2024-05-04T14:01:47-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/109659675/barcelona-wins-grand-prize-in-bloomberg-philanthropies-mayors-challenge-for-europe Justine Testado 2014-09-23T21:32:00-04:00 >2016-12-01T18:18:52-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/h0/h06qi83l4dfs7qjq.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Michael Bloomberg's Bloomberg Philanthropies revealed the winners of its first European edition of the Mayors Challenge. More than 150 top cities from 28 European nations entered the competition, which asked participants to send their most innovative ideas that address Europe's timely pressing issues like unemployment, energy efficiency, obesity, aging, and improving government efficiency.</p></em><br /><br /><p>Barcelona took the Grand Prize for Innovation and &euro;5 million to help implement their proposal,&nbsp;<strong>Collaborative Care Networks for Better Aging,</strong> a digital and community "trust network" for each of its at-risk elderly residents.</p><p>Innovation prizes of &euro;1 million were also given to the following cities:</p><ul><li><strong>Athens, Greece</strong>: Synathina, a Public Platform for Engaged Citizens</li><li><strong>Kirklees, in Yorkshire, United Kingdom</strong>: Kirklees Shares</li><li><strong>Stockholm, Sweden</strong>:<strong> </strong>Biochar - for a Better City Ecosystem</li><li><strong>Warsaw, Poland</strong>: Virtual Warsaw - Urban Information System for the Visually Impaired</li></ul><p>In addition to prize money, each winning city will receive technical assistance, expert coaching, and a trophy specially designed by renowned artist <a href="http://archinect.com/firms/cover/72244607/studio-olafur-eliasson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Olafur Eliasson</a>.</p><p>Michael Bloomberg congratulated Barcelona via a surprise phone call from Paris in the video below.</p><p>Learn more about the winning ideas on <a href="http://www.bustler.net/index.php/article/barcelona_wins_grand_prize_in_bloomberg_philanthropies_mayors_challenge_for/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bustler</a>.</p>