Stockholm selected for international Bloomberg Philanthropies Innovation Team program

Today, Mayor Karin Wanngård announced the launch of a new innovation team – known as an i-team – that will focus on solving two concrete challenges: boosting food resilience and combatting illegal waste dumping. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the four-person i-team will be made up of experts in key disciplines and will work to develop and implement solutions that put residents at the centre.

Led by the City Executive Office in collaboration with Stockholm Royal Seaport, Sweden’s largest urban development area and a testbed for innovative solutions, and the municipal company Stockholm Water and Waste, the i-team will contribute specialised expertise in service design, data analytics, behavioural science, prototyping, and project management. The team will work closely with city departments, municipal companies, and external partners. It will also benefit from the support of both regional and global experts and draw on the experiences of cities around the world.

The team will focus on two specific challenges: Developing urban farming and identifying new ways to strengthen local food security as part of Stockholm’s resilience in an increasingly uncertain world; and reducing widespread illegal dumping and littering at recycling stations – a problem that creates insecurity and undermines public trust in local government.

“For Stockholm to continue growing sustainably and delivering high-quality public services, we need new thinking and innovation. That’s why I’m honored Stockholm was chosen – and benefit from – Bloomberg Philanthropies’ international innovation team programme. By testing new ideas and ways of working, we not only strengthen our ability to solve today’s challenges but also build long-term innovation capacity,” said Mayor Karin Wanngård.

More and more pressing societal issues are now handled at the local level, from infrastructure to crisis preparedness. To meet growing demands, cities need the right tools, skills, and the ability to work across organizational boundaries. This calls for data-driven approaches, new technology, and a focus on resident needs in both decision-making and implementation.

In Europe, this is particularly acute:  more than 60 percent of mayors surveyed by Eurocities report that capacity to implement cutting-edge solutions is a top strategy to achieve their priorities – though  most lack what they need to solve challenges currently at hand. The  Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team program, part of the organization’s  Government Innovation portfolio, provides municipalities funding and expertise to establish a multidisciplinary, mission-minded unit that meets this need.

“Realizing efficient, effective government is an inside job – and the Innovation Teams we support around the world are critical to building that engine within the city halls they serve,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation programme at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “We are glad to expand this model to 19 new municipal teams in Europe, who will join the growing number of public officials working locally, creatively, and ambitiously to break down silos, break through problems, and deliver results residents see and feel.”

To date, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ i-teams initiative has reached more than 100 cities in 16 countries on four continents – impacting over 100 million residents – and has inspired hundreds more cities to adopt new innovation systems and practices.

Stockholm is one of 19 new European cities selected for the initiative, spanning eight countries and home to a combined population of 34 million. The new i-teams will focus on issues such as disaster preparedness, youth poverty, and lowering household energy costs. The participating cities are: Brussels, Belgium; Zagreb, Croatia; Helsinki, Finland; Turku, Finland; Vantaa, Finland; Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; Leipzig, Germany; Mannheim, Germany; Oslo, Norway; Madrid, Spain; Valencia, Spain; Zaragoza, Spain; Stockholm, Sweden; Edinburgh, UK; North East Combined Authority, UK; Liverpool City Region, UK; Greater Manchester Combined Authority, UK; South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, UK; and Greater London Authority, UK.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion.

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