​Helsingborg is one of Europe’s most innovative cities according to the European Commission

Helsingborg was awarded second place in the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2020, also known as iCapital, during a ceremony in Brussels today. 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. With tough competition from Valencia (Spain), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Espoo (Finland), Leuven (Belgium), and Vienna (Austria), Helsingborg placed second.

“This is an achievement that will really open doors and it’s a confirmation for all of Helsingborg. It is the work we have done together since 2011 that has brought us here. I would like to thank all the amazing people of Helsingborg who have made this possible. From the preschool teachers and nurses whose development ideas have improved the lives of children and the elderly, to all the committed and driven individuals in Helsingborg and around the world who join us on this journey of change. Together we are making Helsingborg an even better city for everyone,” says Peter Danielsson (Moderate Party), Mayor and Chairman of the Municipal Board of Helsingborg.

This distinction is a validation that the goal-oriented innovation work taking place around Helsingborg is leading in the direction that the city wants. As far back as 2012, the City Council adopted the vision Helsingborg 2035. Since then, all parts of the city have been undergoing a cultural transformation.

“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. 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,” says Jan Björklund, Opposition Leader (Swedish Social Democratic Party) in the City of Helsingborg.

In 2018, a decision was made 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 right now with developing smart and sustainable solutions to improve quality of life for the people of Helsingborg.

“The fact that we are now one of Europe's most innovative cities is spurring on our work with trust-based leadership, where “Dare, Test, Do!” is our motto and guiding star. Our long and persevering work with transforming the internal culture, from being a service producer to an enabler, has been a decisive factor in getting us all the way here. The entire City of Helsingborg Group today stands united in the work with creating a more innovative, smart, and sustainable Helsingborg,” says Palle Lundberg, Chief Executive, City of Helsingborg.

In the coming years, the entire city is being transformed into an open test bed and invites the world to co-create and develop solutions to our shared challenges.

Why is Helsingborg one of Europe’s most innovative cities?

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
• Innovation Database – our platform for gathering innovations(in Swedish)
• 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

H22 is a major innovation initiative by the City of Helsingborg to develop future welfare solutions aimed at improving quality of life in a smarter, more sustainable city. The innovation work will be showcased at H22 City Expo, a 35-day international event in the summer of 2022. Learn more about H22 at www.h22.se/enand iCapital at https://h22.se/en/icapital/

For more information about the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2020: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/prizes/icapital_en