Finalists Named In Bloomberg European City Contest

Amsterdam wants to create an online game to get unemployed young people engaged in finding jobs across Europe. Schaerbeek, Belgium, envisions using geothermal mapping to give households personalized rundowns of steps to save energy. Gdansk, Poland, is proposing to require officials to debate ideas from citizens.

The cities are among 21 finalists vying for millions of euros in a new government-innovation contest devised by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The finalists come from 11 countries and include sprawling capitals and modest-sized cities.

Asked for projects that could solve major social or economic problems or make government more effective, the cities “stepped up with bold and creative ideas,” Bloomberg said in a statement. After the finalists hone their proposals, winners of a 5 million euro — nearly $7 million — grand prize and four 1 million euro awards will be announced in the fall.

Modeled on a competition that Bloomberg Philanthropies held for U.S. cities last year, the European contest was open to cities of 100,000 or more residents and drew 155 entries.

Several European finalists looked to technology: auditory alerts to help the blind get around Warsaw, Poland; new systems for Londoners to monitor their health; and methods for making energy out of the heat thrown off by Madrid’s underground.

Other proposals are more interpersonal. Barcelona aims to make aging less lonely the old-fashioned way: through relatives, friends, social workers and volunteers. Sofia, Bulgaria, suggests mobile art units in public spaces.

This article appeared in print on page 12 of the April 24th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.