The European Capital of Innovation Award iCapital Category HORIZON-EIC-2026-ICAPITAL

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) is a Horizon Europe recognition prize managed by EISMEA that rewards cities for municipality-enabled innovation with monetary prizes and EU-level visibility. Two categories share an indicative total budget of €1,800,000: European Capital of Innovation (typically 250,000+ inhabitants; 1st prize €1,000,000; two runners-up €100,000 each) and European Rising Innovative City (50,000–249,999 inhabitants; 1st prize €500,000; two runners-up €50,000 each). Eligible applicants are single-city local public authorities in EU Member States or countries associated to Horizon Europe, and applications must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 4 August 2026 including Part A, Part B (max 30 pages) and a mayoral endorsement. Proposals are evaluated by a jury against six criteria scored 0–10 (minimum 6 per criterion and overall 36/60), with shortlisted finalists invited to hearings prior to final award and administrative checks.

What it funds

Purpose and expected impact

Recognition prizes to reward cities that have established and implemented innovative, inclusive and replicable city-led innovation ecosystems that boost breakthrough innovation, citizen involvement and city resilience. Monetary awards are coupled with high visibility and communication obligations.

Who can apply:Only single-city applicants (local administrative units or grouped LAUs) located in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Cities must meet population thresholds for the two categories and applications require a signed endorsement by the Mayor or equivalent highest political representative. Joint or consortium applications are not accepted.

1. 1European Capital of Innovation category: cities normally with 250 000+ inhabitants (special rules allow smaller cities in some countries).
2. 2European Rising Innovative City category: cities with 50 000–249 999 inhabitants (special rules for countries without such-size cities).
3. 3Applicant cities must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC) and validated; previous winners and 2026 runners-up are ineligible.

How much and how many prizes

The call will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each category (one winner and two runners-up per category). The awarding authority reserves the right not to award prizes depending on applications and evaluation results.

Key dates and submission

Opening date:05 May 2026. Deadline for electronic submission: 04 August 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Applications must be submitted online via the Funding & Tenders Portal Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Application essentials:Use the Portal submission forms (Part A online; Part B PDF upload, max 30 pages). Mandatory annex: mayoral endorsement (max 2 pages). Applications must be complete and readable; additional validation documents may be requested later.

Evaluation and selection

Admissible and eligible applications are pre-selected (if >60 entries) and then evaluated by a jury against six award criteria (Experimenting, Escalating, Ecosystem building, Expanding, City innovative vision, Citizens' rights). Maximum score 60; individual minimum per criterion 6/10 and overall pass 36/60. Top three ranked cities per category receive prizes; finalists are invited to hearings.

1. 1Maximum score: 60; individual thresholds 6/10; overall threshold 36.
2. 2Six best-ranked applications per category are invited to a hearing (may be remote).
3. 3Evaluation includes mandatory checks (ethics, security, legal entity validation, non-exclusion, double funding, plagiarism).

Other practical notes

Winners must comply with communication and visibility obligations, may be asked to sign a voluntary declaration of intent to promote iCapital activities, and must provide follow-up materials (photos, short videos). Prizes are paid after the award ceremony subject to documentation checks.

Footnotes

1. 1Submit applications and access official call documents via the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page for HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL: ec.europa.eu

Call identifiers, dates and programme

Basic administrative information

Opportunity Title:The European Capital of Innovation Award iCapital Category HORIZON-EIC-2026-ICAPITAL. Call Title(s): HORIZON-EIC (European Capital of Innovation category) and HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-02 (European Rising Innovative City category). Programme: Horizon Europe (HORIZON) managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Type of action: HORIZON Recognition Prize (HORIZON-RPr / HORIZON-PR). Opening date: 05 May 2026. Deadline: 04 August 2026 at 17:00:00 CET (Brussels). Submission method: single-stage, electronic submission only through the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System ¹.

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible applicants are cities or towns represented by their local public authority. Legal entities with separate legal personality from cities (even if created or funded by the city) are not eligible. A city is defined as a Local Administrative Unit or group of LAUs where a majority of the population lives in an urban centre of at least 50 000 inhabitants, or a “greater city”/metropolitan region taking Functional Urban Areas into account. Eligible applicant types (therefore): public local authorities, municipal governments, metropolitan/regional city administrations. Other actor types (universities, research centres, NGOs, private companies) may be referenced in applications as partners or stakeholders but cannot be lead applicants or applicants in place of the city itself. Joint/group applications by multiple applicants are not accepted; a single city applicant must submit the application.

Funding Type:Primary financial mechanism: Prize (recognition prize) paid as monetary awards to winners in each category. The call is a recognition prize (not a grant in the traditional multi‑beneficiary project sense) though post-award administrative checks apply prior to payment.

Consortium Requirement:Requirement: single applicant. Joint applications by a group of applicants are expressly not accepted and will be rejected as ineligible. The applicant must be the city (local administrative unit or group of LAUs) itself.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Geographic eligibility: candidate towns and cities must be located in an EU Member State or in a country associated to Horizon Europe at the time the award decision is taken. Third country participation rules apply as specified in Horizon Europe general annexes; cities established in third countries under ongoing association negotiations may be eligible if the association applies at award time. Applications must relate to activities in an EU Member State or an Associated Country to Horizon Europe.

Target Sector:The prize is sector-agnostic but focused on urban innovation ecosystems. Thematic priorities and examples include: digitalisation, green transition/clean technologies, climate resilience, nature-based solutions, social cohesion, public services innovation, deep tech and strategic technologies (AI, biotech, health, energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, cyber/security, robotics, space), innovation procurement, startup and scaleup ecosystem development and ecosystem governance. The award evaluates city-level policies, governance models, experimentation and ecosystem building rather than a single technology sector.

Mentioned Countries:Explicitly mentioned: European Union Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe (association list and status per Horizon rules and guidance). The rules refer to Eurostat population datasets and to Associated Countries. No specific Member State is singled out in the topic description; the geographic references are EU Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe. The wider Horizon Europe list of associated countries (as of guidance documents) includes named examples, but actual eligibility depends on association status at award time ¹.

Project Stage:Expected maturity: fully operational city policies and demonstrable implemented initiatives. Applications are expected to showcase concrete results of innovative concepts, experimentation/test-bed activities, governance models, ecosystem building and scaling activities already implemented in the city. The award recognises implemented/operational practices rather than early-stage ideas or research-only activities.

Funding Amount:Prize budget and awards by category (total indicative budget across both categories €1,800,000): Category A: European Capital of Innovation 2027 — Winner (rank 1): €1 000 000; Two runners-up (rank 2 and 3): €100 000 each. Category B: European Rising Innovative City 2027 — Winner (rank 1): €500 000; Two runners-up (rank 2 and 3): €50 000 each. The call documentation also shows ranges in the portal budget overview (€100,000 to €1,000,000 and €50,000 to €500,000) matching the above awards.

Application Type:Method: open call (call for applications) published on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission is by electronic application via the Portal’s Electronic Submission System; paper submissions are not accepted. The call is single-stage (no separate concept then full proposal).

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries receive monetary prizes (cash awards) if selected. In addition to prize money, winners receive high visibility, EU-level publicity, communication and dissemination support and obligations (use of EU emblem, visibility statements, promotional activities). The awarding authority may also request additional non-monetary commitments (declaration of intent to promote iCapital activities) and will use winner materials for communication.

Application Stages:Number of selection stages: up to 3 substantive stages depending on the number of applications: 1) Admissibility & Eligibility checks; 2) Pre-selection phase (only if >60 applications in a category — to reduce to top 60) and jury review; 3) Jury hearings for the top six ranked applications in each category (hearings may be remote). Final mandatory administrative checks (ethics, security, legal entity validation, non-exclusion, double funding, plagiarism) occur after jury decision before award.

Success Rates:Success rate information: not explicitly provided as a percentage in the call documents. Practical implication: only three prizes per category (winner + two runners-up) are awarded, so the probability of winning depends heavily on the number of eligible applicants. If large numbers of eligible cities apply (e.g., hundreds), final success rate will be low. Pre-selection limits to 60 per category to proceed to jury review only when applications exceed that threshold, which can increase competition at the jury stage.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding obligation for receiving the prize itself is stated for the city applicant in the rules of contest; the award is a recognition prize funded by the EU Budget. However, application admissibility may require submission of supporting documents and the city must commit to visibility and possible follow-up actions. For related Horizon actions referenced in the wider EIE Work Programme, co-funding rules apply per scheme, but not for this recognition prize. Note: For other linked calls (e.g. EIE pilots, co-funded actions) co-funding/complementary funding is required as specified in those topics — but this does not apply to the recognition prize awards.

Templates and Application Forms:Application structure and templates: Applications must be made using the Submission System forms. Required elements and templates: 1) Application Form Part A — administrative data about the applicant (filled directly online in the Portal). 2) Application Form Part B — technical description (must be downloaded from the Submission System mandatory Word template, completed, assembled and re-uploaded as a single PDF). Part B page limit: maximum 30 pages; evaluators will disregard additional pages. 3) Mandatory annex: a specific endorsement to apply signed by the city Mayor or equivalent highest political representative (maximum 2 pages) must be uploaded as PDF. Additional supporting documents may be requested later (legal entity validation, bank account validation, ethics review, declaration of honour). Applications must be readable, accessible and printable. Use of the Portal’s templates in the Submission System is mandatory; documents on the Topic page are for information only.

Admissibility, Eligibility and Exclusion Highlights:Admissibility: electronic submission before the deadline via the Portal; adherence to format and page limits; inclusion of Part A, Part B and mandatory annex. Eligibility: applicant must be a city in an EU Member State or an Associated Country; population thresholds apply to categories (European Capital of Innovation category: normally minimum 250,000 inhabitants; if country has no city with 250,000, nearest city to that threshold may apply provided it has at least 50,000 inhabitants and is not simultaneously applying for Rising Innovative City category. European Rising Innovative City category: population between 50,000 and 249,999; in countries without such cities, the largest city may apply). Winners of previous editions and 2026 runners-up are excluded; applicants who already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities. Exclusion criteria (formal EU exclusion grounds) apply: bankruptcy, grave professional misconduct, fraud, failure to comply with social/tax obligations, resistance to audits, etc. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or EU conditionality measures are ineligible. All applicants must register in the Participant Register and pass legal entity validation by the Central Validation Service.

1. 1Evaluation criteria and scoring: six award criteria (Experimenting; Escalating; Ecosystem building; Expanding; City innovative vision; Citizens’ rights). Each criterion scored 0-10 with 6/10 individual threshold. Overall maximum score 60; overall pass threshold 36. Applications must pass each individual threshold and the overall threshold to be considered for prize award.
2. 2Evaluation process: admissibility & eligibility checks, possible pre-selection if >60 applications per category, jury review, tie-break procedure (weights applied to criterion 5 and 2 in pre-selection ties), hearings for top six per category, final mandatory administrative checks before award, publication of results and award decisions.
3. 3Number of awards per category: one winner plus two runners-up (three awards per category).

Application practical checklist and timeline:1) Register organisation in Participant Register and obtain PIC; 2) Prepare Part A (online) and download Part B template from Submission System; 3) Complete Part B using mandatory template and keep to 30-page limit; 4) Obtain mandatory endorsement signed by the Mayor (or equivalent highest political representative) — maximum 2 pages in PDF; 5) Upload Part B PDF, Part A entries and annex via the Portal and submit before 04 August 2026 17:00 CET; 6) Keep documentary evidence available for post-selection checks (legal entity validation, bank account validation, ethics, non-exclusion). Anticipate evaluation timeline: jury evaluation Aug–Sep 2026; hearings Oct–Nov 2026; award information Nov–Dec 2026 (some documentation cites Nov 2026–Jan 2027 as award information period).

• Mandatory annex: mayor’s endorsement up to 2 pages
• Part B: max 30 pages — technical description; use mandatory template from Submission System
• Language: any official EU language allowed; English recommended
• Submission: electronic only; confirmation email upon successful submission

Award and post-award obligations:Prize payment after award ceremony and after submission of requested documents. Winners must follow EU visibility rules: acknowledge EU support, display the EU emblem and funding statement, use iCapital visual identity where requested, and provide factually accurate communications including a required disclaimer. Winners must provide pictures and a one-minute video for promotional use and may be invited to sign a voluntary declaration of intent to promote iCapital during the year. The awarding authority retains rights to use non-sensitive materials submitted by winners for communication and dissemination. The awarding authority may withdraw prizes and recover amounts in cases of fraud, ineligibility, false information or serious breach of obligations.

Evaluation scoring and tie-breaking details:Each criterion scored 0–10 with individual threshold of 6. Overall threshold 36/60. If more than 60 applications in a category, a pre-selection panel will select the top 60 to go to jury review. For tie-breaking at pre-selection or jury ranking, in pre-selection the score for criterion 5 (City innovative vision) is weighted by 2 and criterion 2 (Escalating) is weighted by 1.5 to establish priority order. If ties remain following jury review, tied applications proceed to hearings. If ties persist after hearings, prizes are equally divided and awarded to all tied applicants.

Key award criteria (full list for applicant preparation):1) Experimenting — innovative concepts, processes, tools and governance models demonstrating the city's role as a test-bed and ability to mainstream innovations into ordinary urban development; 2) Escalating — promotion and acceleration of ecosystem actors, support for startups and SMEs, innovation-friendly legal frameworks, attraction of investments and use of innovation public procurement; 3) Ecosystem building — fostering synergies among public sector, industry, startups, civil society, citizens and academia to develop the innovation ecosystem; 4) Expanding — acting as role model to promote dissemination and replication, mutual learning and inter-city cooperation; 5) City innovative vision — long-term strategic vision/plan and alignment of showcased initiatives to support sustainable and resilient innovation ecosystems and green/digital transitions; 6) Citizens’ rights — use of innovation to strengthen democracy, protect rights and foster social cohesion with attention to minorities, gender, disability and race. Each award criterion expects applicants to provide concrete results and evidence of impact.

Summary:What this opportunity is about and how to explain it

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) recognise municipalities that have implemented bold, people-centred, experimental and replicable approaches to boost local innovation ecosystems. The prize is targeted at city administrations (local public authorities) in EU Member States and Horizon-associated countries. It rewards cities that act as test-beds for technologies and governance innovations, accelerate local startups and SMEs, build inclusive ecosystems across public, private and civil society, disseminate best practices to inspire other cities, and protect citizens’ rights while advancing the green and digital transitions. Two categories are offered: the European Capital of Innovation (for larger cities, typically 250 000+ inhabitants) and the European Rising Innovative City (for cities with 50 000–249 999 inhabitants). Up to three awards per category (winner plus two runners-up) are given with substantial monetary prizes and high visibility. Applications are single-entity submissions by the city via the Funding & Tenders Portal using mandatory Part A and Part B templates, including a mayoral endorsement. Evaluation is competitive and rigorous: admissibility checks, eligibility checks, possible pre-selection (if categories exceed 60 applications), jury review, hearings for finalists and mandatory administrative checks before prizes are paid. Applicants should document implemented initiatives and measureable impacts across the six award criteria, demonstrate strategic city vision and citizen-centered approaches, and comply with EU ethics, exclusion and legal validation requirements. The prize is a recognition prize: winners receive cash awards and communication/dissemination support but not multi-party grant agreements; however, all usual EU audit, ethics and legal checks apply before payment.

Footnotes

1. 1Official source and submission channel: EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page for HORIZON-EIC/02 contains the rules of contest, application templates and submission. See the Topic page for the mandatory Part B template, instructions in the Submission System and the Online Manual.

Opportunity Overview

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) is a prestigious recognition prize under the Horizon Europe programme managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). This 2027 edition (12th year) celebrates cities that champion innovation at every level by engaging public and private stakeholders, supporting entrepreneurship, and implementing forward-looking policies. The awards recognize municipality-enabled innovation flourishing in cities and provide both monetary rewards and significant visibility through media coverage and international recognition.

Funding Structure and Prize Amounts

The competition features two separate categories with distinct prize structures. The total indicative budget for the 2026 call is €1,800,000 distributed across both categories. ¹

European Capital of Innovation Category:This category targets cities with a minimum population of 250,000 inhabitants. The winner receives €1,000,000, while the two runner-up cities (ranked 2nd and 3rd) each receive €100,000. In countries where no cities meet the 250,000 threshold, the city coming closest to this figure is eligible provided it has at least 50,000 inhabitants and does not apply simultaneously for the Rising Innovative City category.

European Rising Innovative City Category:This category is for cities with populations between 50,000 and 249,999 inhabitants. The winner receives €500,000, with two runner-up cities each receiving €50,000. In countries lacking cities within this population range, the largest city by population is eligible.

Eligibility Criteria

Geographic and Jurisdictional Requirements

Applicant cities must be located in one of the EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe. ² A city is defined as a Local Administrative Unit or a group of Local Administrative Units where a majority of the population lives in an urban centre of at least 50,000 inhabitants. Population figures must be verified using the latest available validated or partially validated LAU correspondence table published by Eurostat at the time of application submission. Local authorities may represent a single city, a greater city, or a metropolitan region, taking into account Functional Urban Areas where relevant. Legal entities with separate legal personality from cities, even if founded and funded by cities, are not eligible.

Ineligibility Conditions

• Winners of former European Capital of Innovation Awards editions are not eligible. This restriction does not apply to previous finalist cities.
• Runners-up from the 2026 edition are not eligible.
• Cities that have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities.
• Joint applications by groups of applicants are not accepted and will be rejected as ineligible.
• Entities subject to EU restrictive measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union or Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU are not eligible.
• Entities subject to EU conditionality measures adopted under Regulation 2020/2092 are not eligible. Currently, this applies to Hungarian public interest trusts established under Hungarian Act IX of 2021 and entities they maintain.

Exclusion Grounds

Applicants subject to EU exclusion decisions or in exclusion situations that bar them from receiving EU funding cannot participate. These situations include bankruptcy, winding up, affairs administered by courts, arrangement with creditors, suspended business activities, breach of social security or tax obligations, grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, links to criminal organisations, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes, child labour, human trafficking, significant deficiencies in complying with main obligations under EU contracts or agreements, irregularities within the meaning of Regulation 2988/95, creation under different jurisdiction to circumvent legal obligations, or intentional resistance to investigations or audits by EU authorities.

Application Timeline and Submission Process

Key Dates:The call opened on 5 May 2026 and closes on 4 August 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time). Evaluation of proposals will take place between August and October 2026, with hearings scheduled for October-November 2026. Information on evaluation results and award decisions will be announced in November 2026 to January 2027.

Submission Requirements

All applications must be submitted electronically via the Funding and Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not accepted. Applications must be complete and contain all requested information and required annexes. The application consists of three parts: Part A (administrative information filled online), Part B (technical description downloaded, completed, and re-uploaded as PDF, maximum 30 pages), and mandatory annexes. Each application must include a specific endorsement signed by the city Mayor or equivalent highest political representative, not exceeding 2 pages. Applications must be readable, accessible, and printable. Evaluators will not consider pages exceeding the 30-page limit for Part B.

Award Criteria and Evaluation

Applications are evaluated against six award criteria, each scored on a scale of 0-10 points, for a maximum total of 60 points. Individual thresholds require a minimum score of 6 points per criterion, and an overall threshold of 36 points is required. Applications must pass both all individual thresholds and the overall threshold to be considered for awards. The prize is awarded to applications ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with the best scores in each category.

Criterion 1 - Experimenting (0-10 points):Evaluates innovative concepts, processes, tools, and governance models proving the city's commitment to act as a test-bed for innovative practices while ensuring mainstreaming into ordinary urban development processes. Applicants must provide details on concrete results of showcased initiatives.

Criterion 2 - Escalating (0-10 points):Assesses promotion of acceleration of local innovation ecosystem actors, support for growth of highly innovative start-ups and SMEs, establishment of innovation-friendly legal frameworks, creation of environments stimulating growth and attracting investments, and driving innovation demand through efficient public procurement. Concrete results must be documented.

Criterion 3 - Ecosystem Building (0-10 points):Evaluates how cities unlock their potential as local innovation ecosystem facilitators by fostering synergies among different innovation ecosystem players including public, industry, startups, civil society, citizens, and academia. Concrete results of showcased initiatives are required.

Criterion 4 - Expanding (0-10 points):Assesses the city's role as a model for other cities by supporting dissemination and replication of tested solutions, promoting mutual learning and knowledge transfer, and enhancing cooperation between front-runner cities and those exploring innovation enablement roles. Concrete results must be provided.

Criterion 5 - City Innovative Vision (0-10 points):Evaluates long-term strategic vision and plans, highlighting innovative initiatives contributing to city transformation and supporting sustainable, resilient innovation ecosystems ensuring green and digital transitions. Applicants must demonstrate how all showcased activities align with the innovative vision or strategy.

Criterion 6 - Citizens' Rights (0-10 points):Assesses use of innovation to strengthen democracy, protect citizens' rights, foster social cohesion, and ensure integration with special attention to minorities, gender, disability, and race. Concrete results of showcased initiatives are required.

Evaluation Process

Applications undergo formal evaluation by a jury in each category. If more than 60 applications are received in one category, a pre-selection phase occurs to select the best 60 applications for jury review. Otherwise, all eligible applications proceed directly to jury review. For applications with identical scores, priority is determined by weighting Criterion 5 (City Innovative Vision) at 2.0 and Criterion 2 (Escalating) at 1.5. If applications still tie at the pre-selection phase, they advance to jury review. If they tie at jury review, they advance to hearings. The six best-ranked applications in each category are invited for hearings with the jury in Brussels, which may take place remotely. If applications tie for any rank or category after hearings, the prize is equally divided among all applications with the same score. Following jury evaluation and mandatory checks (ethics review, security scrutiny, legal entity validation, non-exclusion, double funding, and plagiarism), the awarding authority makes the final award decision.

Additional Benefits and Obligations

Non-Monetary Benefits

Beyond the monetary prize, winners receive significant visibility through renewed public interest and increased media coverage. All winners and runners-up are invited to join the iCapital alumni network, a prestigious club where cities meet to share knowledge, discuss common challenges, and collaborate on solutions. Winners are recognized at an award ceremony and receive international recognition as innovation leaders.

Communication and Dissemination Obligations

Prize winners must promote the prize and its results by providing targeted information to multiple audiences including media and the public in a strategic and effective manner. All communication activities must acknowledge EU support and display the European flag and funding statement translated into local languages where appropriate. The emblem must remain distinct and separate and cannot be modified except for the iCapital visual identity. When displayed with other logos, the emblem must be at least as prominent and visible. Winners may use the emblem without prior approval but cannot claim exclusive use or appropriate it through registration. All communication must use factually accurate information and include a specific disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the awarding authority can be held responsible for them.

Additional Obligations for Finalist and Winning Cities

Following announcement of finalist cities after hearings, all finalist cities are requested to provide pictures and a one-minute video displaying the city's innovative practices in an attractive way. The European Commission and EISMEA will use these videos and pictures at the award ceremony and other relevant occasions to promote the prize and finalist/awarded cities. Winning cities (ranked 1st in each category) are invited to sign a declaration of intent committing to a series of actions to promote iCapital during the year, including detailed information about use of the iCapital visual identity, organisation and participation in events such as opening and award ceremonies, info days, and knowledge sharing with other cities.

Payment and Financial Arrangements

Prize money is paid to prize winners after the award ceremony, provided all requested documents have been submitted. The awarding authority may withdraw the prize after its award and recover all payments made if false information, fraud, or corruption was used to obtain it, if prize winners were not eligible or should have been excluded, or if prize winners are in serious breach of their obligations under the Rules of Contest.

Intellectual Property and Rights of Use

The awarding authority does not obtain ownership of results produced in the context of the prize. However, the awarding authority has the right to use non-sensitive information relating to the prize and materials and documents received from winners, such as pictures or audio-visual material in paper or electronic form, for information, communication, dissemination, and publicity purposes. Photos and videos taken by the awarding authority either in preparation of or during the award ceremony are the sole property of the awarding authority.

Checks, Audits, and Investigations

The awarding authority, the European Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) may carry out checks, audits, and investigations in relation to the prize.

Complaint and Appeal Procedures

All applicants are informed about evaluation results through an evaluation result letter. Successful applications receive the prize while unsuccessful ones are rejected. If applicants believe the evaluation procedure was flawed, they can submit a complaint following deadlines and procedures set out in the evaluation result letter. Notifications are deemed accessed 10 days after sending, and deadlines are counted from opening or access. For complaints submitted electronically, character limitations may apply.

Language and Transparency

Applications can be submitted in any official EU language. However, for efficiency reasons, English is strongly advised. If call documentation in another official EU language is needed, requests must be submitted within 10 days after call publication. In accordance with Article 38 of the EU Financial Regulation, information about EU prizes awarded and winners (name, address, and amount awarded) is published annually on the Europa website. Publication can exceptionally be waived on reasoned and duly substantiated request if disclosure could jeopardise rights and freedoms under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights or harm commercial interests.

Data Protection

Any processing of personal data in the context of this prize is conducted in accordance with Regulation 2018/1725. Data is processed solely for evaluating applications and subsequent management of the prize, and if needed, for programme monitoring, evaluation, and communication. By submitting applications, all applicants accept that the awarding authority will publish information on finalists and winners.

Strategic Context and Expected Impact

The European Capital of Innovation Awards align with the New European Innovation Agenda and the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. The awards recognize cities' roles as catalysts of local innovation ecosystems and stimulate activities aimed at boosting game-changing innovation. The competition celebrates cities that champion innovation at every level, engaging public and private stakeholders, supporting entrepreneurship, and implementing forward-looking policies. The awards aim to raise the profile of cities that have developed and implemented innovative policies, established frameworks boosting breakthrough innovation, enhanced city attractiveness towards investors and talent, opened connections with other cities promoting best practice replication, enhanced citizens' involvement in decision-making, and supported city resilience.

Support and Guidance Resources

Applicants can access comprehensive support through multiple channels. The Online Manual provides guidance on procedures from proposal submission to managing grants. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains detailed guidance on programme structure, budget, and political priorities. The Funding and Tenders Portal FAQ addresses frequently asked questions on submission, evaluation, and grant management. The Research Enquiry Service answers questions about European research and EU Research Framework Programmes. National Contact Points provide guidance, practical information, and assistance on Horizon Europe participation. The Enterprise Europe Network offers advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions about the Portal. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. An online information session was scheduled for 21 May 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST. Non-IT related questions can be sent to EISMEA-ICAPITAL@ec.europa.eu with clear reference to the call and topic.

Important Submission Considerations

Applicants should complete applications well in advance of the deadline to avoid last-minute technical problems. Problems due to late submissions are entirely at applicant risk, and call deadlines cannot be extended. The Portal Topic page should be consulted regularly for updates and additional information. By submitting applications, all applicants accept the call conditions set out in the Rules of Contest and related documents. Applications not complying with all call conditions will be rejected. The awarding authority may cancel the contest or decide not to award the prize without obligation to compensate participants. Before submitting, all applicants must be registered in the Participant Register and have a participant identification code (PIC). There is strict prohibition of double funding from the EU budget. Applications that have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities. Applications may be changed and resubmitted until the deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1The total budget of €1,800,000 is allocated across both categories: HORIZON-EIC (European Capital of Innovation) with prizes ranging from €100,000 to €1,000,000, and HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-02 (European Rising Innovative City) with prizes ranging from €50,000 to €500,000.
2. 2Associated countries to Horizon Europe include Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Korea, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and United Kingdom (with exception of EIC Fund participation). For the most current list, see List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe.