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The European Commission’ s Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) has announced the 90 EU cities that have been selected to participate in the 30 months program. ICC participating cities will receive high quality and tailored guidance and expert support, access to advisory and city peer networks (European and international), and capability building tools, to drive priority policy goals and the uptake of advanced technologies.
ICC consists of a community that supports cities to tackle the pandemic crisis and reconstruct their economies while steering them in the direction of green smart sustainable growth. The program will launch on the 28th of September.
The ICC received 131 Expressions of Interest from 193 cities in 20 countries in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The 90 selected cities are formed by 54 new ICC applications, 26 cities that took part in the Digital Cities Challenge predecessor initiative, and 9 EU mentor cities. The list will be extended with 9 international cities.
The ICC will build on the success of the Digital Cities Challenge, which helped 41 EU cities develop a strategic vision and a roadmap for digital transformation.
During the ICC, through an action oriented and collaborative approach, the cities will:
- Identify local strengths and formulate priorities and real needs: conduct performance assessments, define strategic goals and implementation roadmaps
- Engage in long-lasting collaborations to co-design and co-create: joint open data platform, EU marketplace for city solutions and joint investments/procurements
- Learn from and share experiences with local and international peers and mentors
The focus of the program will be on the green transition of businesses, economic growth and reskilling, urban industrial infrastructure, business-related government services and citizens’ engagement, as well as health and safety. Technologies that could be deployed include renewable energies, mobility, clean industry, green manufacturing, crisis management, and healthcare and safety.
You can find the selected cities here.