The European Capital of Innovation Award Rising Innovator Category HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) 2027 Rising Innovative City category is a Horizon Europe recognition prize managed by EISMEA that rewards towns and cities acting as test beds for municipal innovation and ecosystem building. The first ranked Rising Innovative City receives €500,000 and two runners-up receive €50,000 each, with an indicative budget for the category; the call opened 5 May 2026 and the submission deadline is 4 August 2026 via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Eligible applicants are single cities or groups of local administrative units in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries meeting the population band 50,000 to 249,999, and applications must include Part A, a Part B technical description (max 30 pages) and a mayoral endorsement (max 2 pages). Applications are evaluated by a jury against six criteria with minimum thresholds per criterion and an overall threshold, and finalists may be invited to hearings before prizes are awarded.

What it funds

Purpose

Recognition prizes for municipalities that demonstrate strong, municipality‑enabled innovation ecosystems: experimentation, ecosystem building, scaling support for startups, citizen engagement and replication of best practices.

Prize amounts:Two award categories with cash prizes: European Capital of Innovation and European Rising Innovative City. Total call budget indicative: €1,800,000 overall; individual prizes range from €50,000 to €1,000,000 ¹.

1. 1European Capital of Innovation category: 1st prize €1,000,000; two runners-up €100,000 each.
2. 2European Rising Innovative City category (population 50,000–249,999): 1st prize €500,000; two runners-up €50,000 each.
3. 3Maximum points in evaluation: 60; applications must pass individual and overall thresholds; top three in each category awarded.

Who can apply

Single applicants only:a city (local administrative unit or group of LAUs where majority lives in an urban centre). Applicants must be located in an EU Member State or an Associated Country to Horizon Europe and comply with population thresholds for the chosen category.

1. 1European Capital of Innovation category: city population normally >= 250,000 (exceptions for countries without such cities: nearest city with at least 50,000, but not simultaneously eligible for Rising Innovator).
2. 2European Rising Innovative City category: population between 50,000 and 249,999 (in countries without such cities the largest city is eligible).
3. 3Legal entities distinct from cities (even if city‑founded or funded) are ineligible; joint applications are not allowed; former winners and 2026 runners-up are ineligible.

How to apply and deadline

Single‑stage electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applications require Part A (administrative), Part B (technical PDF, max 30 pages), and a mandatory 2‑page signed mayoral endorsement. Submissions must be readable, accessible and complete.

Evaluation and conditions

Applications are pre‑selected (if >60) and evaluated by a jury against six award criteria (Experimenting, Escalating, Ecosystem building, Expanding, City vision, Citizens’ rights). Top six per category may be invited to hearings; winners selected after ethics, legal and exclusion checks. Prize payments follow award and required verifications.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call details, rules of contest, templates and official budget breakdown are on the topic page: Funding & Tenders Portal topic.

Opportunity snapshot

Call identifier:HORIZON-EIC. Programme: Horizon Europe (EIC). Type of action: HORIZON Recognition Prize. Opening date: 05 May 2026. Submission deadline: 04 August 2026 17:00 Brussels time. Submission method: single-stage, electronic submission only via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. This is a prize competition awarding recognition and monetary prizes to cities for outstanding municipality-enabled innovation ecosystems ¹.

Who can apply and eligible applicant types

Only a city as defined in the rules is eligible to apply. Eligible applicant types:Local public authorities (municipalities, towns, local administrative units) or groupings of LAUs forming a majority urban centre. Legal entities separate from the city (for example municipal companies or foundations with separate legal personality) are explicitly NOT eligible to apply. Joint/group submissions are not accepted: single-city applications only. Cities must register in the Participant Register and undergo legal entity validation prior to award.

City definition and population bands:A city is a Local Administrative Unit (LAU) or group of LAUs where a majority of the population lives in an urban centre of at least 50 000 inhabitants, using the latest Eurostat LAU correspondence table. Two award categories define population eligibility: European Capital of Innovation category requires 250 000+ inhabitants (with special provisions for countries without such cities allowing the closest city with minimum 50 000 inhabitants). European Rising Innovative City category targets cities with 50 000–249 999 inhabitants. For population data Eurostat is the reference source.

Funding type and budget

Primary funding mechanism:recognition prize (monetary award) administered as Horizon Recognition Prize under the EIC work programme. The total indicative budget allocated to the ICOCAPITAL prizes for 2026 is €1,800,000 across the two categories (see budget overview). Awarded amounts per category are fixed as prize payments; payment is made after the award ceremony subject to submission of requested documentation.

1. 1European Capital of Innovation category (large cities): Winner (rank 1): €1,000,000. Two runners-up (ranks 2 and 3): €100,000 each.
2. 2European Rising Innovative City category (rising innovators / mid-sized cities): Winner (rank 1): €500,000. Two runners-up (ranks 2 and 3): €50,000 each.

Geographic eligibility (beneficiary scope)

Eligible geographic scope:cities located in EU Member States or countries associated to Horizon Europe. Third-country participation rules apply as per Horizon Europe general annexes; association status at the time of award is decisive. Eurostat LAU population data is the reference. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or specific EU conditionality measures are ineligible.

Target sectors and thematic focus

Target sector:place-based innovation ecosystems across sectors. The prize recognises municipal innovation ecosystems that catalyse breakthrough innovation addressing societal challenges such as climate change, digitalisation, sustainable growth, social cohesion, nature-based solutions and EU Missions. Projects may feature deep tech, digital, cleantech, biotech, medtech, advanced manufacturing, energy, smart city technologies, innovation procurement, public-sector innovation, citizen engagement and inclusive governance.

Project maturity and expected stage

Expected maturity:implemented, demonstrated and mainstreamed city-level innovation programmes and ecosystem activities. Applicants must present concrete, already executed initiatives and measurable outcomes that demonstrate the city acting as a test bed, supporting scale-up, ecosystem building, dissemination and citizen rights. The jury evaluates concrete results and mainstreaming into ordinary urban development processes.

Application process, templates and documents

Submission is fully electronic via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not accepted. Applications must use the official forms inside the Submission System. The application is submitted in three components: Part A (administrative data) completed online, Part B (technical description) downloaded from the Submission System template, completed offline and re-uploaded as PDF, and mandatory annexes uploaded as PDF. Evaluators will disregard additional pages beyond strict limits.

Page limits and mandatory annex:Part B must be a maximum of 30 pages. Mandatory annex: a specific endorsement to apply signed by the city Mayor or equivalent highest political representative (maximum 2 pages). Applications must be readable, accessible and printable. Additional documents (legal entity validation, bank account details, ethics review, declaration of honour) may be requested later.

Evaluation, selection and award criteria

Evaluation is a formal single-stage process culminating in jury review and hearings. If more than 60 applications are received in a category, a pre-selection will reduce the pool to the best 60 for jury review. The jury evaluates applications against six award criteria and scores applications up to 60 points. Six top-ranked applications in each category are normally invited to hearings (remote or in person in Brussels). Final award decisions follow mandatory checks (ethics, security, legal entity validation, non-exclusion, double funding, plagiarism).

Scoring rules:individual minimum threshold 6/10 for each criterion and overall threshold 36/60. Applications must pass all individual thresholds AND the overall threshold to be considered for award. Prizes will be awarded to the top three ranked applicants in each category (rank 1, 2, 3) provided thresholds are met. In the event of tied scores, weighting and tie-breaking procedures apply (criterion 5 weighted x2, criterion 2 weighted x1.5); if tie persists, tied applicants progress to the next evaluation phase or to hearings and, ultimately, prizes may be equally divided among equally ranked applicants.

Submission and evaluation stages (practical flow)

1. 1Submission via Funding & Tenders Portal (Part A online; Part B PDF upload; mandatory Mayor endorsement annex).
2. 2Admissibility and eligibility checks (completeness, page limits, eligibility of city, geographic eligibility, previous winners/runners-up status).
3. 3If applicable, pre-selection (only if >60 applications in one category) to shortlist up to 60 per category for jury review.
4. 4Jury review and scoring against award criteria.
5. 5Top six ranked per category invited to hearings (may be remote) — hearings take place with the jury to assess finalists.
6. 6Mandatory checks (ethics review, security scrutiny, legal entity validation, non-exclusion checks, double funding and plagiarism checks).
7. 7Award decision and notification of results; award ceremony and prize payment after submission of requested administrative documents.

Application form structure and templates

Applicants must use the standard application templates available inside the Submission System. Part A collects administrative and legal data (organisation registration, PIC, contact persons). Part B is the technical description (Word template downloaded from the Submission System and re-uploaded as PDF) and must address the award criteria with concrete evidence and measurable results. Mandatory annex: Mayor's endorsement (max 2 pages). Further supporting documentation (e.g., LAU correspondences, proof of population data if not in Eurostat) can be requested during validation.

Consortium requirement

Single-applicant only. Joint applications, consortia or group submissions are not allowed and will be declared ineligible and rejected. The applicant must be the city/local authority itself (or a grouping of LAUs representing the city/greater city/metropolitan area).

Nature of support and post-award obligations

Nature of support:monetary prize payments to winning cities and high-visibility non-monetary benefits (European recognition, media exposure, promotional activities, use of iCapital visual identity, participation in award ceremonies and EIC events). Winners must promote the prize and acknowledge EU support using the European emblem and specific funding statement. The awarding authority has rights to use non-sensitive materials provided by winners for dissemination. Winners ranked 1st in each category will be invited to sign a voluntary declaration of intent to promote iCapital during the year following the award. Photos and videos taken by the awarding authority are the property of the authority.

Checks, audits, exclusions and legal framework

Mandatory checks before award include ethics review (for applications involving ethics issues), security scrutiny for classified content, legal entity validation, exclusion checks (bankruptcy, fraud, serious professional misconduct, breaches of EU restrictive measures or conditionality), double funding checks and plagiarism screening. The call is run under Horizon Europe and the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509. The Rules of Contest govern specific conditions for this prize ¹.

Co-funding requirement and costs

As a recognition prize the award itself does not require co-funding to receive the prize money. Applicants are not required to commit project co-funding to be eligible for the prize. However, applications must include a Mayor-signed endorsement and municipal administrative information and may later be requested to supply legal entity and bank account validation documents. Note: other Horizon actions (e.g., pilots and Cofund calls referenced elsewhere in the EIE Work Programme) can require complementary funding — those are separate calls, not this prize.

Application stages count and success rate

Number of formal stages in the selection process:1 to 4 depending on category volume and scoring ties — (1) admissibility and eligibility checks, (2) pre-selection if >60 applications, (3) jury review and scoring, (4) hearings for top-ranked finalists and final award decision. Success rate: not explicitly published. The prize awards only the top three cities per category; therefore selection is highly competitive. If for a category fewer applications meet thresholds, fewer winners may be awarded. Historical acceptance rates are not specified in the call documentation.

Deadlines, timeline and post-submission schedule

1. 1Call opening: 05 May 2026.
2. 2Submission deadline: 04 August 2026 17:00 CET (Brussels).
3. 3Jury evaluation period: August–September 2026 (indicative).
4. 4Hearings of finalists: October–November 2026 (indicative).
5. 5Notification of evaluation results and award decisions: November–December 2026 (indicative).
6. 6Prize payment: after award ceremony and submission of required administrative documents.

Other notable eligibility and exclusion details

Ineligible:winners of previous iCapital editions and runners-up of the 2026 edition. Applicants that have already received an EU or Euratom prize for the same activities cannot receive a second prize for the same activities. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or conditionality measures are ineligible. Applicants must ensure there is no double funding from EU sources for the same activities.

How to apply — step-by-step

1. 1Create an EU Login account and register the city in the Participant Register to obtain the PIC (Participant Identification Code).
2. 2Access the Topic page on the Funding & Tenders Portal and click Start submission to enter the Electronic Submission System.
3. 3Complete Part A online (administrative data).
4. 4Download the mandatory Part B word template from the Submission System, complete the technical description (addressing all award criteria and providing evidence and KPIs), convert to PDF and upload (max 30 pages).
5. 5Prepare and upload mandatory Mayor endorsement annex (max 2 pages PDF) and any supporting documents required for legal entity validation.
6. 6Submit before the call deadline and keep confirmation email (if no confirmation received, the application has not been submitted).

Templates and guidance available

Mandatory templates and guidance are provided inside the Submission System (standard application form Part B Word template) and in the Rules of Contest and EIC Work Programme 2026 documents. Applicants must use the forms inside the Submission System; documents on the topic page are for information only. Consult the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual for IT submission guidance and the call-specific Rules of Contest for detailed eligibility, evaluation and award procedures ¹.

Success management, visibility and obligations for winners

Winners must promote the prize and its results, acknowledge EU support and display the European emblem and funding statement. The awarding authority may require winners to provide photos, a one-minute video and grant rights to use non-sensitive materials for communication. Winners ranked 1st are invited to sign a voluntary declaration of intent to promote iCapital during the year following the award. The awarding authority may perform audits, checks and investigations (including by OLAF, EPPO and ECA). The prize can be withdrawn and amounts recovered in cases of fraud, ineligibility, false information or serious breach of obligations.

Mentioned countries and references

Explicitly referenced eligibility:EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe. Eurostat is used for LAU population reference. The general Horizon Europe documents and the list of participating/associated countries (updated periodically) apply; applicants should consult the current list of associated countries and the Work Programme for details.

Typical applicant evidence and recommended content for Part B

• Clear city profile with LAU reference and Eurostat population confirmation.
• Concise mayoral endorsement (signed) confirming support and authority for the application.
• Detailed description of showcased initiatives with measurable outcomes and evidence (KPIs, timelines, beneficiaries, partnerships, funding leveraged).
• Explanation of experimental/test-bed activities and how mainstreaming was achieved.
• Evidence of ecosystem acceleration (startup/SME growth, investments attracted, procurement activities) with quantitative indicators.
• Description of ecosystem building activities: partnerships with academia, industry, civil society and investors.
• Replication, dissemination and mutual learning activities with evidence of cross-city cooperation and knowledge transfer.
• Long-term innovation vision and strategy and concrete plans supporting green/digital transitions.
• Explanation of actions to protect and enhance citizens' rights, inclusion and participatory governance.

Coaching, support and helpdesk

Applicants can consult National Contact Points (NCPs), the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk for submission issues and the EISMEA prize contact (EISMEA-ICAPITAL@ec.europa.eu) for non-IT questions. Use the Partner Search only where relevant; note that this prize requires a single applicant only.

Success rates and competitiveness — practical note

The call documentation does not publish a numerical historic success rate. The prize is highly competitive: only three winners per category will be selected (subject to thresholds) and the jury may pre-select up to 60 applications per category if more than 60 are received. Applicants should therefore prepare robust, evidence-based submissions addressing all award criteria.

Summary — what is this opportunity about and how to explain it

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) recognises and financially rewards cities that have demonstrably catalysed high-impact, inclusive, replicable and mainstreamed innovation ecosystems that benefit citizens. It seeks municipalities that act as test-beds for innovative governance and technologies, accelerate local innovators and startups, build strong multi-stakeholder ecosystems, disseminate and scale tested solutions across other cities, and embed a long-term innovation vision that respects citizens' rights and inclusion. The prize serves both as a monetary incentive and a high-visibility recognition that can increase a city’s attractiveness to investors, talent and collaborators. Only eligible cities in EU Member States and Horizon-associated countries may apply through the Funding & Tenders Portal using the official templates and must secure a mayoral endorsement. Evaluation is by jury against six criteria with strict thresholds; finalists may be invited to hearings and the top three ranked cities in each category (large and rising innovators) receive the prize amounts indicated.

Applicants should read the Rules of Contest and the EIC Work Programme 2026 for full legal, procedural and eligibility details and use the Submission System templates for Part A and Part B. Allow sufficient time to register, complete the Part B technical narrative within the 30-page limit, collect the Mayor’s signed endorsement, and validate the city’s legal status in the Participant Register prior to submission ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source: Rules of Contest and topic page for HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (call documentation, application templates and submission instructions). See the Topic page and Rules of Contest available on the Funding & Tenders Portal for full details and authoritative legal text.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) is a prestigious recognition prize under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). This opportunity specifically addresses the Rising Innovative City category, which targets towns and cities with populations between 50,000 and 249,999 inhabitants across EU Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe. The awards recognise city administrators who demonstrate courage in opening governance practices to experimentation, boosting innovation ecosystems, and serving as role models for other cities in driving transformative change for citizen benefit.

Prize Structure and Financial Awards

Rising Innovative City Category Prize Distribution:The winner (ranked 1st) receives €500,000 and is named the European Rising Innovative City 2027. Two runner-up cities (ranked 2nd and 3rd) each receive €50,000. The total indicative budget for the Rising Innovative City category is €1,800,000 for 2026.

European Capital of Innovation Category (for reference):The winner receives €1,000,000 and is named the European Capital of Innovation 2027. Two runner-up cities each receive €100,000. This category targets cities with minimum population of 250,000 inhabitants.

Eligibility Criteria

Geographic and Population Requirements

• Candidate cities must be located in one of the EU Member States or Associated Countries to Horizon Europe ¹
• For the Rising Innovative City category, the candidate city must have a population comprised between 50,000 and 249,999 inhabitants
• In countries where no such cities exist, the largest city by number of inhabitants is eligible
• Population data must be verified using Eurostat as the source of reference; for countries not covered by Eurostat, the Agency will perform specific checks and may request cities to prove compliance

Applicant Definition and Legal Requirements

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. Local Administrative Units and their population figures must be those set out in the latest available validated or partially validated LAU correspondence table published by Eurostat at the time of application submission. Local authorities may represent one city defined as a Local Administrative Unit, or a greater city or Metropolitan region, taking account of Functional Urban Areas when relevant. Legal entities with separate legal personality from cities, even if founded and funded by the cities, are not eligible to apply.

Ineligibility Conditions

• Winners of former European Capital of Innovation Awards editions are not eligible
• Runners-up of the 2026 edition 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
• Joint applications by a group of applicants are not accepted and will be rejected as ineligible
• Applicants subject to EU exclusion decisions or in exclusion situations (bankruptcy, tax breaches, professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, or similar) cannot participate
• Applicants 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

Application Timeline and Submission

Key Dates:The call opened on 5 May 2026 and the deadline for submission is 4 August 2026 at 17:00:00 CET (Brussels time). This is a single-stage submission process with no resubmission after the deadline. An online information session took place on 21 May 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST.

Evaluation Timeline:Jury members will evaluate proposals between August and September 2026. Hearings will take place in October-November 2026. Information on evaluation results and awards will be provided in November-December 2026.

Application Requirements and Documentation

All applications must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not accepted. Applications must be complete and contain all requested information and required annexes and supporting documents.

• Application Form Part A: Contains administrative information about the applicant organisation, to be filled in directly online
• Application Form Part B: Contains the technical description of the application, to be downloaded from the Portal Submission System, completed, and re-uploaded as a PDF file. Maximum 30 pages (Part B only); evaluators will not consider additional pages
• Mandatory Annex: Each application must contain a specific endorsement to apply, signed by the city Mayor or the equivalent highest political representative, of maximum 2 pages. The required level of representation must be respected
• All documents must be readable, accessible, and printable
• Applications must use the forms provided inside the Submission System, not documents available on the Topic page

Applicants may be asked at a later stage for further documents including legal entity validation, bank account validation, ethics review, and declarations of honour. All applicants must register in the Participant Register before the call deadline and will be validated by the Central Validation Service (REA Validation).

Award Criteria and Evaluation

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

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

Award Criterion 2: Escalating:Promoting the acceleration of different actors of the local innovation ecosystem, supporting growth of highly innovative start-ups and SMEs, establishing innovation-friendly legal frameworks, creating an environment that stimulates growth and attracts private and public investments, resources, diversity and talents, and driving innovation demand through efficient innovation public procurement. Applicants must provide details on concrete results of showcased initiatives.

Award Criterion 3: Ecosystem Building:Unlocking cities' potential as local innovation ecosystem facilitators by fostering synergies among different innovation ecosystem players, from public, industry, startups, civil society, citizens to academia, to contribute to the development of an innovation ecosystem within the city. Applicants must provide details on concrete results of showcased initiatives.

Award Criterion 4: Expanding:Acting as a role model for other cities by supporting the dissemination and replication of tested solutions that boost the local innovation ecosystem, promoting mutual learning, knowledge transfer and capacity building, and enhancing cooperation and synergies between cities that are front-runners in driving the local innovation ecosystem and those still exploring their role as innovation enablers. Applicants must provide details on concrete results of showcased initiatives.

Award Criterion 5: City Innovative Vision:Applicants should demonstrate their long-term strategic vision or plan, highlighting the innovative initiatives that have positively contributed to the transformation of the city and which will further support the development of a sustainable and resilient innovation ecosystem ensuring the green and digital transition. Applicants must provide details on concrete results and information on how all showcased activities follow the innovative vision or strategy.

Award Criterion 6: Citizens' Rights:The use of innovation to strengthen democracy, to protect citizens' rights, to foster social cohesion, and ensure integration with a special view on minorities, gender, disability, or race. Applicants must provide details on concrete results of showcased initiatives.

Evaluation and Selection Process

Applications will be subject to formal evaluation by a jury in each category. If there are more than 60 applications in one category, there will be a pre-selection phase to select the best 60 applications to pass to jury review. Otherwise, all eligible applications will pass directly to jury review. The pre-selection panel and jury usually have different compositions, but jury members may participate in the pre-selection panel.

For applications with the same score, the pre-selection panel or jury will determine priority order using the following weighting: the score for criterion 5 (City innovative vision) will be given a weight of 2, and the score for criterion 2 (Escalating) will be given a weight of 1.5. If two or more applications still tie for any rank or category at the pre-selection phase or jury review, those applications will be admitted to the next phase of evaluation. If ties remain at the final stage, the prize will be equally divided and awarded to all applications with the same score.

The six best ranked applications in each category will be invited for a hearing with the jury in Brussels. This hearing may take place remotely. Following jury evaluation and mandatory checks (ethics review, security scrutiny, legal entity validation, non-exclusion, double funding, and plagiarism checks), the awarding authority will decide on the award of the prize. All applications will be informed about the evaluation result via an evaluation result letter.

Post-Award Obligations and Conditions

Payment and Prize Delivery

Prize money will be paid to prize winners after the award ceremony, provided all requested documents have been submitted.

Communication and Visibility Requirements

Prize winners must promote the prize and its results by providing targeted information to multiple audiences including the media and the public in a strategic and effective manner. Communication activities related to the prize (including media interviews, press statements, presentations, etc., in electronic or traditional media) must acknowledge EU support and display the European flag (emblem) and the funding statement: '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.' The emblem must remain distinct and separate and cannot be modified by adding other visual marks, brands or text, except for the iCapital visual identity. When displayed with other logos, the emblem must be displayed at least as prominently and visibly as the other logos.

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

Intellectual Property and Rights of Use

The awarding authority does not obtain ownership of the results produced in the context of the prize. The awarding authority has the right to use non-sensitive information relating to the prize and materials and documents received from the 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 the award ceremony or during the award ceremony are the sole property of the awarding authority. Winners may use the emblem without first obtaining approval from the awarding authority, but this does not give them the right to exclusive use, nor may they appropriate the emblem or any similar trademark or logo.

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.

Prize Withdrawal and Recovery

The awarding authority may withdraw the prize after its award and recover all payments made if it finds that false information, fraud or corruption was used to obtain it; the prize winners were not eligible or should have been excluded; or the prize winners are in serious breach of their obligations under the Rules of Contest.

Complaint and Appeal Procedures

If applicants believe that the evaluation procedure was flawed, they can submit a complaint following the deadlines and procedures set out in the evaluation result letter. Notifications which have not been opened within 10 days after sending will be considered to have been accessed, and deadlines will be counted from opening or access. For complaints submitted electronically, there may be character limitations. Applicants should refer to the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions for further details.

Associated Countries Eligible for Participation

Cities from the following Associated Countries to Horizon Europe are eligible to apply ¹: 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 the exception of the EIC Fund component). Transitional arrangements may apply for countries with ongoing association negotiations.

Support and Guidance Resources

Applicants can access comprehensive support through multiple channels. The Online Manual provides detailed guidance on procedures from proposal submission to managing the prize. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains detailed guidance on the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ addresses frequently asked questions on submission, evaluation and prize management. National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. The Enterprise Europe Network offers advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions regarding the Portal. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. For non-IT related questions, applicants should contact EISMEA-ICAPITAL@ec.europa.eu, clearly indicating the reference of the call and topic.

Key Submission Reminders

• Do not wait until the end to complete applications; submit sufficiently in advance of the deadline to avoid last-minute technical problems. Problems due to last-minute submissions will be entirely at the applicant's risk. Call deadlines cannot be extended
• Consult the Portal Topic page regularly for updates and additional information on the call
• By submitting the application, all applicants accept the use of the electronic exchange system in accordance with the Portal Terms & Conditions
• Before submitting the application, all applicants must be registered in the Participant Register. The participant identification code (PIC) is mandatory for the Application Form
• There is a 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 re-submitted until the deadline for submission
• By submitting the application, all applicants accept the call conditions set out in the Rules of Contest. Applications that do not comply with all call conditions will be rejected
• The awarding authority may cancel the contest or decide not to award the prize without any obligation to compensate participants
• Applications can be submitted in any official EU language, but English is strongly advised for efficiency
• In accordance with Article 38 of the EU Financial Regulation, information about EU prizes awarded and the winners (name, address and amount awarded) is published each year on the Europa website. Publication can exceptionally be waived on reasoned and duly substantiated request if there is a risk that disclosure could jeopardise rights and freedoms or harm commercial interests
• Any processing of personal data will be done in accordance with Regulation 2018/1725 and solely for the purpose of evaluating the application and subsequent management of the prize. By submitting the application, all applicants accept that the awarding authority will publish information on the finalists and winners

Strategic Context and Expected Impact

The European Capital of Innovation Awards recognise cities' roles as catalysers of local innovation ecosystems and stimulate new activities aimed at boosting game-changing innovation. The awards champion inspiring cases of municipality-enabled innovation flourishing in cities and provide prestigious recognition for city administrators who demonstrate courage in opening governance practices to experimentation. Beyond the monetary reward, the prize brings high visibility through renewed public interest and increased media coverage. The awards raise the profile of cities that have developed and implemented innovative policies, established frameworks that boost breakthrough innovation, enhanced city attractiveness towards investors, industry, enterprises and talents, helped open connections and strengthen links with other cities promoting replication of best practices, enhanced citizens' involvement in decision-making, and supported cities' resilience. The awards align with the New European Innovation Agenda, which sets out a vision for harnessing the power of innovation to drive economic growth, social progress, and contribute to the green and digital transition in Europe.

The traditional city innovation ecosystem is opening to new models of innovation engaging citizens and ensuring their involvement in decision-making while reinforcing democracy and rights. An increasing number of cities are acting as test beds for innovation and running people-driven initiatives to find solutions to societal challenges such as climate change, digitalisation, sustainable growth and social cohesion, including through new endeavours such as nature-based solutions and EU Missions. The public domain faces particular challenges in finding effective ways to ensure the mainstreaming of these practices into ordinary urban development processes. Successful practices are crucial to enhance cities' capacity to attract and retain new resources, funds and talents to stimulate the growth of breakthrough innovations. Collaboration and strengthening synergies among innovation ecosystems boost cities' development and resilience to tackle urban challenges and inspire many other cities to follow a similar path.

Footnotes

1. 1For the most current and complete list of Horizon Europe Associated Countries, applicants should consult the official EU Grants guidance document 'List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe' available on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The list is regularly updated as association agreements progress. Applicants from third countries currently negotiating association agreements may participate and can receive a prize if the Horizon Europe association agreement with the third country concerned applies at the time when the award decision is taken.