On the evening of 12 November, Vienna, along with four other cities around the world, received the 5th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (“Guangzhou Award”) at the award ceremony at Yuexiu International Convention Centre in Guangzhou. The Guangzhou Award is co-sponsored by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis), and the City of Guangzhou. It aims to recognize innovation in improving social, economic and environmental sustainability in cities and regions and to advance the prosperity and quality of life of their citizens.
After the official launch of the 5th Guangzhou Award in 2019, 273 project applications were received from 175 cities in 60 countries and regions. The winning projects were selected based on seven criteria: innovation, participation, impact, significance, replicability, learnability and inclusiveness.
This is the second time that Vienna received this award after the first winning at the Guangzhou Award’s first edition in 2012. While in 2012, Vienna won the award for its Integration of New Migrants Scheme, this year, the city was awarded for its innovative and visionary project “Werkstadt Junges Wien”. “Werkstadt Junges Wien” aims for a more structural, long-term and large-scale approach to put social inclusion of all children and young people living and growing up in Vienna at the heart of policy-making and city administration. The overall goal is to make Vienna the most child- and youth-friendly city in the world.
ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Guangzhou had the honour to represent the City of Vienna and received the award on Vienna’s behalf from Mr. Shi Qizhu, the Director of the Standing Committee of Municipal People’s Congress of Guangzhou.
