City Challenge Berlin 2026 – apply by 24 May!

It’s that time again. The City Challenge Berlin is entering its second round: following last year’s successful launch, Berlin has now relaunched the competition. We are looking for specific solutions to two current challenges facing Berlin’s public administration: ‘intelligent voice assistance’ and ‘smart roadworks information’. The challenge is being initiated and implemented by the Smart City Unit of Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH in close cooperation with the Berlin Senate Chancellery.

Berlin’s administration is set to become more modern, efficient and citizen-focused – and thus fit for the future. The aim of the City Challenge Berlin innovation competition is to develop and test digital solutions for various administrative departments in collaboration with start-ups, innovative SMEs and scientific and research institutions. Above all, the competition aims to strengthen the dialogue between the administration and the city’s citizens and to increase the efficiency and user-friendliness of administrative processes.

Seeking solutions in two categories

Both challenges focus on challenges Berlin’s administration is currently facing.

• City Challenge 1: Intelligent voice assistance for real-time translation and transcription for the administration. 
  Administrative authority: Reinickendorf District Office of Berlin – Department of Social Affairs and Health – Office for Social Affairs & Control Services.
   
• City Challenge 2: Smart roadworks information to reduce traffic congestion (AI-based conversion of PDF traffic sign plans into a machine-readable format).
  Administrative authority: Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment, Transport Division.

A two-stage application process

The application and selection process for the City Challenge Berlin 2026 is designed in two stages.

Stage 1: Start-ups, SMEs and academic and research institutions can submit their ideas for one of the two challenges.

The deadline for applications is 24 May 2026. (German only)

A jury will then select the three best proposals for each challenge. The selected teams will each receive €1,000 to further develop their concept. The six nominees will be announced in mid-June 2026.

Stage 2: The nominated teams will further refine their proposals and submit them in the subsequent competition process, anticipated to be completed by the end of July.

The two winning solutions will then be announced in late August/early September. The Senate Chancellery will provide €24,999 for the implementation of each pilot project. The winning teams will implement the two projects in collaboration with the relevant administrative body that set the challenge. (vdo)