Helsingborg’s H22: Celebrating ideas for the future

Digital TransformationInnovationNewsTop stories

H22 City Expo is an international event that will take place in the Swedish city of Helsingborg in the summer of 2022. During this time, world-class innovative solutions will be showcased in this charming city which is also Sweden’s closest point to neighbouring Denmark.

At the same time, the initiative known as H22 is much more than just an exhibition. It is a series of significant events through which Helsingborg and Sweden are investigating ways to become smarter and more sustainable in order to improve the quality of life for all of their residents. So, how did this exciting journey begin, and why is Helsingborg this year one of the most important places on the European innovations map?

Two years ago, Helsingborg came in the second place at the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2020. This award is given to the European city that best demonstrates its ability to use innovation to improve the lives of its residents. It specifically recognizes cities that contribute to open and dynamic innovation ecosystems, involve residents in governance and decision-making, and use innovation to improve the resiliency and sustainability of their cities.

Essentially, H22 consists of two majors parts. On one hand, it is an initiative that focuses on the journey towards becoming a smarter and more sustainable city. The second part of the project is the H22 City Expo event that will last run from 30 May until 3 July 2022. Oceanhamnen, Drottninghög, and SeaU will be the focal points of the H22 City Expo. Furthermore, the event will also be partially held in the downtown area in central Helsingborg, as well as at several selected locations throughout the city and region.

The people of Helsingborg are the focus of H22 and H22 City Expo. The main goal of this project is to shine more light on future solutions in urban development, as well as to showcase how innovation can help cities in their efforts to improve the quality of life of their residents. That is why H22 is set to be a collaborative space for co-creation, networking, and sharing. Aiming for a more sustainable future, Helsingborg is determined to adopt positive practices from other cities, while at the same time promoting the brightest examples from its own innovations journey. This fascinating exchange and knowledge exchange will take place in Helsingborg, and will undoubtedly benefit all the residents of this Swedish city.

Three central topics of the upcoming event will be innovative welfare and urban development, improving quality of life, and reinventing city governance. The first topic primarily highlights innovation as a way to tackle future urban challenges our urban societies are faced with. Particularly, collaborations between different key actors are essential in this regard. The second theme deals with the new challenges that need to be tackled in order to make sure that cities can maintain a high quality of life. Reinventing city governance is concerned with the leadership required for cities to thrive during rapidly changing circumstances. 

According to the H22 official website, when it comes to promoting the development of cities, major organisations such as the United Nations have traditionally only worked with actors at the state level. More recently, local representatives have taken a more active role in this process. However, H22 wishes to go even further and become a unique platform where local leadership can be discussed. (photo credit: rawpixel/Freepik)