Micinn opens call to be recognized as City of Science and Innovation
The 30 new cities chosen will become part of the Innpulso Network for the next three years. The deadline for applications is 15 October.
BY BIOCAT
The Ministry of Science and Innovation (Micinn) has opened their second consecutive annual call for the Cities of Science and Innovation program, which recognizes city councils that have demonstrated their effort and commitment to R&D&i and their contribution to changing the productive model on a local scale with projects started as of 1 January 2011.
This program recognizes a total of 30 cities in three categories according to their population (less than 20,000, 20,001 to 100,000 and more than 100,000 inhabitants). The deadline for applications is 15 October 2011.
This recognition is granted for a period of three years and can be renewed depending on the city’s actions over this time. Recognized cities have a number of benefits under the framework of R&D&i policies as they will become part of the Network of Cities of Science and Innovation (Red Innpulso).
Evaluation will be based on how well the innovative projects presented fit with the National Innovation Strategy (E2i); the council’s efforts to invest in innovation projects; the expected impact of improvements or changes introduced after the implementation of the innovative projects (jobs, new companies, innovative public purchase projects, private capital invested), and their facilitating hiring of technologists through one of the Inncorpora programs.
City Councils recognized in 2010
In the first edition of the program, cities recognized in the category of more than 100,000 inhabitants were: Dos Hermanas, Gijón, Santander, Valladolid, Barcelona (Catalonia), Mataró (Catalonia), Terrasa (Catalonia), Logroño, San Sebastián and València.
Those with 20,001 to 100,000 inhabitants: Avilés, Cerdanyola del Vallès (Catalonia), Manresa (Catalonia), Sant Boi de Llobregat (Catalonia), Viladecans (Catalonia), Cáceres, Almendralejo, Rivas Vaciamadrid, Tres Cantos and Eibar.
And in the category of cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants: Buenavista del Norte, La Solana, Béjar, Palaciosrubios, Vilanova del Camí (Catalonia), Boiro, Colmenarejo, Ermua, Benilloba and Gata de Gorgos.
- Report Eight Catalan municipalities recognized as Cities of Science and Innovation (April 2011)
- Related news (7/1/2011)