Rotterdam and The Hague have reached the semi-finals of the prestigious European Capital of Innovation 2026 (iCapital) award. Thus, the 2 cities from South Holland belong to the 6 most innovative cities in Europe.
The iCapital Awards are supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC), which falls under the EU research and innovation program Horizon Europe. The awards highlight cities that have innovation ecosystems where science, business, residents, and government work together. The aim is to solve the societal issues a city faces and thereby improve the well-being of its residents. Rotterdam and The Hague, along with 4 other cities (Alicante, Grenoble Alpes Métropole, Liverpool, and Riga), have been nominated in the category of European Capital of Innovation.
Final
The nominated cities will present their innovative approaches and achievements to the jury in the coming weeks. The jury will then select 3 finalists. The winners will be announced on December 3 and 4, 2025, during a ceremony in Turin, the current European Capital of Innovation.
Major Prizes
The ultimate winner will receive a prize of €1 million. Two other finalists will each receive €100,000. All finalists will also become members of the exclusive iCapital Alumni network, where cities exchange knowledge and experience about innovation and collaboration.
With this double nomination, Rotterdam and The Hague are once again firmly placing the province of South Holland on the map as an international top region for innovation and collaboration. We wish Rotterdam and The Hague much success as they head toward the final!
If you want to learn more about the award, you can read more on the website of the European Innovation Council (opens in a new window).
