Madrid has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2027 European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) award, which is conferred by the European Commission through the European Innovation Council (EIC). This accolade acknowledges European cities that excel in using innovation to improve citizens' quality of life, foster sustainable economic growth, and tackle social, environmental, and technological challenges.
The Spanish capital competes in the main category for cities with populations exceeding 250,000, alongside Valencia and Montpellier. The jury highlighted that “Madrid uses innovation to address local challenges and strengthen its ecosystem,” pointing out the city’s “adaptive urbanism concept, a robust approach to assessing artificial intelligence risks, and the quality of initiatives it launches.”
According to the European Commission, Madrid's proposal, ‘MadridLEADs’, stands out for its governance model of artificial intelligence through the MAIA group and its urban experimentation approach with Sandbox Madrid and DesafIA. Additionally, it includes pioneering initiatives like ALMA and PALOMA, which enhance citizen services through technology.
The iCapital 2027 awards ceremony is scheduled for 3 December 2026, as part of the event ‘From local to Europe, Innovation for Good’, hosted in Grenoble, the current European Capital of Innovation. The winner will receive a prize of one million euros, while the other two finalists will each receive 100,000 euros.
Since their inception in 2014, the iCapital awards have recognised the role cities play in developing inclusive and dynamic innovation ecosystems. Driven by the European Innovation Council within the Horizon Europe framework, these awards highlight initiatives that contribute to solving urban challenges, improving citizens' quality of life, and generating new opportunities for sustainable growth.
