Braga is among the three finalist cities for the prestigious "European Rising Innovative City" award, a category of the 2024 European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital). This nomination highlights Braga as a city that stands out for driving innovation and promoting governance practices open to experimentation, aiming to benefit its citizens.

The award ceremony will take place on November 13, 2024, at the Web Summit in Lisbon. The winning city in the "European Rising Innovative City" category will receive €500,000, while the two runner-up cities will each be awarded €50,000.

Reaching the final stage of the "European Rising Innovative City" award is an important step for Braga in solidifying its role as a European reference in urban innovation.

The Mayor of Braga, Ricardo Rio, emphasizes that being recognized as one of the finalists is a testament to the city's ongoing commitment to innovation and improving the quality of life for its citizens. "Reaching this final stage reinforces our position as a dynamic, future-oriented city where innovation and inclusion go hand in hand," he adds.

The award, promoted by the European Commission and supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) under the Horizon Europe program, aims to recognize cities that serve as models for others by pushing the boundaries of technology and creating inclusive innovation ecosystems.

In this final stage, Braga is competing alongside Linz (Austria) and Oulu (Finland).