Turin has been named the 2024 European Capital of Innovation (iCapital), an award celebrating European cities at the forefront of providing innovative solutions for the benefit of their citizens.

The announcement was made recently in Lisbon, last year’s winner of this award. The prize was presented to Turin’s Mayor, Stefano Lo Russo, by the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, Iliana Ivanova, on the main stage of the Web Summit, one of Europe’s premier innovation events and a leading global tech gathering.

“The award of ‘European Capital of Innovation 2024’ recognizes our commitment and work in crafting a future-oriented vision that puts citizens and communities at the heart of innovation. Innovation is a powerful tool for creating fairer, more sustainable, and more livable environments. Thanks to new technologies and urban planning, we can improve the quality of life for residents and enhance public services, focusing on sustainability, energy efficiency, communications, and emergency management”, commented Mayor Stefano Lo Russo.

“Our city”, noted Turin’s Innovation Councillor, Chiara Foglietta, who also attended in Lisbon, “has demonstrated a comprehensive approach to experimentation and innovation, leveraging its rich history and ecosystem to address both present and future urban challenges. The city has developed a range of innovative solutions, from smart city technologies to social innovation initiatives, with particular attention to collaboration, inclusivity, and environmental issues”.

Several key players in Turin’s innovation ecosystem supported its bid in Portugal, including representatives from the University of Turin, the Polytechnic University of Turin, the Chamber of Commerce with Torino Social Impact, and the foundations Compagnia di San Paolo and Piemonte Innova.

The award jury highlighted initiatives like the Torino City Lab platform, the city’s open and distributed innovation laboratory that has expanded since 2021 with the Emerging Technologies Hub, CTE Next. Additionally, the Torino Social Impact platform, with numerous projects aimed at creating social impact, was emphasized. These tools, along with collaborative ecosystems and engaged stakeholders, have enabled the co-creation and testing of cutting-edge urban solutions in real-world settings, spanning sectors such as Smart Mobility and Smart Living, toward a zero-emissions model that generates opportunities for all.

Through iCapital, the European Union celebrates cities with inclusive innovation ecosystems. Now in its tenth year, the award identifies cities that connect citizens with academia, the private sector, and public services to enhance societal well-being while fostering groundbreaking innovation.

These cities adopt measures to reshape their communities, incorporating innovation into daily life through pioneering sustainability initiatives and promoting inclusive digital transformation. They serve as models for others, demonstrating how innovation can drive systemic change and social progress.

In the European Capital of Innovation category, Turin was selected over Espoo (Finland) and the West Midlands (UK) and will receive €1 million in prize money. In the Emerging Innovative Cities category, the winner was Braga (Portugal), followed by Linz (Austria) and Oulu (Finland).

Previous winners of the European Capital of Innovation award include Barcelona (2014), Amsterdam (2016), Paris (2017), Athens (2018), Nantes (2019), Leuven (2020), Dortmund (2021), Aix-Marseille Provence Metropole (2022), and Lisbon (2023). In the Emerging Innovative Cities category, recent winners were Vantaa (2021), Haarlem (2022), and Linköping (2023).