Gothenburg was designated one of most innovative cities in the EU in 2018 as a finalist in the ICapital Award. In 2020, Gothenburg was crowned the European Capital of Smart Tourism. And in 2022, Gothenburg was named one of the 100 European cities under the Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities.

Innovation is the core of our sustainable urban development. To be able to deal with future societal challenges, cities need to collaborate with a broad range of actors and test new solutions. 

At the European level, Gothenburg European Office continuously works for:

• EU’s research and Innovation program to capitalise on the experiences of cities, and prioritise finding sustainable solutions for societal challenges in cities.
• EU support to test and demonstration environments in urban areas to enable better conditions for developing new products and services that can contribute to Europe’s competitiveness.
• A European ecosystem for local innovations ecosystems.
• Gothenburg to be recognised as a leading and pioneering city when it comes to innovation.

Current initiatives monitored:

• Smart Cities initiatives.
• The New European Bauhaus.
• Human centered city: Highlevel group report for SRIA on innovating cities.
• Future funding opportunities and awards for smart and innovative cities.