| Press release Warsaw, 12 May 2023 The Innovation in Politics Institute is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Innovation in Politics Awards in each of the eight categories. At the official Awards Gala on 11 May 2023 at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, the successful projects from six different European countries received their prestigious award. Since 2017, the Innovation in Politics Awards have been presented annually to honour courageous and creative political work throughout Europe – regardless of party or country, recognising groundbreaking political initiatives that significantly impact people’s lives and strengthen democracy. Under the motto “Courage beats prejudice”, this year’s finalists and guests gathered to exchange experiences and ideas on democracy, technologies, politics, and civic engagement. This year’s Awards Gala and Convention took place under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić, under the patronage of the European Commission Vice-President for Democracy & Demography, Ms Dubravka Šuica, and under the patronage of the Mayor of Warsaw, Mr Rafał Trzaskowski. For the first time, a day-long convention for democracy technologies also took place at the Awards in Warsaw, as the relevance of this new infrastructure for citizen engagement is rising all over the world. The Awards Gala and Convention attracted more than 500 guests, among which government officials, politicians, ambassadors, and representatives of civil society and companies from all over the world. From 337 submitted political projects from 26 countries, our jury of 1045 citizens had selected 80 finalists, 10 for each category. They all represent diverse innovative ideas that make a real difference in their communities. They come from all levels of government, local to national, and cover a broad range of categories. The winner projects judged as the most exemplary by the international jury are (in alphabetical order per category): CLIMATE PROTECTION Rexcatering – for intelligent food consumption, Spain Rexcatering is a circular, zero-waste project that empowers students to fight food waste by delivering food to those in need with the help of innovative technology. DEMOCRACY Participatory Methods in the Process of Revitalisation, Poland Rybnik sets a national example for civic improvement initiatives by adopting a participatory approach to revitalising degraded areas. DEMOCRACY TECHNOLOGIES Digital Participation in Legislation in Latvia, Latvia Citizens propose legislative initiatives for consideration by the Latvian Parliament via an online platform, increasing participation and trust in the legislative process. EDUCATION Sophia: the world’s first chatbot for survivors of domestic violence, Switzerland Sophia is a digital chatbot that anonymously assists survivors of domestic violence in gathering potential evidence, provides access to resources and support, and continuously evolves to meet the needs of survivors globally. GOVERNMENT IMPROVEMENT Gdynia – Deaf-Friendly City, Poland Gdynia’s comprehensive measures ensure that residents with special needs can fully participate in, and benefit from, city services. This has made Gdynia one of the first deaf-friendly cities in Poland. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT MAGMA: the world’s first job guarantee project for long-term unemployed, Austria MAGMA is the world’s first job guarantee project that addresses the issue of long-term unemployment by offering job guarantees, support services, and access to decent employment for job seekers. PARTY INNOVATION Policy Sprint: fostering cross-party collaboration for effective political solutions, Switzerland A collaborative approach to policy design brings together politicians and key stakeholders from across the political spectrum and equips them with the skills and mindset necessary for effective collaboration. SOCIAL COHESION Housing and Work for the Homeless, Greece Housing and Work for the Homeless is an integrated intervention for persons and families facing homelessness and housing exclusion which provides housing, services, and financial support to vulnerable groups. “Democracies do not start wars against each other. We need to unite for democracy to defend democracy. If not now, when?” said Birgitta Ohlsson, Director for Political Parties at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), USA, and Keynote speaker at the Awards Gala. “As we experience another year of democratic decline, cross-party collaboration can be the game-changer that can unite democracies worldwide.” “We are living in difficult times,” said Ronny Zuckermann, Founder and Chief Strategist at the Innovation in Politics Institute. “But as we can see, in times like these, forward-thinking and courageous politicians are coming up with even more new and impressive projects to improve our lives.” “This year, we know where the next Awards will take place – in the city of Barcelona, the European Capital of Democracy 2023-2024,” said Helfried Carl, Founder and Managing Partner at the Innovation in Politics Awards. “Let me invite you to the next Innovation in Politics Awards Gala 2024” For more information about the finalists and the Innovation in Politics Awards, please visit innovationinpolitics.eu/awards2023 |
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| Contact Information Denica Yotova, Press Contact, The Innovation in Politics Institute dy@innovationinpolitics.eu The Innovation in Politics Institute The Innovation in Politics Institute is a mission-driven company based in Vienna and Berlin and has representation in 15 European countries. It identifies, develops, and applies innovations in politics, and facilitates the exchange of best practices across borders. The Innovation in Politics Awards are presented and organised by the Innovation in Politics Institute. Founded in 2017, they have become a leading platform for innovative politicians and citizens to share and exchange ideas on the development and improvement of democracy. |