Shanghai awarded WIPO's inaugural 'City of Innovation' honor

Shanghai has been awarded the "City of Innovation" by the World Intellectual Property Organization for its dedication to integrating technology and creativity and enhancing IP public services.

WIPO hosted the first-ever "City of Innovation" ceremony during the sixth United Nations Forum of Mayors in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. Alongside Shanghai, Charleroi in Belgium and Liverpool in the United Kingdom were also recognized as inaugural recipients of this honor.

Introduced in 2026 by WIPO, this award celebrates cities not for their past achievements, but for their ambitious commitments to fostering innovation and creativity in the upcoming year.

WIPO highlighted Shanghai's ambitious development vision, which includes a commitment to deeply integrating technology, innovation, and creativity. The Chinese city has actively expanded its IP public services, shared its innovation infrastructure, improved collaboration among various innovation entities, and created opportunities for cultural and creative industries.

According to the WIPO website, the award is open to cities in all 194 WIPO member states. Its purpose is to recognize the efforts of mayors and city leaders who strive to drive change in their cities, encouraging innovation, unlocking citizens' creative potential, and inspiring other municipalities to follow suit.

The award also aims to spotlight cities that serve as beacons of innovation and creativity. It acknowledges everyone involved, whether it's a mayor championing the city's creative future, or an innovator, startup, artist, or community organization ready to collaborate with city leaders and inspire participation.

Cities of all sizes worldwide submitted inspiring visions and bold pledges. A total of 15 cities were selected as finalists, each presenting its unique vision and ideas for bringing people together to unlock their community's innovative and creative potential.