Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Councilor Cocco: "Europe has understood our commitment in managing the crisis due to the health emergency. We hope that the city can have the right recognition"

Milan, August 5 2020 – Milan finalist of the iCapital award. The list of 12 cities competing for the recognition of "European Capital of Innovation 2020" was announced this morning.

The prize is awarded by the European Commission to cities capable of experimenting with innovative concepts, processes, tools and governance models, involving citizens in decision-making processes and ensuring the adoption of their ideas, expanding the attractiveness of the city to become a model for other cities, empower citizens by providing concrete and measurable added value through the implementation of innovative practices.

The application dossier, presented to the jury of experts from all over Europe, tells the story of Milan's challenge: a city projected into a sustainable, inclusive and digital future which has been put to the test by the pandemic and the health emergency but which has found the way to manage the crisis and find concrete answers.

“In a difficult year like the one we are still going through – comments councilor Roberta Cocco (Digital Transformation and Civic Services) – Milan's experience in supporting and improving the lives of citizens is particularly significant. Our previous choices and our vision - which puts environmental and social sustainability, innovation and digital transformation at the center - have allowed us to lay the foundations for a faster recovery and we now need to reprogram the city's near future. This is our history and this is the drive for transformation that has convinced Europe to include us among the most innovative cities on the continent. We hope that Milan can get the right recognition."

In contention for victory, together with Milan, Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Espoo (Finland), Ghent (Belgium), Groningen (Netherlands), Helsingborg (Sweden), Leeuwarden (Netherlands), Leuven (Belgium), Linz (Austria), Reykjavik (Iceland), Valencia (Spain) and Vienna (Austria).

The winner and the top 5 cities will be announced during the EU Research and innovation days, scheduled from 22 to 24 September.