The ICC coordination team is proud to announce the newly published ICC City Performance Report: EU Cities Championing the Green and Digital Transition that summarises the vision, methodology, achievements, challenges and opportunities for cities across Europe and beyond over the period of the programme. Some of the key highlights are captured below.
Achievements
The Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) 2020-2022 edition successfully helped 136 European cities to reach the green and digital twin transition of their local economies through Local Green Deals (LGDs) and five thematic tracks.
During this programme, an impressive €1.9 billion was allocated for initiatives within ICC cities, and an additional €247 million in public funding from various EU, national, and regional sources was leveraged.
Specifically, it enabled 42 cities to make significant strides toward launching their own Local Green Deals, and 35 cities seized the opportunity to sign the Pact for Skills and engage in various skill-focused initiatives, addressing crucial workforce development needs.
A full list of achievements is available in this article.
Challenges
ICC cities faced an array of challenges that demanded strategic solutions for sustainable urban development. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted city life and governance, necessitating adaptable responses to safeguard public health and economic stability.
Access to finance remained a persistent hurdle, requiring creative approaches to secure funding for crucial urban initiatives. Tackling these challenges collectively will be instrumental in guiding ICC cities towards a future of prosperity and sustainability.
Opportunities
Amidst the challenges faced by ICC cities, there exist notable opportunities that hold the promise of transformative urban development. Small and medium-sized cities have the potential to emerge as regional role models. Additionally, collaboration opportunities are abundant for ICC cities.
By sharing best practices, pooling resources, and fostering partnerships across city boundaries, these municipalities can collectively address common challenges, promoting knowledge exchange and the creation of synergistic solutions that benefit the entire network of cities.
Methodological Approach
To reach their transition, the numerous ICC cities focused on developing concrete solutions under one of the 5 following thematic tracks. Through the links you can read about each tracks’ achievements:
In brief, the ICC has greatly benefited 136 cities in improving economic competitiveness, social resilience, and citizens’ quality of life across the continent. Despite imperfections, the lessons from the past 25 months will guide further progress. The ICC is a valuable initiative empowering European cities to enhance citizens’ lives, achieve sustainability, and contribute to continent-wide carbon neutrality.
Read the full report on the ICC 2020-22 cities performance to gain full knowledge on their achievement over the course of the programme.