The European Capital of Innovation Award (iCapital)

The European Capital of Innovation Awards, also known as iCapital, is a recognition prize under the Horizon Europe program aimed at promoting and rewarding cities that exhibit exceptional innovation practices. The award seeks to highlight cities that utilize innovative approaches to tackle societal challenges, enhance economic growth, and improve residents' quality of life. The competition is open to cities in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, with specific eligibility criteria based on population size.

There are two categories for applicants:the European Capital of Innovation, which is for cities with at least 250,000 inhabitants or the nearest city with at least 50,000 inhabitants if no city meets the larger threshold, and the European Rising Innovative City for smaller cities with populations ranging from 50,000 to 249,999. Previously recognized cities and runners-up from the 2024 edition are not eligible.

The grants consist of monetary prizes:€1 million for the European Capital of Innovation winner and €500,000 for the Rising Innovative City winner. Runners-up receive €100,000 and €50,000, respectively. The awards emphasize areas such as urban development, climate resilience, sustainability, and digital innovation.

Applications follow an open call process with a single-stage submission, and winners are determined through a competitive evaluation that assesses factors like innovative concepts, ecosystem development, and citizen engagement. The application must include a technical description and a specific endorsement from the city’s mayor.

The submission window opens on March 20, 2025, with a deadline of June 18, 2025. If more than 60 applications are submitted in a category, a pre-selection phase will occur to identify the top candidates for jury review. The evaluation process is rigorous, potentially involving hearings in Brussels for the highest-ranked applications.

Overall, the iCapital Awards are designed to support cities in their innovation journeys, encouraging collaboration among urban ecosystems, and enhancing their attractiveness to investors and talents. The initiative aligns with broader European goals focused on innovation, technology, and addressing significant societal issues.

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) is a HORIZON Recognition Prize under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically call HORIZON-EIC-2025-PRIZE-2. It aims to recognize cities that demonstrate exceptional innovation, enabled by their municipalities. The awards celebrate city administrators who embrace experimentation, promote innovation, serve as role models, and leverage technology for the benefit of their citizens. The prize offers high visibility and renewed public interest in addition to monetary rewards. The goal is to raise the profile of cities that have implemented innovative policies, established frameworks for breakthrough innovation, enhanced attractiveness to investors, industry, enterprises, and talents, strengthened connections with other cities, promoted best practices, enhanced citizen involvement, and supported city resilience.

The awards recognize the opening of the traditional city innovation ecosystem to new models that engage citizens, ensure their involvement in decision-making, and reinforce democracy and rights. Cities acting as test beds for innovation and running people-driven initiatives to address societal challenges like climate change, digitalization, sustainable growth, and social cohesion are particularly encouraged. This includes nature-based solutions and EU Missions. The awards aim to mainstream these practices into urban development and enhance cities' capacity to attract resources, funds, and talents for breakthrough innovations. Collaboration and synergies among innovation ecosystems are also key.

The awards align with the New European Innovation Agenda, which emphasizes strategic investments in key technologies, including deep tech, and stronger collaboration between regions to close the innovation divide. The awards recognize cities as catalysers of the local innovation ecosystem and stimulate activities that boost game-changing innovation.

The call HORIZON-EIC-2025-PRIZE-2 includes two topics:HORIZON-EIC, with a budget of €1,200,000, and HORIZON-EIC-2025-PRIZE-2-02, with a budget of €600,000. Both are single-stage applications. The opening date for submissions is March 20, 2025, and the deadline is June 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

To be eligible, applicant cities must be located in an EU Member State or Associated Country to Horizon Europe. For the European Capital of Innovation category, a city must have a minimum population of 250,000 inhabitants. If a country has no cities of that size, the city closest to 250,000 inhabitants is eligible, provided it has at least 50,000 inhabitants and is not applying for the European Rising Innovative City category. For the European Rising Innovative City category, a city must have a population between 50,000 and 249,999 inhabitants. If a country has no such cities, the largest city by population is eligible. Population data is based on Eurostat figures. Joint applications are not accepted. Winners of former European Capital of Innovation Awards editions, as well as runners-up of the edition 2024 are not eligible. This does not apply to previous finalist cities. Applicants that have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not possible. The application must include Part A (administrative information), Part B (technical description, maximum 30 pages), and a mandatory annex: a specific endorsement signed by the city Mayor (or equivalent) of maximum 2 pages.

The evaluation criteria are:Experimenting (innovative concepts, processes, tools, and governance models), Escalating (promoting the acceleration of the local innovation ecosystem), Ecosystem building (fostering synergies among innovation ecosystem players), Expanding (acting as a role model for other cities), City innovative vision (long-term strategic vision/plan), and Citizens’ rights (use of innovation to strengthen democracy and protect citizens' rights). The maximum score is 60 points, with individual thresholds of 6/10 points and an overall threshold of 36 points.

The evaluation process involves a jury, and if there are more than 60 applications in a category, a pre-selection phase will narrow it down to the top 60. The jury may invite the six best-ranked applications in each category for a hearing in Brussels. The jury will determine a priority order based on the award criteria, with the City innovative vision criterion weighted at 2 and the Escalating criterion weighted at 1.5.

The indicative timeline includes proposal evaluation by the jury between July and September, hearings in September-October, and information on evaluation results/award in November-December 2025.

Relevant documents include the Rules of Contest, the Standard Application Form (downloadable from the Submission System), the EIC 2025 Work Programme, the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Statement.

In summary, the European Capital of Innovation Awards are designed to recognize and reward cities that are at the forefront of innovation, using new technologies and approaches to improve the lives of their citizens and address key societal challenges. The awards aim to promote best practices, foster collaboration, and inspire other cities to embrace innovation as a driver of sustainable and inclusive growth. Cities demonstrating a strong commitment to experimentation, ecosystem building, and citizen engagement are particularly encouraged to apply. The application process is competitive, with a rigorous evaluation process that includes a jury review and potential hearings for the top candidates.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant type is a city, 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. Legal entities with separate legal personality from cities, even if founded and funded by the cities, are not eligible to apply. There are two categories: European Capital of Innovation (minimum 250,000 inhabitants) and European Rising Innovative City (50,000 to 249,999 inhabitants).

Funding Type:This is a recognition prize (HORIZON-RPr HORIZON Recognition Prize).

Consortium Requirement:Only single applicants are allowed. Joint applications by a group of applicants are not accepted.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The candidate towns and cities must be located in one of the EU Member States or Associated Countries to Horizon Europe.

Target Sector:The program targets innovation in cities, focusing on areas such as climate change, digitalisation, sustainable growth, social cohesion, nature-based solutions, and EU Missions. It also emphasizes strategic investments in key technologies, including deep tech, and strengthening innovation ecosystems.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned, but eligibility is limited to EU Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe.

Project Stage:The program focuses on recognizing cities that have already developed and implemented innovative policies and established frameworks that boost breakthrough innovation. It targets cities with successful practices that enhance their capacity to attract resources, funds, and talents.

Funding Amount:For the topic HORIZON-EIC, the budget is €1,200,000. For the topic HORIZON-EIC-2025-PRIZE-2-02, the budget is €600,000.

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a single stage.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive a monetary reward and high visibility through renewed public interest and increased media coverage.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage submission. If there are more than 60 applications in a category, a pre-selection phase will occur to select the best 60. The six best-ranked applications in each category will be invited for a hearing with the jury in Brussels.

Success Rates:The prize will be awarded to the applications ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with the best scores in each category. Other applications will be rejected.

Co-funding Requirement:The provided text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) is a Horizon Europe program that recognizes and rewards cities within the EU Member States and Associated Countries that demonstrate outstanding innovation ecosystems. The awards aim to highlight cities that are using innovative approaches to address societal challenges, promote economic growth, and improve the quality of life for their citizens. The program is open to cities with a minimum population of 50,000 inhabitants, and there are two categories: European Capital of Innovation (for cities with at least 250,000 inhabitants) and European Rising Innovative City (for cities with 50,000 to 249,999 inhabitants).

To apply, cities must submit an application that includes administrative information, a technical description of their innovative activities, and a specific endorsement from the city Mayor. Applications are evaluated based on criteria such as experimenting with innovative concepts, escalating the local innovation ecosystem, ecosystem building, expanding the reach of innovative solutions, city innovative vision, and citizens’ rights.

The evaluation process involves a jury review, and if there are more than 60 applications in a category, a pre-selection phase. The six best-ranked applications in each category are invited for a hearing with the jury. The winners receive a monetary prize and increased visibility. The application deadline is June 18, 2025. This award seeks to promote and mainstream innovative practices in urban development, enhance cities' attractiveness to investors and talents, and foster collaboration among innovation ecosystems.