The Innovation in Politics Awards

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The annual Innovation in Politics Awards recognise creative politicians from across Europe who have the courage to break new ground to find innovative solutions for today’s challenges. The Awards are presented to the politicians in recognition of their innovative projects based on our European values of social balance, democracy, and human rights – regardless of their party affiliation or level of government.

Each year, a citizens’ jury of over 1,000 Europeans evaluate the projects to determine the finalists and winners in the Awards’ categories. From 2024 onwards, the Awards finals will always be held at the current European Capital of Democracy.

The nominees demonstrate how communities and countries are finding new ways to make our lives better.

Impact

Since 2017, The Innovation in Politics Awards have honoured 650 political innovators. Through the Awards, The Innovation in Politics Institute gives visibility to outstanding political minds in Europe, provides them with a platform to present their innovative projects, and facilitates best practice exchange across borders.

What innovators say about The Awards

The Awards Categories

The Innovation in Politics Awards 2024 are presented in seven categories:

Democracy

(Equality, Community, Inclusion) 

We honour political work that strengthens democracy by providing for an open and free society and enabling new and effective forms of participation in political decision-making.

Climate Protection

(Decarbonisation, Environmental Protection, Sustainability)

We honour political work tackling the climate crisis and addressing issues such as energy, mobility, housing and food in accordance with the principles of sustainability.

Democracy Technologies

(Digital Participation, Deliberation, E-Voting)

We honour political work that applies and improves technologies in democratic processes and public life – with a focus on citizen participation.

Government Improvement

(Transparency, Accountability, Low Threshold)

We honour political work that applies and improves processes, information and communication in government services and public institutions, to improve their performance.

Social Cohesion

(Diversity, Migration, Engagement)

We honour political work that ensures a positive standard of living for all members of a community, including modern health services, a safe living environment, and access to culture and the arts – for all citizens, whether they were born here, or not.

Local Development

(Rural Areas, Local Initiatives, Local Economy)

We honour political work that fosters local and regional cooperation and development in society, and supports the local economy (i.e. creates jobs) – no project is too small to be submitted!

Education

(Learning, Teaching, Empowerment)

We honour political work that promotes education and facilitates life-long learning, including providing the knowledge and skills needed by resilient communities and individuals in an ever changing environment.

Party Innovation (not included in 2024)

(Transparency, Mobilization, Technology)
We honour innovation in political parties that helps to make them more accessible, motivate people to be candidates and engage people in campaigns. For more information click here

How to Participate

Become Part of The Innovation in Politics Awards

You can nominate a great project you know about, submit your own project or become part of the Europe-wide citizens’ jury.

The deadline for nominations and submissions to the Innovation in Politics Awards 2024 is the 3rd of December 2023.

As one of our 1,000 citizens’ jurors for The Innovation in Politics Awards, your voice will help to decide which projects are recognised as the most exemplary in Europe!

Have you successfully implemented an innovative project locally or nationally which has improved wellbeing in your community? Tell us about it!

Do you know of a project worthy of a European award? We are always on the look out for “best practice solutions which have had a positive impact on the community?

The Citizens’ Jury

BRINGING CITIZENS TO THE HEART OF THE INNOVATION IN POLITICS AWARDS

The Awards Journey

THE PROCESS FROM NOMINATIONS TO WINNERS

The Awards process starts with the submission or nomination of innovative political projects. The deadline for nominations and submissions to the Innovation in Politics Awards 2024 is the 3rd of December 2023. These are then evaluated by the Citizens’ Jury. The finalists are subsequently invited to a conference and a gala ceremony, where the winners are announced and celebrated with their awards.

Nomination

Anyone can nominate a project. If the project meets the formal criteria, we will contact the person responsible for the project and encourage them to submit it to the Awards.

Submission

Any political innovator serving in a Council of Europe member country can submit their own project through the Awards website by filling out the submission form.

Initial Check of the Formal Criteria

The Innovation in Politics Institute checks if the project submission

  • is complete
  • meets the formal criteria
  • needs to be translated to English

Jury Process

A citizens’ jury of 1,000 jurors from across Europe evaluates the projects based on three criteria: innovation, participation, and sustainability.

Announcement of Finalists

The 10 top-scoring projects in each category are selected as finalists. The finalists are notified and published on our website.

Awards Events

From 2024 onwards, the Awards finals will always be held at the current European Capital of Democracy: The upcoming edition 2024 will take place in Barcelona. The finalists will attend an exchange conference on their exemplary projects and the prestigious gala ceremony, where the winners are announced and presented with their awards.

Nomination

Anyone can nominate a project. If the project meets the formal criteria, The Innovation in Politics Institute will contact the politician who is responsible for the project and encourage them to submit it to the Awards.

Submission

Any politician serving in a Council of Europe member country can submit his or her own project through the Awards website by filling out the submission form.

Initial Check of the Formal Criteria

The Innovation in Politics Institute checks if the project submission

  • is complete
  • meets the formal criteria
  • needs to be translated to English

Jury Process

A citizens’ jury of 1,000 jurors from across Europe evaluates the projects based on three criteria: innovation, participation, and sustainability.

Announcement of Finalists

The 10 top-scoring projects in each category are selected as the finalists. The finalists are notified and published on our website.

Awards Events

All of the finalists attend a conference and gala ceremony, where the winners are announced and presented with their awards.*

Awards History/Previous Awards