Pioneering Urban Innovation: The 22 Finalists of the EUI-IA 2nd Call

I'm thrilled to see the European Union's commitment to fostering innovative urban solutions through the EUI-IA 2nd Call for Proposals. This call has ignited considerable interest across Europe, drawing 112 applications from 12 EU Member States.

After a rigorous assessment, 22 projects were selected.

These projects, supported by a total budget of EUR 98 million, span crucial areas like greening cities, sustainable tourism, and harnessing talent in shrinking cities.

Let's dive into the details of these 22 selected projects. You can find more detailed information about each project here. 

1. Amsterdam, Gemeente Amsterdam: Ground for Wellbeing addresses urban resilience by integrating Soil & Water Sensitive Urban Design in Tuindorp Oostzaan to tackle climate, water, and health challenges.

2. Athens, Δήμος Αθηναίων: This project focuses on combating the city's heat issues and periodic flooding with water-sensitive urban designs that create new blue and green infrastructures.

3. Barcelona, Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona: Promotes urban resilience by implementing self-sustaining naturalised green roofs, using innovative and local materials.

4. Bistrița, Primăria Municipiului Bistrița: B-CONNECT uses a biophilic-centred tactical urbanism approach to enhance air quality and promote green mobility within a densely built urban environment.

5. Bologna, Comune di Bologna: Implements the TALEA project to integrate urban spaces into a continuous Green Infrastructure, enhancing climate resilience and fostering green justice.

6. Brugge, Stad Brugge: Blue4Green optimises water management to address flood and drought risks, enhancing the city's resilience against climate-related challenges.

7. Celje, Mestna občina Celje: MAG-NET aims to reverse talent drain and foster innovation through a robust urban network promoting entrepreneurship and learning.

8. Coimbra, Câmara Municipal de Coimbra: Focuses on enhancing sustainable tourism through a web portal that offers personalised tourist itineraries.

9. Copenhagen, Københavns Kommune: CULTIGEN aims to manage tourism sustainably with a community-focused, data-driven governance model.

10. Elliniko - Argyroupoli, Δήμος Ελληνικού - Αργυρούπολης: GreCO project addresses emerging tourism challenges with a proactive urban planning solution to foster sustainable tourism hubs.

11. Ghent, City of Ghent: The REWILD project promotes rewilding of urban spaces through incentives for de-sealing private and public spaces.

12. Haskovo, Municipality of Haskovo: The CARE-GET project integrates health, wellness, and technology to create a sustainable urban life through educational and service opportunities.

13. Kozani, Δήμος Κοζάνης: EcoZani leverages local cultural events to activate local ecosystems and promote just work transitions.

14. Krakow, Gmina Miejska Krakow: Aims to transition cultural tourism towards sustainability with an innovation lab that fosters participatory cooperation.

15. Milan, Comune di Milano: GOCCIA focuses on an interspecies design thinking project to recover and regenerate a previously contaminated industrial area.

16. Prato, Comune di Prato: EPIC uses the city's industrial heritage to develop a sustainable tourism model that integrates virtual reality and real-life experiences.

17. Ravenna, Comune di Ravenna: FOOTPRINTS encourages sustainable tourist behaviours through innovative community engagement and digital platforms.

18. Romagna Faentina, Unione della Romagna Faentina: AQUAGREEN implements innovative solutions for resilience against extreme weather events through integrated blue/green infrastructure.

19. Rotterdam, Gemeente Rotterdam: Greening Without Borders seeks to expand green spaces across private gardens, enhancing social and environmental resilience.

20. Stalowa Wola, Gmina Stalowa Wola: SPACE 4 TALENTS develops a new specialisation in the space industry to attract and retain talented professionals.

21. Szeged, Szeged Megyei Jogú Város Önkormányzata: ReGreenX creates a framework for experimenting with climate-resilient greenery to address urban desertification.

22. Valencia, Valencia City Council: Zentropy focuses on optimising tourism impacts using a new method to measure and manage the entropy elements of business tourism.

I look forward to seeing the practical impacts of these initiatives and the shared lessons from their implementation across different European contexts!