Vienna, 27 February 2023 – The Innovation in Politics Awards are proud to announce the finalists for this year’s prestigious awards which are assigned in 8 categories.

Vienna, 27 February 2023 – The Innovation in Politics Awards are proud to announce the finalists for this year’s prestigious awards which are assigned in 8 categories.
Three cities that are frontrunners in democracy have been shortlisted by the Experts’ Jury in the competition for becoming the first European Capital of Democracy (ECoD). The title will be granted to one of these cities in January 2023 by a Citizens’ Jury of up to 10,000 Europeans.
The European Capital of Democracy’s City Network, which shares expertise on democracy to change our world for the better, celebrates its launch in Vienna.
One of 13 cities from eight countries has the chance to become the very first European Capital of Democracy.
The Innovation in Politics Institute has opened applications for their annual Awards programme, now in its sixth year.
22 Städte aus 13 Ländern haben sich um den Titel der ersten Europäischen Demokratie-Hauptstadt beworben.
Mayors, political innovators and young changemakers from across Europe and the MENA region met in Stuttgart from 8-10 May to tackle the biggest issues local communities are facing.
The 2021 Europe-wide Innovation in Politics Awards have drawn to a close with a Spanish initiative being presented the final Award, in the category Quality of Life. Project Arraigo supports urban residents, who want to start a new rural life, to relocate through local networks and an integration system.
The project from Rome, “+Ricicli +Viaggi” – which means, the more you recycle, the more you travel – encourages a more sustainable lifestyle for its citizens by offering discounts on public transport tickets in exchange for recycling plastic bottles.
The Innovation in Politics Award in the category Community has been awarded to a Swiss project, Neighbourhood Bern, which connects volunteers with senior citizens who need help with everyday tasks.
A new sustainable neighbourhood in Utrecht, Netherlands, was awarded with the Innovation in Politics Award for “Ecology” in Paris, while a Greek laundrette for vulnerable groups in society was awarded the prize in the category “Human Rights” in Strasbourg.
The government of Aragon has won the Innovation in Politics Award in the category “COVID-19 Strategies” for launching a new digital platform within 24 hours in the wake of the pandemic.
This year’s Innovation in Politics Award in the Education category has been won by a project from Estonia. Project Manager Karin Künnapas was presented the Award by the Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.
Local leaders of Wittenberge have won the Innovation in Politics Award in the category “Economy” for their pioneering work attracting young digital professionals and start-ups to a small rural town with an ageing population.
An Irish gender equality initiative, SHE (See Her Elected), has been awarded The Innovation in Politics Award in the Democracy category for their work to increase the representation of women in local politics.
An increasing variety of innovation in almost all areas of politics: This is the main revelation of this year’s Innovation in Politics Awards.
A jury of 1,000 European citizens will single out the year’s most innovative political projects. Submissions are open now.
The Innovation in Politics Awards honour Europe’s most creative and courageous political projects in Europe.
Starting in 2021: every year, a city in Europe will takes centre stage in moves designed to improve democracy, supported by international organisations and civil society
Vienna-based think tank Act.Now and The Innovation in Politics Institute are merging, the directors and owners of both organisations announced today.