Photo: Kois-Miah
European cities to compete for €9 million prize money
25 October 2013
by Richard Forster
European mayors and city leaders with bold ideas–that lack the finance to become reality–are being encouraged to submit their proposals for a chance to win prizes totalling €9 million.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2013-2014 Mayors Challenge aims to inspire European cities to compete with fresh ideas that solve major problems and improve city life and that ultimately can be shared with other cities.
“The Mayors Challenge has been a big success here in the United States, and now we’re bringing it across the Atlantic to find a whole new set of cutting-edge ideas,” said Michael Bloomberg, philanthropist and Mayor of New York City. “On so many issues, cities are redefining the future, and the Mayors Challenge is intended to help accelerate that progress and spread it far and wide.”
The Mayors Challenge will award €5 million for the grand prizewinner and €1 million for four additional cities that come up with the boldest and most transferable ideas. Any leader of a city within the European Union or FP7 Associated Country with 100,000 residents or more is eligible to enter. The ideas must address a serious problem, improve customer service for residents, create significant government efficiencies, or increase engagement with the public.
“International awards can be a powerful boost to city ambitions,” Nicola Vatthauer, Communications Director of EUROCITIES, a city engagement partner for the Challenge, told Cities Today. “The Mayors Challenge will encourage cities to be even more creative as they compete for this increased visibility. The winning ideas should be replicable in other cities around Europe; so many of our cities will be able to benefit. The innovation that comes from sharing and borrowing ideas and adapting them to local situations is a core part of what EUROCITIES does.”
Cities wishing to participate in the Mayors Challenge need to send in their expressions of interest by 11 November 2013 and formal applications will be due by 31 January 2014. An expert panel will then assist Bloomberg Philanthropies to select the finalists and winning cities will be announced in October 2014.
