Barcelona among final contestants for European Capital of Innovation

Laia Framis

Brussels (ACN).- Barcelona, Grenoble (France), and Groningen (the Netherlands) are the three final contestants competing to be named the first European Capital of Innovation. The award, worth half a million Euros, will distinguish the city that has created “the best innovation ecosystem, connecting citizens, public organisations, academia, and businesses”. The six initial contestants, amongst which were also Espoo (Finland), Paris, and Malaga, have been judged according to their past achievements and future initiatives encouraging innovation. The name of the winning city will be announced during the closing ceremony of the 2014 Innovation Convention, organised by the European Commission in Brussels on the 10th and the 11th of March.

The EU is looking to become an ‘Innovation Union’

The European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan- Quinn thanked all the candidate cities for the “excellent quality of the proposals” they submitted for the contest. “They are a good proof of the efforts made at local level to promote innovation in Europe. I’m convinced that these measures will contribute to promote growth and create jobs in the EU” she added.

The European Capital of Innovation has been created as part of the EU’s strategy for 2020, aiming towards becoming an ‘Innovation Union’. The EU has therefore been encouraging smart and sustainable developments in cities, where 68% of the European population live, by promoting research and innovative initiatives.