InnovaCities 2025 is a premier global event aimed at showcasing, promoting, and celebrating innovative solutions that address pressing urban challenges. Hosted in São Paulo, Brazil, this international innovation fair invites inventors, researchers, startups, academic institutions, businesses, and public-sector organizations to present forward-thinking solutions tailored to building smarter, more sustainable, and resilient cities.
This year’s theme, “Innovation for Sustainable Cities,” reflects the growing global demand for integrated urban strategies that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As cities around the world grapple with rising populations, climate change, mobility challenges, housing crises, and technological gaps, InnovaCities serves as a critical platform for sharing scalable, real-world solutions. Participants at InnovaCities 2025 will exhibit technologies and projects that span multiple sectors, including renewable energy, environmental protection, smart mobility, water management, public health, education, safety, and inclusive digital services. The fair acts as a powerful conduit between innovative minds and the institutions that can help bring their ideas to life—governments, investors, development agencies, and global networks.
The event combines physical exhibitions, live demonstrations, expert panels, and digital showcases, making it an engaging and multidimensional experience. A unique element of InnovaCities is its emphasis on impact-driven innovation. It’s not enough for projects to be new—they must also be practical, inclusive, and capable of transforming lives in urban contexts.
Open to participants worldwide, including youth innovators and underrepresented communities, InnovaCities 2025 provides a level playing field for new ideas to gain visibility, credibility, and support. This commitment to inclusivity ensures that solutions from across the Global South, including Africa, are celebrated on a global stage. Participants will benefit from international networking, media exposure, and the chance to compete for prestigious prizes. Projects are evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury composed of engineers, city planners, innovation experts, and sustainability advocates, ensuring that entries are judged fairly based on creativity, feasibility, impact, and alignment with sustainability goals.
In addition to the main exhibition, InnovaCities 2025 includes thematic sessions, workshops, matchmaking forums, and policy roundtables. These engagements will focus on the future of cities and the essential role of grassroots innovation in shaping global urban development. Young inventors, academic research teams, civic technologists, and green entrepreneurs are all strongly encouraged to apply.
This is a rare opportunity for participants to connect with stakeholders from every continent, present their work to a live audience, and leave with meaningful feedback, funding prospects, and awards that elevate their professional and organizational reputation.
Whether you’re rethinking public transportation systems or inventing sustainable building materials, InnovaCities 2025 is the space to grow your idea, find partners, and contribute to shaping the cities of tomorrow.
Open to individuals, startups, universities, companies, government agencies, research institutions, and NGOs.
Must present an original invention, prototype, system, or project related to urban innovation.
Projects must align with one or more of the following themes: urban sustainability, clean energy, digital transformation, mobility, infrastructure, education, or public health.
All nationalities are eligible, including Nigerian applicants.
Entries can be submitted in English or Portuguese.
Applicants must complete the official application form and include visuals (photos, videos, schematics) where possible.
Teams or group submissions are allowed.
Prize
Selected participants are eligible for multiple awards, including:
IFIA Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals
Special Recognition Awards from partnering institutions
Certificates of Innovation Excellence
Media coverage and publication opportunities
Opportunity for project incubation or investor connection
Winners gain access to global recognition, making their work more attractive to funders and collaborators.
All participants receive a certificate of participation and have their projects evaluated by a high-level international jury.
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