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"We’re building infrastructure in the hope that it’ll pave the way to a more connected citizenry."Josep Mari, Director of Social Innovation Projects, City of Barcelona
Our impact
Currently, 75% of Europeans live in cities, and as these populations grow, challenges such as inequality, access to public services, housing shortages and environmental damage show few signs of abating.
We supported Barcelona, Athens, Stockholm, Kirklees and Warsaw, all of whom secured support from the first European Mayor’s Challenge in 2014, for innovations designed to tackle loneliness for older people, engage citizens in the fight against climate change, transform communities through the power of sharing, and connect citizens who want to improve their city.
To support these winners and share learning we:
- Interviewed 10 cities, to gather insights from innovators and share key learnings for bringing bold ideas to life.
- Created tools for replication, to support other cities to apply innovations in their context.
- Facilitated two learning events, to share learnings with cities across the world.
More about the innovations we’re supporting:
Stockholm
Stockholm’s Biochar Project started with an ambitious plan to engage citizens in standing up to climate change through converting their plant waste into biochar; this project is the first initiative to directly involve citizens in meeting their city target of becoming carbon neutral by 2045. We worked with the Stockholm team to produce a replication manual and checklist for cities who are interested in creating their own biochar project.
Stockholm’s Biochar Project started with an ambitious plan to engage citizens in standing up to climate change through converting their plant waste into biochar; this project is the first initiative to directly involve citizens in meeting their city target of becoming carbon neutral by 2045. We worked with the Stockholm team to produce a replication manual and checklist for cities who are interested in creating their own biochar project.
Athens
Athens’ synAthina is an online platform created to engage members of the community to engage in problem-solving and reform. Citizens submit ideas, and are connected to local government representatives, non-governmental organisations, and private businesses that can support their efforts in turning idea into reality.
Athens’ synAthina is an online platform created to engage members of the community to engage in problem-solving and reform. Citizens submit ideas, and are connected to local government representatives, non-governmental organisations, and private businesses that can support their efforts in turning idea into reality.
Barcelona
Barcelona’s ‘Vincles’ is a new digital platform aiming to strengthen the social relations of senior citizens who feel lonely, and improve their well-being. The app brings together and coordinates the support of friends, family members, neighbours and professional caregivers around at-risk seniors.
Barcelona’s ‘Vincles’ is a new digital platform aiming to strengthen the social relations of senior citizens who feel lonely, and improve their well-being. The app brings together and coordinates the support of friends, family members, neighbours and professional caregivers around at-risk seniors.
Kirklees
Comoodle is an online platform designed to build a strong culture of sharing, transforming the way that people work together for community benefit in Kirklees. The platform provides an online space for municipal, community and private assets to be shared.
Comoodle is an online platform designed to build a strong culture of sharing, transforming the way that people work together for community benefit in Kirklees. The platform provides an online space for municipal, community and private assets to be shared.
Warsaw
Virtual Warsaw aims to give the visually impaired greater freedom of movement across the city, particularly when using public transport and facilities. The city is working to install beacons to communicate location data to the smartphones of the visually impaired, empowering them to navigate on their own.
Virtual Warsaw aims to give the visually impaired greater freedom of movement across the city, particularly when using public transport and facilities. The city is working to install beacons to communicate location data to the smartphones of the visually impaired, empowering them to navigate on their own.
"Hearing other cities’ ideas and winning an international award helps persuade local politicians of the importance of thinking globally."Malin Parmander - International Affairs Officer, City of Stockholm
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