At the Web Summit in Lisbon, the city received the “iCapital” award recognizing its innovation strategy and a grant of 1 million euros. Behind it, Tallinn (Estonia) and Tel Aviv (Israel) are also acknowledged for their urban innovation projects.
The Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis was among the ten finalists but it was not selected. It will have to settle for the title of Ambassador City.
Its President Christian Estrosi, who accompanied the delegation to the summit in Lisbon, showed sportsmanship: “Nice Côte d’Azur is recognized as one of the ten most innovative cities in Europe, and this should encourage us to amplify our efforts to reach higher.”
The city of light has just become the “iCapital” 2017 and has received, with this award, a grant of one million euros. The “European Capital of Innovation” prize, which falls under Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation program, launched by the European Union with a budget of 77 billion euros over seven years—from 2014 to 2020—praised the inclusive innovation strategy of France’s first city.
To justify this choice, Brussels notably cited the “Reinventing Paris” project, which “invites interdisciplinary teams to submit innovative urban projects to transform several underground sites in Paris.”
Commissioner for Research, Science, and Innovation, Carlos Moedas explained: “Cities are not defined by their size and population but by the breadth of their vision and the power granted to their citizens. These are the cities that enable their people to partake in change. Today, we commend their efforts.”
