Dr Susie Mitchell, Glasgow City of Science and Innovation programme director, was part of the team that represented Glasgow when the top 12 cities pitched to the judging panel in Brussels earlier this month.

In the announcement, Glasgow was highlighted as a ‘twin-track’ city of contrasts – a world leader in new economies within digital, science and technology with striking poverty and health inequality.

In response, Glasgow is building an ecosystem of civic innovation, such as the Centre for Civic Innovation, to drive an inclusive growth agenda that catalyses business, universities and communities.

Through innovation Glasgow is successfully driving transformation from a post-industrial city towards becoming a city of knowledge with sustainable, liveable and equitable communities.

The iCapital prize enables European cities to showcase their contribution to developing local innovation ecosystems for the benefit of businesses and the wellbeing of their citizens. The five runners up will each receive 100,000. The other finalists are Antwerp (Belgium), Bristol (UK), Espoo (Finland), Nantes (France) and Rotterdam (The Netherlands).

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, will reveal the European Capital of Innovation 2019 on September 25 during the ‘EU Research and Innovation days’ event in Brussels.

Glasgow was previously shortlisted in the 2016 competition, which was won by Amsterdam.

As a legacy project from our involvement in the competition, Glasgow conceived the idea of connecting the shortlisted iCapital ‘alumni’ cities through a pioneering digital collaboration platform which would nurture opportunities for collaboration, support ideas exchange between cities and add value to the existing innovation landscape.

The Ideas & Knowledge Exchange Network (iKEN) went live in summer 2018 and 18 iCapital alumni cities are now part of the pioneering network.

 

Links

European Capital of Innovation competition

iKEN