European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) 2024 opens for applications — what cities need to know
- ›The European Commission opened applications for the 10th European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) on 5 March 2024.
- ›Two categories are offered: European Capital of Innovation (cities over 250,000, winner gets €1 million) and European Rising Innovative City (50,000 to 249,999, winner gets €500,000).
- ›Applications are open until 18 June 2024, with a mandatory endorsement from the mayor or equivalent and a 30-page limit for the main submission.
- ›Cities are judged on six criteria including experimentation, ecosystem building, scaling, and citizens’ rights, with minimum thresholds for each criterion and an overall pass mark.
- ›The prize offers visibility and entry to the EIC Prizes Alumni network, but questions remain about how much practical impact the award money delivers at city scale.
European Capital of Innovation Awards 2024 now open for applications
On 5 March 2024 the European Commission and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) opened the tenth edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards, commonly called iCapital. The prize recognises cities that claim to open governance to experimentation and push technological and social innovation in the public interest. EISMEA manages the award on behalf of the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe.
The iCapital award is presented as part of the EIC Prizes portfolio. The competition is intended to spotlight municipal innovation that benefits citizens, promotes the green and digital transitions, and can be scaled and replicated by other cities. The call was launched in a ceremony in Linköping, Sweden, the European Rising Innovative City 2023.
What the awards recognise and why they matter
iCapital aims to reward cities that act as testbeds for new governance, technology and policy models, and that connect public authorities, industry, academia and citizens to produce demonstrable improvements in urban life. The prize combines a cash award with media exposure and membership of the EIC Prizes Alumni network, where past winners can share practices and collaborate.
Prizes, categories and eligibility at a glance
| Category | Population range | Prize for winner | Prize for each runner-up |
| European Capital of Innovation | 250,000 and above, or closest city with at least 50,000 where no city reaches 250,000 | €1,000,000 | €100,000 (two runners-up) |
| European Rising Innovative City | 50,000 to 249,999 | €500,000 | €50,000 (two runners-up) |
Who can apply. Eligible applicants are towns or cities located in EU Member States or countries associated to Horizon Europe. Applicants must meet the population thresholds for the category they enter. Past winners and the 2023 runners up are not eligible to win again. Joint applications are not accepted.
Administrative requirements. Cities must register in the EU Participant Register. The submission comprises two parts: Part A (administrative data filled online) and Part B (technical description uploaded as a PDF). The main submission is limited to 30 pages. Each application must include a mayoral endorsement or equivalent highest political representative, signed and no longer than two pages.
How submissions are assessed
Two independent, high level juries of experts evaluate applications in each category. If a category receives more than 60 applications, a preselection phase reduces the field to 60 for full jury assessment. The six highest ranked applications per category are invited to an interview or hearing, which may be in person in Brussels or online.
Award criteria
The jury assesses entries across six domains. Applicants should supply specific evidence, not marketing statements, because juries will judge concrete outcomes and replicability.
Ties and tie-breaking. If scores tie, the jury applies a weighted tie - breaking rule that gives extra weight to criterion 5 and criterion 2. If a tie persists, the prize is split among tied applicants.
Checks, exclusions and legal safeguards
Successful applicants will still be subject to mandatory checks before any award is confirmed. These include legal entity validation, non-exclusion checks, ethics reviews, and security scrutiny where relevant. The European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office have powers to investigate, and the Commission reserves the right to withdraw the award if it uncovers ineligibility, fraud or serious breaches.
Exclusion criteria include bankruptcy, fraud, professional misconduct, breaches of tax or social obligations and other situations set out in the EU Financial Regulation. The rules also reflect sanctions and restrictive measures where applicable. Applicants that have previously been awarded an EU or Euratom prize for the same activities are not eligible for a second prize.
Application logistics and helpful details
Submissions are electronic only through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applications consist of a Part A administrative form completed online, a Part B narrative uploaded as a PDF, and a two page mayoral endorsement. Part B must not exceed 30 pages. Applications may be updated and resubmitted up to the deadline.
An online iCapital information session for potential applicants was organised on 9 April 2024. The Agency also publishes guidance material and previous finalists’ fact sheets through the iCapital Alumni network to help towns and cities prepare stronger applications.
Past winners and the alumni network
Past winners of the European Capital of Innovation include Barcelona (2014), Amsterdam (2016), Paris (2017), Athens (2018), Nantes (2019), Leuven (2020), Dortmund (2021), Aix-Marseille Provence Metropole (2022) and Lisbon (2023). Rising Innovative City winners include Vantaa (2021), Haarlem (2022) and Linköping (2023). Winners and runners up are invited to join the EIC Prizes Alumni network.
Context, limits and what to watch for
The iCapital award mixes recognition, visibility and a cash prize. Visibility can help cities attract partners and investment, but awarding a single lump sum, even of €1 million, is modest against most city budgets and the scale of urban challenges. Successful long term impact depends on how the prize money is used, whether municipal budgets or procurement rules can sustain projects after the award, and how cities measure and publish outcomes.
There is a risk that competition mechanics favour better resourced cities that can prepare polished applications and videos, even though the contest includes a Rising City track intended to surface talent outside major capitals. The rules try to encourage replication and peer learning, but replication is resource intensive and requires regional cooperation and political continuity that prizes cannot guarantee.
Applicants should therefore treat the award as one tool among many. Cities that focus on concrete metrics and credible pathways to scale and mainstream successful experiments will be better placed to turn prize visibility into lasting change. Observers should expect improved communications and media coverage after winners are announced, and should look for independent evidence of long term impact in subsequent months and years.
How to get more information and next steps
Applications were open from 5 March 2024 to 18 June 2024. The official submission channel is the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. For call specific clarifications the EISMEA email is EISMEA-ICAPITAL@ec.europa.eu. Applicants should also consult the call rules of contest and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual for technical instructions.
Cities entering the competition should allocate time for internal sign off, ensure the mayoral endorsement is prepared, and assemble evidence of results under each of the six award criteria. They should be prepared to provide photos and a short video if they reach the finalist stage, and to engage with the EIC Alumni network if successful.