European Capital of Innovation Awards 2023: who made the semi-finals and what happens next

On 5 September 2023 the European Innovation Council named 12 cities as semi-finalists for the ninth edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards, commonly called iCapital. The competition recognises municipalities that take an active role in shaping local innovation ecosystems and in translating research, public services and civic participation into measurable benefits for citizens. The selection was made by two independent high level juries and covers two categories: European Capital of Innovation and European Rising Innovative City.

The 12 semi-finalists

What the semi-final stage involves

Each semi-final city will present to the juries during private hearings held remotely in September and October 2023. The hearings follow strict rules that allow applicants to present their submitted materials and answer jury questions tied to the award criteria. From the semi-finalists the juries will select three finalists per category. Final results will be announced at a public ceremony in Marseille on 27 November 2023.

Prizes and post-award opportunities

Beyond the cash awards, finalists are invited to join the European Innovation Council Forum working group known as the EIC Prizes Alumni Network. The network provides visibility, peer learning and access to EIC forums. The cash prizes are significant for local innovation projects but are modest relative to municipal budgets and long term ecosystem building costs.

Who runs iCapital and who is eligible

Award criteria and what juries look for

Applications are judged against a set of criteria focused on practical urban innovation. The main areas are experimenting, escalating, ecosystem building, expanding, long term city vision and citizens’ rights. In practice this means juries evaluate whether a city acts as a test bed for new approaches, supports start ups and SMEs, fosters collaboration across public and private actors, shares proven solutions with peers, demonstrates a clear strategic vision for resilience and green and digital transitions, and protects democratic and civic rights through innovation.

Context and critical perspective

iCapital has become a high profile recognition inside the EU innovation ecosystem since its launch in 2014. Past winners include Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, Athens, Nantes, Leuven, Dortmund and Aix-Marseille-Provence. The prize provides media attention and a networking halo which can help cities attract investment and talent. That said there are limits to what a prize can deliver on its own. Cash awards help specific projects but do not automatically change structural conditions such as local skills pipelines, patient capital availability, procurement rules or long term governance reform. Measuring whether award winners achieve durable ecosystem transformation requires transparent follow up and independent impact assessment over multiple years.

The 2023 semi-final list includes two Ukrainian cities, Kyiv and Lviv. Their presence signals EU support and recognition of innovation activity under extreme conditions. It also raises practical questions about how award benefits will be realised on the ground given ongoing security and reconstruction needs.

Why this matters for European innovation policy

The iCapital awards are one instrument among many used by the EIC and Horizon Europe to stimulate place based innovation. They align with broader EU priorities to scale up deep tech, drive green and digital transitions, and bolster city to city learning across the European Research Area. For cities that invest in applications, the process itself can sharpen strategy and reveal gaps. For policy makers, the awards surface practical lessons and a set of replicable approaches. For municipalities, the main gain is rarely the cash alone. The value comes from validation, visibility and access to transnational networks and procurement channels.

Timeline and next steps

Practical note for cities and observers

Cities considering future applications should note that iCapital is selective and presentation matters. Beyond stories and vision statements, juries expect evidence of mainstreaming experiments into ordinary urban processes, credible plans for scaling local start ups and demonstrable collaborations across public, private and civic actors. National contact points and EIC coaching services are available to help applicants prepare. Observers and journalists should look for independent follow up reporting that tracks how winners use prize money and network access to change underlying conditions, not just to fund short term pilots.

Background and past winners

The prize was launched in 2014 and is one of five EIC Prizes funded under Horizon Europe. Past European Capital of Innovation winners include Barcelona 2014, Amsterdam 2016, Paris 2017, Athens 2018, Nantes 2019, Leuven 2020, Dortmund 2021 and Aix-Marseille-Provence 2022. Rising Innovative City winners have included Vantaa in 2021 and Haarlem in 2022. The award is open to cities across EU member states and countries associated to Horizon Europe and is managed by EISMEA.

Contact and further information

For official information on the 2023 iCapital Awards see the European Innovation Council and EISMEA pages. The award is managed under Horizon Europe rules and the EIC Prizes framework. Final results will be published after the jury deliberations and the ceremony in Marseille on 27 November 2023.