INTERNATIONAL
CALENDAR

         

The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (the Guangzhou Award) is co-sponsored by the 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, in so doing, to advance the prosperity and quality of life of their citizens.

The Guangzhou Award, presented biennially, is open to all cities and local governments with successful initiatives in urban innovation. The initiative that is entered for the Guangzhou Award should be an ongoing or recently completed (within the past two years) project, measure or policy that produces practical effect or substantial influence, boasting originality, exemplariness and transferability.

The assessment of each cycle’s Guangzhou Award is conducted by international experts independently. The Technical Committee selects up to 15 shortlisted cities and no more than 30 deserving cities from approved applications. From the shortlist, the Jury makes a final selection of up to five award winning cities.

Since 2012, four cycles of the Guangzhou Award have been held, each of which receives initiatives from more than 150 cities of over 50 countries and regions. The 5th Guangzhou Award has received 273 project applications from 175 cities in 60 countries.

The award ceremony of the 5th Guangzhou Award, to take place in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the 13th Metropolis World Congress, will be the last major event of the 2021 Global Mayors’ Forum Event Series. During the award ceremony, five Winning Cities, one Online Popular City, and ten winners of the Medal of Honor of the 5th Guangzhou Award will be announced and awarded in grand fashion. At the end of the ceremony, a closing speech will be delivered by Wen Guohui, President of Metropolis and Mayor of Guangzhou, which marks the conclusion of the 13th Metropolis World Congress.

Live performances featuring Chinese and foreign folk musical instruments, Cantonese opera, children's chorus, Ballet on Shoulder, modern song and dance among others, will be given throughout the ceremony. With profound Chinese and traditional Cantonese characteristics and international cultural styles, these performances aim at conveying positive messages for global cities to strengthen solidarity, enhance partnerships, and collaboratively promote the modernization of global urban governance. The event will be broadcast live online through the Forum’s conference platform.

You can download the PDF here

Click here to go to the official website of the congress