Press release -
Helsingborg is one of Europe’s most innovative cities
The City of Helsingborg in southern Sweden is a finalist in the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2020, also known as iCapital. This is an annual prize awarded to the European city that is best able to demonstrate its ability to harness innovation to improve the lives of its residents. Other finalists include cities such as Vienna, Milan, and Valencia.
“It’s very gratifying to be in the final, of course. But most important of all are the opportunities that will come from this. That those working in the city will have access to the European Commission’s network, with new and exciting collaborations that will further accelerate all the innovation work being done in the city,” says Peter Danielsson (Moderate Party), Mayor and Chairman of the Municipal Board of Helsingborg.
Going through to the final is confirmation that the goal-oriented innovation work taking place around Helsingborg is leading us in the right direction. Innovation is not simply about new technology. Focusing on the needs of the city’s people must be the driving factor, and Helsingborg’s innovation work is taking this one step further. We’re not just investing in innovation for the city’s residents, but rather together with them.
“With 30 per cent more applications than the previous year, the competition is fierce. But getting to the final means that we can now proudly say that we are one of Europe’s most innovative cities. It’s through dedicated, hard work that we’ve come this far, and we’ll now continue our work with creating an even more innovative, smart, and sustainable Helsingborg,” says Palle Lundberg, Chief Executive, City of Helsingborg.
In 2018, a decision was made by the City Council to invest in innovation with a stated goal to become one of Europe’s most innovative cities by the summer of 2022, the same year that Helsingborg will host H22 City Expo. Since then, innovative initiatives have emerged in every corner of the city. Residents, academia, businesses, and associations are working tirelessly with developing smart solutions to improve quality of life for the people of Helsingborg.
“It’s about building an innovation ecosystem and a culture that promotes and can implement smart innovations that improve the lives of the city’s people,” says Peter Danielsson (Moderate Party), Mayor and Chairman of the Municipal Board of Helsingborg.
In the coming years, the entire city is being transformed into a test bed and invites the world to co-create and develop solutions to our shared challenges.
“Helsingborg, like many other cities, is facing major challenges. To take on these challenges, we need to find new ways of working, collaborations, and solutions. This is so that we can build a strong welfare society for the future,” says Jan Björklund, Opposition Leader (Swedish Social Democratic Party) in the City of Helsingborg.
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Explore some of the city’s innovations that are making a difference to everyday life.
- Smart Food – sustainable menus and less food waste
- SällBo – Less loneliness, more integration
- FairSHARE – Equality and inclusion as building blocks in a smarter city
- Electric ferries – From Helsingborg to Helsingör with zero emissions
- Urban Living Labs – Real needs lead to real solutions in urban mobility
- Vision Fund – Bring your dream project to life
- More examples of innovative projects and test beds
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The City of Helsingborg has launched a major innovation initiative called H22. Through collaborations across society, solutions that improve quality of life in smarter, more sustainable cities are being explored together. Why not browse H22’s website for ongoing projects and news on H22 City Expo in 2022.
