Public Administration

Winner

Municipality of Sibiu – Cibin River Active Mobility Corridor

  • Company / Institution / Association: Municipality of Sibiu
  • Town: Sibiu
  • www.sibiu.ro

Sibiu has transformed the banks of the Cibin River into one of Romania’s most successful green mobility corridors. The city created 3.6 km of high‑quality cycling infrastructure along the river, complemented by urban landscaping, biodiversity enhancements, rest areas, and waterfront public spaces. Digital counters recorded more than 815,000 cyclist passages since 2023, proving strong and growing usage.

Following the success of the initial investment (11.4 million EUR, mostly EU funds), Sibiu secured an additional 13.3 million EUR to extend the route by 3.1 km upstream and downstream. Once completed, the river corridor will connect neighborhoods, encourage active transport, reduce congestion, and anchor a larger citywide rethinking of sustainable mobility.

Finalist

Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB)

  • Company / Institution / Association: Technical University of Civil Engineering
  • Town: Bucharest
  • www.utcb.ro/en/

UTCB addresses one of the most overlooked yet critical components of urban sustainability: the underground sewer infrastructure. Much of Bucharest’s sewer network is over 100 years old, making it vulnerable to corrosion caused by anaerobic conditions and hydrogen sulfide.

Their innovative research‑driven project introduces a dual method to slow and prevent concrete degradation: controlled oxygenation of wastewater flows and testing epoxy‑coated concrete coupons in real‑world sewer conditions. By understanding pH variations and corrosion patterns, UTCB proposes solutions that could dramatically reduce the risk of catastrophic failures, save hundreds of millions in emergency repairs, and extend the life of essential urban infrastructure.

Finalist

Cluj County Council – Waste‑to‑Energy Facility

  • Company / Institution / Association: Cluj County Council
  • Town: Cluj-Napoca
  • www.cjcluj.ro

Cluj County is pioneering Romania’s first large‑scale waste‑to‑energy project using molecular disintegration technology to transform non‑recyclable waste into green electricity. The fully automated system processes roughly 25,000 tons of residual waste annually, generating around 18,240 MWh of energy — enough to significantly reduce county‑level expenditure and support key public institutions, including Cluj Arena.

By cutting landfill use, lowering emissions, and providing a model aligned with EU circular economy goals, the project positions Cluj as a national leader in innovative environmental management. The county expects annual savings of approximately 25 million RON, proving that sustainable waste solutions can deliver both ecological and economic value.

Business Environement

Winner

Routemix

Routemix addresses one of the most persistent problems in urban mobility: fragmentation. Instead of forcing citizens to use separate apps for taxis, public transport, micromobility and intercity connections, Routemix unifies everything into an AI‑powered smart mobility assistant.

The platform integrates planning, booking, payments, and real‑time data, helping reduce congestion, emissions, and inefficiencies while enhancing accessibility for all types of users — commuters, tourists, businesses, and city administrations. With partnerships already established with municipalities and taxi operators, Routemix is positioned to become a core tool for cities aiming to modernize mobility management and adopt greener transport strategies.

Finalist

SPEEDWELL – TINO Urban Regeneration Project

TINO is SPEEDWELL’s flagship regeneration initiative in Brașov, transforming a fragmented former industrial site in the Avram Iancu area into a vibrant, walkable, and community‑oriented district. The project introduces over 400 residential units, 5,700 sqm of retail, educational and community functions, and extensive green public spaces designed for active mobility.

A defining feature of TINO is the preservation and revitalization of several historic street‑front buildings of heritage value, which are integrated into the new urban fabric. Cars are moved underground to create a pedestrian‑first environment that encourages social interaction and ecological resilience. Currently in the permitting stage, TINO builds on SPEEDWELL’s strong national expertise in sustainable large‑scale urban transformation, promising to deliver long‑term social, economic, and environmental benefits to Brașov’s residents.

Finalist

BraveX Aero

BraveX Aero is a Romanian drone technology company developing advanced fixed‑wing VTOL UAV systems designed for high‑endurance missions that directly support smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities. With autonomous electric drones capable of up to four hours of flight and ranges reaching 250 km, the company provides aerial intelligence for urban traffic monitoring, emergency response, infrastructure inspection, environmental observation, and peri‑urban logistics. Their five‑model fleet integrates GPS, RTK, autopilot, and IMU navigation systems, ensuring precise operation even in challenging weather conditions.

By joining Cities of Tomorrow, BraveX Aero aims to deploy its UAV ecosystem in smart city pilot zones, enabling real‑time data collection, faster incident response, reduced emissions through fully electric operation, and better urban decision‑making supported by advanced aerial analytics.

Civil Society

Winner

ÎntreVecini – Dear Neighbour

ÎntreVecini is a civic initiative that turns apartment buildings and neighborhoods into resilient, participatory communities. Over just two years, more than 10,000 neighbors across 31 localities developed 259 local improvement projects in partnership with 290 organizations.

The initiative provides micro‑grants, mentorship, and training for residents to co‑design green spaces, cultural programs, energy‑efficiency upgrades, wellbeing initiatives, educational activities, and social inclusion programs. Their vision is bold: by 2030, 20% of Romania’s population should be actively engaged in empowered neighborhood communities. ÎntreVecini demonstrates how grassroots civic energy can reshape urban life and drive long‑term local resilience.

Finalist

Timișoara Community Foundation – RO Bike Valley

  • Company / Institution / Association: Timișoara Community Foundation
  • Town: Timișoara
  • www.robikevalley.ro

RO Bike Valley is a transformative regional program developed in partnership with Decathlon Romania. It addresses the low uptake of cycling in the western region of Romania by investing in infrastructure, education, safety, and community engagement across four counties: Timiș, Arad, Caraș‑Severin, and Hunedoara.

The initiative advances cycling as a sustainable transport option, improves community health, and builds a culture of active mobility. Through events, training, infrastructure pilots, and cross‑county collaborations, RO Bike Valley has become a benchmark for regional mobility transformation in Romania.

Finalist

Ateliere Fără Frontiere

Ateliere Fără Frontiere (AFF) is a social enterprise dedicated to ensuring an inclusive and just transition toward greener, digitalized cities. Their circular‑economy‑based model includes refurbishing electronic devices, upcycling advertising banners, and producing healthy food through peri‑urban agriculture — all while offering employment and reintegration opportunities to people facing major barriers on the labor market.

AFF’s work demonstrates that the city of tomorrow must place its most vulnerable residents at the center of development. Through partnerships with corporations, authorities and NGOs, they create scalable, community‑focused solutions that promote social cohesion, professional reintegration, and circular resource use.