HORIZON-EIC-2023-iCapitalPrize - The European Capital of Innovation Awards
EU Prizes: Application form (prizes) The European Capital of Innovation Awards: V1.0 – 08.03.2023
will involve creating synergies with and between existing local and European climate initiatives and stakeholders such as the Covenant of Mayors, the EIT and its relevant KICs, the Green City Accord, the European Green Capital Cities, the SET-plan and the 100 PEDs initiative, the EIP-SCC and the lighthouse projects, CIVITAS.
C ork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2023-2029
The LECP is a six-year, statutory plan that sets out the objectives and actions needed to promote the community and economic development of Cork C ity’s neighbo urhoods and communities. Connecting Industry, Academia, and Sector Stakeholders. As part of developing the plan, Cork City Council conducted an extensive consultation phase over 12 weeks. The Consultation sought to be as inclusive as possible and Cork City Council engaged with University College Cork’s Civic Engag ement Unit to hold a
series of City Labs which engaged with the public, community and inter-agency groups, economic stakeholders, senior Cork City Council staff and local councillors. There was also a special focus on reaching the seldom heard and bespoke workshops helped to ‘meet people where they’re at’. Marginalised groups such as people with disabilities, single parents and young people were all involved in co-creating workshops that fit their needs. There was also the option of completing online submissions and a survey. Over 2000 people attended the City Labs and over 700 online submissions were received. Due to the success and inclusive nature of the consultation Cork City Council LECP consultation will be used as a case study to highlight best practices by Pobal. Pobal works on behalf of the Irish Government to support communities and local agencies toward achieving social inclusion and development. The case study from Cork City Council will appear alongside those of the four Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) involved in the Dormant Accounts Fund Engagement Project as pilot projects funded to undertake extensive, meaningful engagement with groups seldom heard as part of their LECP development process. Other case studies will feature good examples from local authority areas and beyond of good practice in inclusive community engagement.
City Wide Collaboration
Cork City is home to several industry representative groups which connect industry leaders to drive collaboration and innovation.
Energy Cork Cluster
T he Energy Cork industry cluster was established in 2012 as an innovative industry-led cluster for the energy sector to serve Cork City and the wider Cork region. The Cluster remains the most significant energy and climate action- orientated industry cluster in Ireland. Energy Cork is funded in large part through support from Cork City Council’s and Cork County Council’s respective Economic Development Funds. Cork City’s commitment to promoting cooperation, innovation and effective eco-system building through support for Energy Cork has led to its growth to over 95 member companies employing 5,000 people in the Cork Region.
Energy Cork was designed to ensure that its strategic direction is industry-led and focused on the needs of members, while also contributing to Cork City’s innovative vision for cooperation between the public sector, industry, academia, and communities. This has been particularly the case in Energy Cork’s climate action initiatives which support the ambitions of Cork City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels. Cork City’s recent designation as one of the EU’s first 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 adds a new sense of urgency to this ongoing cooperation between industry and local authorities. Energy Cork is governed by a 24-person Steering Group drawn from industry (including SMEs), research, academia, national government bodies and local authorities. The Cluster delivers a range of networking and informative events throughout the year, in addition to sector-specific initiatives addressing areas of interest for the Cork Region e.g., sustainable transport, green hydrogen, offshore renewables, community energy and home energy upgrades. From its beginning, the Cluster has been a vehicle for innovation and creativity in enabling the energy sector and the Cork Region, which is Ireland’s Energy Hub, to address the challenge of climate action.
SME Energy Champion
Energy Cork, the industry cluster for the energy sector in the Cork Region, has developed and
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