new knowledge and ideas. DESY allows firms to
carry out product development and testing, while
the spin-offs from its research contribute to im-
proving medical technology, to better diagnose or
treat diseases.
⇢⇢www.desy.de/
LEUVEN
Runner-up 2018
Strength in small-
city networks
Making the most of its unique demographic,
Leuven tackles challenges through horizontal
networks of public and private organisations
that work together and pool resources. A key
partner is the university, a major force behind
efforts to make the city carbon-neutral. Now
Leuven’s network has expanded to include
other iCapital finalists and winners.
Leuven MindGate
A network of local government, companies and re-
searchers, Leuven MindGate promotes innovation
in health, high-tech and creativity for economic de-
velopment and prosperity in the region.
As well as promoting company creation, training
and a hospitable environment for innovation, the
network takes part in national and international
projects, trade fairs and missions to promote its
members and the city.
Notable MindGate projects include a one-stop
shop for welcoming foreign specialist workers
and the transformation of a run-down industrial
neighbourhood into a flourishing art district.
⇢⇢www.leuvenmindgate.be
57 km2 – 100 000 inhabitants – https://www.leuven.be/
26
Collaboration at all city levels
Although small, Leuven hosts a diverse
research population from one of Europe’s
most innovative universities, KU Leuven.
Add in close engagement with residents and
businesses, and the result is a highly creative,
entrepreneurial and citizen-driven city.
“Putting together different people and
perspectives to work on a shared issue
stimulates new ways of thinking and
leads to innovative and creative solutions
to complex challenges.”
Katrien Rycken, Coordinator Leuven 2030, Leuven
Leuven 2030
In this network, local government, researchers,
businesses and citizens aim to dramatically reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the tran-
sition to a carbon-neutral Leuven. Alongside key
stakeholders, it has produced a comprehensive and
ambitious roadmap for the city, covering everything
from sustainable mobility and building renovation
to renewable energy and sustainable consumption.
Leuven 2030 also takes direct action by developing
projects such as L.E.U.V.E.N. which is a partner­ship
between more than 20 building managers to sub-
stantially increase the energy efficiency of their
buildings.
⇢⇢www.leuven2030.be
TOULOUSERunner-up 2018
Toulouse, the open metropolis

As the leading metropolitan area in

France for start-ups, fuelled by a strong

Reach for the aerospace industry, Toulouse is experiencing

a population boom. It is using social and

stars to grow technological innovation to develop in

a sustainable way.

I
nnovations in public facilities and mobility, such
as an urban cable car, enable Toulouse to enjoy“The award has created international
an economy that attracts new inhabitants while recognition that adds value to our work
protecting local quality of life.
and a rich, beneficial network with
To maintain its high-tech advantage, Toulouse is European partners.”
investing in digital skills, in particular in intelli-
gent transport. Social cohesion and public-private Bertrand Serp, Vice-president in charge of Digital
projects are important, too, fostered through Economy and Robotics, Toulouse Métropole
innovative communication with inhabitants.

Violette Toulouse Aerospace

People living in or visiting Toulouse can address Innovation Campus
questions to Violette, a virtual assistant available
An attractive new quarter is being developed in the
24/7. Via an easy-to-use online messaging service
south of Toulouse. It provides a home for start-ups,
on the city’s website, Violette guides people to
research and other organisations focusing on the
a wide range of practical information – on admin-
aeronautics, space industries and artificial intelli-
istrative services, transport, weather, air quality,
gence. The campus will enable Toulouse to build on
leisure and cultural activities.
its strengths as a European leader in these sectors.
Violette is named after the violet, the flower of
It also hosts ‘La Machine’, a street theatre compa-
Toulouse. Following the chatbot’s success, the city
ny based around performance machines, promoting
is increasing the range of services she can advise
creativity and community spirit within the quarter’s
on, funded by the iCapital Award.
‘technology’ theme. In 2018, the company’s giant
⇢⇢www.toulouse.fr machines mobilised 900 000 people to take to the
streets of Toulouse to enjoy a four-day festival.

⇢⇢http://toulouseaerospace.com

460 km2 – 756 000 inhabitants – www.toulouse-metropole.fr

27
UMEÅ
Runner-up 2018 Trust in people leads to trust in new ideas
Innovation through
trust and knowledge
L
ocated at the icy crossroads between north and
south Sweden, regular contact with outsiders
has taught Umeå to be open to strangers. This
has created a culture of curiosity and trust. High
education levels and strong public institutions, with
a significant emphasis on cooperation with NGOs
and including everyone in decision-making, ensures
that people work together to maintain the city’s
good quality of life.
Gendered landscape tour
Umeå’s striving for gender equality has shaped
the city and represents the work of the muni-
cipality, organisations and individuals. A guided
bus tour includes landmarks, buildings and art-
works, such as the neon sign ‘nobody puts baby
in a corner’ on the façade of a local hotel, and
the station tunnel. The tunnel was designed to
be well-lit and broad to take into consideration
women’s safety concerns in public spaces.
⇢⇢https://genderedlandscape.umea.se/in-english/
2 317 km2 – 125 000 inhabitants – www.umea.se
28
Umeå’s residents value progress and gender
equality, resulting in a growing city that is
attractive to women, men and children alike
and prides itself on achieving innovation
through diversity.
“The trust is inclusive. It extends to people
outside the group. If you add knowledge,
it fosters an innovative ability.”
Anna Olofsson, Head of City Marketing, Umeå
Frizon
Frizon, or Freezone, is a meeting place for girls
and young women in a park in central Umeå.
Teenage girls were asked to help the architects
design it when it emerged that this demographic
did not participate in public consultation on plan-
ning the park. The result is a covered area with
circular swings designed for Swedish women of
average height, 1.64 m. There are Bluetooth-en-
abled speakers and free WiFi access. The Swedish
National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
supported the initiative.
⇢⇢https://bit.ly/2WWiB1U
29
PARIS
iCapital 2017 Build up, meet up, scale up

Reinventing
the city By freeing up spaces for new uses and
thinking beyond traditional ways of living,
working and doing business, Paris is building

P
aris has fostered centuries of scientific, philo- a more inclusive, sustainable city ready
sophical and artistic innovation, from Eu- to meet modern challenges.
rope’s 18th century Enlightenment to the
Eiffel Tower. In recent years, boosted by a large This ‘Reinvent Paris’ approach made the city
concentration of students and higher educational both a runner-up in the 2016 iCapital Awards
institutions, this culture has created strong start- and a 2017 winner. The prize money has fund-
up and local activist communities. ed more innovation work, the 2018 conference
for the FabCity network, and the TUMO school
To push this energy towards challenges such as
for free digital and creativity skills training for
climate change, land scarcity, migrant integration,
12-18-year-olds. The municipality’s success is
transport and sustainable growth, the municipality
inspiring a ‘Reinventing Cities’ initiative by the
and inhabitants are co-creating solutions.
European Commission.
Paris is releasing unused municipal spaces to
innovators, building over 100 000 square me-
tres of start-up incubators and financing citizen
initiatives. Cooperation extends to involving in-
habitants more in city management, for exam- “If there is a new idea for a service,
ple in redesigning roads to increase pedestrian involve people to innovate fast and
space. In addition, partnerships with other local to make it work.”
governments and private companies are reviv-
ing neighbourhoods and developing 21st century Carine Saloff-Coste, Director of Economic
work skills. Development and Employment, City Hall, Paris

105 km2 – 2 141 000 inhabitants – https://www.paris.fr/

30
 FEATURED PROJECTS

in IT. Students can choose from various methods

– MOOCs, classical learning and more hands-on
Paris Code/Paris Fabrik approaches – to find the course best adapted to
These two initiatives by the Paris municipality are their situation.
helping city residents to develop skills for growing ⇢⇢https://bit.ly/2T991qX
industries.
Each year, Paris Code provides free training and
a job guarantee for 1 300 people in response to a
shortfall in IT professions. Training is provided by pri- Arc de l’innovation
vate suppliers, while IT businesses finance student
The Eastern part of Paris is getting support for
training and support.
local innovation to promote and develop the
ParisFabrik focuses on training for the circular econ- area. The Paris municipality, other local govern-
omy. Sectors include manufacturing, sustainable ments in the region and private companies are
mobility, waste treatment, reduction in food waste, behind this initiative.
urban agriculture and sustainable buildings. Training
A large area is covered – over 160 square kilometres,
providers, businesses and non-profit organisations
with 2.7 million inhabitants. This area is a hotbed of
propose courses which the city finances to develop
creative, digital and social enterprise. It houses most
skills for emerging industries.
of Paris’ incubators, co-working spaces and urban
Both programmes are aimed at first-time job-seek- fab labs, along with numerous experiments such as
ers and people looking for a career change, includ- micro farms or recycling initiatives.
ing those without professional qualifications. Paris
Code also targets women, who are underrepresented

31
Arc de l’Innovation is taking this enterprise up
a notch. It promotes existing initiatives, organises
networking meetings, provides online information
about resources and finances projects with a local
impact. Hundreds of initiatives are already on-board
and feature on an online map.
Long-term, the project aims to attract new shops
and services to the area, create jobs, make the
area more attractive, and foster cooperation
among the various local governments.
⇢⇢https://arcinnovation.fr/
Les Grands Voisins
When the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital closed in
2012, it left 10 000 m² of buildings and an outdoor
area of 3 500 m² empty in the centre of Paris. The
building’s owner, the municipality of Paris, allowed
three non-profit organisations – Aurore, Plateau
Urbain and Yes We Camp – to take temporary
occupation of the site for social innovation.
The organisations have created temporary homes
for vulnerable people such as ex-rough sleepers and
foreign job-seekers, and an asylum-seekers’ day cen-
tre. It is also a meeting place for the local people and
work space for around a hundred small businesses,
associations, craftspeople, artists and urban farmers.
32
Other parts of the site provide a well-being centre,
cultural events and a social-enterprise restaurant,
among other services.
Activities create opportunities for residents, business
and the wider public to meet and promote social in-
clusion. The project, which originally ran from 2015
to 2017, has now been extended to 2020, before
the site is developed for housing and local services.
⇢⇢https://lesgrandsvoisins.org/
PLACE
A collective of European educational, business and
government organisations, PLACE helps refugees
and migrants to become a source of innovation
and economic growth. It hosts two-day workshops
for migrants to develop products and services for
problems that they face, matches innovators with
networks and resources, fosters leadership skills
and promotes collaboration across cultures.
The resulting projects are diverse, covering tech-
nology, health, integration, the environment, food
and arts, and more. For example, one project is
looking at interactive methods to teach children to
be more eco-conscious; another is developing ways
to share memories with distant relatives.
Men and women take part in similar numbers. Partici-
pants, who are typically aged from 21 to 55 and from
a mixture of professional and skilled backgrounds,
join activities as both innovators and trainers. Local
civil society workers are also welcome.
PLACE is changing perceptions of migrants while
generating value for the local society. The collective
is currently being extended to other cities across
Europe.
⇢⇢https://place.network/
Reinventing Paris/
Embellir Paris
These initiatives by the municipality of Paris are
relaxing planning procedures to allow unused or
unattractive municipal sites to be repurposed, in
cooperation with innovators and future users.
33
Reinventing Paris, launched in 2014, released
23 sites for redevelopment, including a bus depot,
an old swimming baths, an electricity substation,
and empty plots. Following a call that attracted
372 proposals, sites are being transformed into
housing, commercial and work spaces, with an
accent on greening the cityscape. A second call
has since been launched, this time to redevelop
unused underground spaces.
Embellir Paris follows the same lines but on
a smaller scale. Artists, collectives and associa-
tions have been invited to propose art projects for
20 of the city’s more jaded streetscapes, with a city
contribution of EUR 50 000 per site. The artworks
will be installed by the end of summer 2019, when
city residents can rediscover and enjoy previously
neglected spaces.
⇢⇢http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/
⇢⇢http://www.embellir.paris/fr/reglement/
TALLINN
Runner-up 2017
Dreaming big
in green tech
M
ost services in Tallinn are paper free,
thanks to municipal innovation, while
tech start-ups are supported by incuba-
tors and investors from home and abroad.
Innovations for citizen well-being, low-carbon trans-
port and the environment also create a healthy,
happy society that nurtures ideas. The iCapital
prize money supports some of these projects, as
well as a Tallinn Technical University professorship
to improve decisions on smart city topics.
X-Road
Built upon the existing e-Estonia system which pro-
vides e-services for the general public, X-Road is in-
ter alia a cross-border network between Estonia and
Finland that provides secure document information
exchange.
The network was established early in 2018. It al-
lows Estonia and Finland to connect their federal
public and private information systems in a fed-
erated system of some 50 000 organisations, pro-
moting cooperation and communication between
the two countries. The network is now implemented
in eight more countries, including Azerbaijan, Iceland
and the Faroe Islands.
⇢⇢https://bit.ly/2CE7Ma4
159 km2 – 441 000 inhabitants – https://tallinn.ee/eng
34
The city where the future is now
Tallinn is a true e-society, from robot parcel
deliveries to worldwide digital connections.
But it is also a green city, where cooperation
unites communities.
“Tallinn dreams big and delivers. We use
technology to solve problems wisely and
share solutions with the international
community.”
Kristel Kibus, Leading Specialist, Tallinn
Sustainable City
Gardening Network
In a fast-growing city, the Sustainable City Garden-
ing Network helps citizens to protect green spaces
for food production and community use, and is of
particular value for the young, elderly and disabled.
City-mapping software helps residents to identify
green spaces, such as around an old church. A pub-
lic consultation in early 2017 between residents
and the Tallinn Environmental Board resulted in
271 suggestions for 102 different existing and po-
tential city gardens. Eight community gardens have
since been built and the project has been expanded
across the city.
⇢⇢http://gis.tallinn.ee/linnaaed/
⇢⇢https://bit.ly/2G8Dmk2
Innovation and entrepreneurship
TEL AVIV
Runner-up 2017
in a start-up city
Tap into tech
awareness
T
he municipality taps into these strengths.
Open information-sharing and collaboration
between the municipality, residents and other
stakeholders maintain the city’s environment and
high quality of life, while over 80 accelerators and
four incubators foster further hi-tech innovation
and entrepreneurship.
DigiTel Resident Card
This digital tool searches up to 500 city services
and cultural events a week to inform residents
about activities that correspond to their possible
needs. For example, young parents might receive
notification of a local storytelling or a link to the
opening of kindergarten registrations.
Registration for the card gives access to targeted
notifications along with discounts for leisure fa-
cilities. Around 210 000 people have registered –
about half the city population – and the numbers
are growing.
⇢⇢www.tel-aviv.gov.il/en/Live/ResidentsCard
52 km2 – 438 000 inhabitants – www.tel-aviv.gov.il
35
As a young city with limited natural
resources, Tel Aviv built its economy through
technological innovation and a willingness
to take risks. Today, the city’s residents are
heavy tech adopters and have one of the
highest rates of start-ups in the world.
“Tel Aviv has a unique relationship between
the municipality and residents. We encour-
age innovation to fix problems, expand
services and collaborate with entrepreneurs.”
Liora Shechter, CIO, Tel Aviv
CityZone
A collaboration between Tel Aviv university and the
municipality, CityZone is an innovation park that
hosts start-ups, multinationals, and policymakers
and provides smart tech and mentorship to address
city challenges.
Adjacent to a residential neighbourhood, the park is
a living lab in which to develop, test and demonstrate
new technologies for mobility, security, governance,
the environment, education and communities before
implementation throughout the city. It is also home
to Tel Aviv’s incubators and accelerators.
⇢⇢www.city-zone.co
AMSTERDAM
iCapital 2016
Collaborative
spirit shows
the way
B
ottom-up creativity and inclusion still in-
fluence the city today, fuelled by free ac-
cess to data and space to test ideas. This is
helping the city to face pressures from tourism,
migration and changing job markets as well as
more traditional challenges such as maintaining
the environment, moving around a crowded city
and addressing social inequalities.
Modern collaboration on solutions takes many
forms. iCapital prize money has also been used to
finance a call for local innovation, resulting into
37 projects. And despite Amsterdam’s small size,
it houses several partnerships and urban plat-
forms where businesses, researchers and citizens
can co-develop ideas and learn new skills.
A global presence adds to the mix. AMS-IX –
Europe’s largest internet exchange point – and
Schiphol Airport connect innovators to people
around the world.
219 km2 – 854 000 inhabitants – https://www.amsterdam.nl/en
36
Act small, fail fast, learn
quickly and upskill
Over the centuries, Amsterdam residents
have learned to cooperate against the threat
of floods in their coastal city. They have
created a society that relies on creativity and
collaboration, based on openness, innovation
and pragmatism.
Meanwhile, at the heart of Amsterdam inno-
vation is an open, innovation-friendly spirit. If
municipality staff or city inhabitants see some-
thing that needs fixing, they are challenged to
develop their own solution directly, and either
try again or collaborate with others to build on
their success.
“The award had a strong impact on
the city. It has put innovation on the
political agenda.”
Gerard den Boer, Manager (EU)
Grants and Incentives, Amsterdam

DECODE
In a world with an increasingly centralised inter-
net, the DECODE project provides IT tools that
enable users to decide whether to keep their per-
sonal information private or share it for the public
good. The aim is to address concerns about loss
of control over personal information and its use
by internet companies for profit.
DECODE brings together researchers from 14 re-
search and government organisations in Europe,
including Amsterdam and Barcelona municipali-
ties. It is funded by the EU under its Horizon 2020
research programme.
The project team is creating, testing and demonstrat-
ing a distributed open architecture for managing per-
sonal and other data online, where users can choose
who can access their information.
37
FEATURED PROJECTS
Four European pilot studies – one in Amsterdam
– will investigate the societal value of giving indi-
viduals the power to take control of their personal
data while allowing innovators to build apps and
services that respond to individual needs and those
of the wider community.
⇢⇢https://decodeproject.eu/
Amsterdammers,
Maak je Stad!
EUR 600 000 of Amsterdam’s iCapital Award was
used to fund local, bottom-up innovations in Amster-
dammers, Maak je Stad! This accelerator programme
helps citizens and social entrepreneurs to improve
the city’s liveability. Of the 475 projects applying for
funds, 37 were winners, chosen for their inclusivity
and innovativeness by leading Amsterdam citizens.
Although initiatives covered many areas, the ac-
celerator focused on projects for health and skills.
For example, Smart Bricks has created a techno-
logy people can use to measure environmental
issues such as air quality, while MON€Y SCHOOL
teaches children how to manage money.
As well as finance, project leaders are offered
workshops and training over six months and ac-
cess to a network of experts from the City of
Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Economic Board and
Amsterdam Smart City, which support the project
along with Kennisland, Pakhuis de Zwijger, Waag
Society and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced
Metropolitan Solutions.
⇢⇢https://maakjestad.amsterdam/
Freezones
In these areas, people can use public space with-
out licences or permission to make stagnant areas
more attractive and livelier. For example, a shop
can place a planter outside, hand out products to
the public or advertise outside its building without
having to ask the municipality first.
38
This limited reduction in regulatory obstacles encour-
ages social and business innovation, especially by
small organisations. In addition, events are allowed
without permits but within a few rules to avoid nui-
sance to local residents. The main rules are that
there can be a maximum of eight food trucks, stalls
or other mobile outlets in the area which must be in
addition to the business’ existing offer.
The first two freezones were in Jan Evertsenstraat
and Rijnstraat, residential and business areas to the
south of the historic city centre. A third has been es-
tablished at Osdorpplein towards the western edge
of Amsterdam.
⇢⇢https://www.amsterdam.nl/ondernemen/
freezone/
Startup in Residence
Founded in 2015, the Startup in Residence pro-
gramme connects start-ups and scale-ups with
key social challenges in Amsterdam. Both Dutch
and international entrepreneurs are invited to
find solutions in collaboration with the local gov-
ernment, benefiting the city as well as its citizens.
Among Startup alumni are the Great Bubble Bar-
rier, which keeps plastic in Amsterdam canals out
of the sea, and Koppl, an online platform enabling
people to request local help in times of need.
Start-ups accepted into the programme follow a six-
month course on business, legal and financial topics.
In addition, there is a series of workshops on how
the City of Amsterdam works, for example when it
makes decisions and procures services, along with
the support of professional coaches or mentors.
Working space and access to the municipality’s
network is also provided.
Once ready, a start-up can launch a solution inde-
pendently or ask the City of Amsterdam to become
an investor or launching customer.
⇢⇢https://startupinresidence.com
39
Resilio
Smart green roofs with enhanced water retention
will be installed on 10 000 m2 of social housing
complexes in Amsterdam in the Resilio project. The
innovative structures reduce impacts from climate
change on residents and neighbourhoods, including
flooding from higher rainfall, higher temperatures
and more droughts.
The roofs store excess water under a green plant lay-
er to reduce chances of damage to houses and their
surroundings. In hot weather, this water layer enhanc-
es the green layer’s cooling effect. A smart control in
each roof anticipates heavy rain or drought, releasing
or retaining water accordingly, while a network ena-
bles remote water regulation. Resilio is developing an
innovative smart grid that will manage water levels
dynamically, to increase the system’s efficiency.
Resilio, funded by a grant from the EU’s Urban In-
novative Actions initiative, shows how innovation
can go hand in hand with social and environmental
justice.
⇢⇢https://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/
amsterdam
TORINO
Runner-up 2016
Opening up a
smarter society
P
ublic and private innovation-led orga­
nisations are flocking to Turin, drawn by its
flourishing ecosystem as well as city test
lab facilities – Torino City Lab – upgraded using
the iCapital prize money.
For wider innovation across society, the munici-
pality is adding in affordable open labs, funding,
public-private partnership, and advice to foster
start-ups, while empowering citizens to make
their city an attractive and inspiring place to live.
Torino Social Impact
Social entrepreneurship is flourishing in Turin, thanks
to an innovation strategy that includes Torino Social
Impact online platform. This open ecosystem brings
together over 50 companies, non-profits, and public
and private institutions active in developing high-tech
solutions for social needs.
Hundreds of citizens use the platform to find project
partners, combining services such as technical expertise,
impact investment, office space and coaching.
By providing this hub to help people make connections
and access resources, the city is raising its profile as an
attractive place for talent and investments.
⇢⇢www.torinosocialimpact.it
130 km2 – 878 000 inhabitants – www.comune.torino.it
40
City lab for change
Turin prides itself on its openness, with
a young population eager to test ideas.
The municipality combines technical and social
innovation to create opportunities for all.
“We have to be attractive to potential
innovation. This creates jobs, new
technology, new business and new social
services.”
Gianfranco Presutti, Director of Innovation
and EU Funds Department, Torino
Co-City
The Co-City project is reducing social exclusion in
Turin by empowering people to transform their
neighbourhoods and fostering innovation in some of
the city’s poorest areas.
Residents agree ‘collaboration pacts’ with local
authorities that set out how abandoned buildings
and spaces can be regenerated for public use.
New social enterprises are being created, provid-
ing job opportunities in areas of relatively high
unemployment.
Co-City is an Urban Innovative Action funded by the
European Regional Development Fund.
⇢⇢www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/turin
Getting in touch with the EU
IN PERSON
All over the European Union there are hundreds of Europe Direct information centres.
You can find the address of the centre nearest you at:
https://europa.eu/european-union/contact_en

ON THE PHONE OR BY EMAIL

Europe Direct is a service that answers your questions about the European Union.
You can contact this service:
– by freephone: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (certain operators may charge for these calls),
– at the following standard number: +32 22999696 or
– by email via: https://europa.eu/european-union/contact_en

Finding information about the EU

ONLINE
Information about the European Union in all the official languages of the EU is available on
the Europa website at: https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

EU PUBLICATIONS
You can download or order free and priced EU publications at:
https://publications.europa.eu/en/publications. Multiple copies of free publications may be
obtained by contacting Europe Direct or your local information centre
(see https://europa.eu/european-union/contact_en)

EU LAW AND RELATED DOCUMENTS

For access to legal information from the EU, including all EU law since 1952 in all the official
language versions, go to EUR-Lex at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu

OPEN DATA FROM THE EU

The EU Open Data Portal (http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en) provides access to
datasets from the EU. Data can be downloaded and reused for free, for both commercial and
non-commercial purposes.
The annual European Capital of Innovation Awards recognise
European cities that have best harnessed innovation to improve
life for their inhabitants.

Funded under Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation

programme, and chosen by an independent expert jury, the Awards
reward inspiring innovation approaches that address every aspect
of city life – from technology, business and mobility through to
social cohesion, the environment and sustainability.

This booklet provides an overview of some of the unique solutions

from 2016-2019 Award winners and runners-up. It also shows how
some have used their prize money to take innovation to new levels,
as part of a Europe-wide network of iCapital cities.

All cities can learn from these finalists, and be inspired to take their
own innovation to new heights as a potential #iCapitalAwards city.

Research and Innovation policy