Manchester joins Horizon CommuniCity Project

Manchester has become the first UK city outside of London to join the European Union’s CommuniCity initiative, a programme designed to empower local people and organisations in developing innovative solutions to social challenges. As the second UK city to participate (following London), Manchester is now part of this three-year initiative led by Horizon Europe, the EU’s primary funding programme for research and innovation. CommuniCity seeks to engage communities, businesses, and organisations to create technical solutions that address social inequalities.

In the latest phase of the initiative, known as the third Open Call, 60 pilot projects will be launched across Europe, focusing on bridging social divides and uplifting underserved communities. Manchester joins Partner Cities such as Amsterdam, Helsinki, and Porto, as well as 14 other European cities and NGOs, known as Replicator Cities, in presenting challenges to tackle local issues.

CommuniCity fosters collaboration between public services, businesses, and community groups, encouraging the development of inclusive, scalable solutions that can be applied throughout Europe. In line with this, Manchester has introduced three local challenges aimed at addressing inequalities faced by underrepresented groups. These challenges, developed with input from the city’s Anti-Poverty and Cultural Strategy teams, focus on promoting cultural activities within minoritised communities and creating a unified source of information for anti-poverty support.

In addition, Manchester’s Digital Strategy team is launching a broader challenge, inviting tech companies to collaborate with community organisations to explore how technology can help solve a range of social challenges.

This partnership with CommuniCity is part of Manchester’s broader Digital Strategy, which prioritises human-centred approaches to technology, ensuring equitable access and inclusive solutions for all residents. By encouraging collaboration between the city’s residents and its growing tech sector, the strategy aims to harness technology to address the needs of all Manchester citizens.

Applications for the Open Call are being accepted from 10 September to 31 October 2024. Winning teams will be announced in December, with the pilot phase concluding by May 2025. Successful proposals could receive grants of up to €12,500 to bring their ideas to life and make a meaningful impact in their communities.