Key Takeaways
- Tampere invites citizens to co-design digital services, building on its smart city foundation.
- The city emphasizes citizen feedback to enhance local digital experiences and tools.
- Innovations include partnerships with tech giants and initiatives like AI-driven visitor flow forecasting.
Tampere, a Finnish city recognized for its advancements in smart city initiatives, is engaging its residents to shape the future of digital services. Established as a leading testbed in Europe, Tampere has showcased innovations in connectivity and AI, notably making Finland’s first 5G call in 2018 and launching a comprehensive city-wide data strategy. The city is now soliciting public input through an open survey aimed at understanding residents’ experiences with digital tools and their preferences for future services.
Maria Nikkilä, Executive Director of Digitalisation and ICT, highlighted the importance of gathering citizens’ ideas at this juncture. After years of technology investments and accolades through the Smart City for Citizens program, she noted, “It’s the right moment to listen to residents’ ideas for the next phase. Their feedback will provide valuable insights into how people experience digitalisation.” Jaakko Mustakallio, the Deputy Mayor, echoed this sentiment, stating that engaging with the community is essential to ensure the benefits of digital advancements are meaningful and impactful in everyday life.
The outreach initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance Tampere’s innovation ecosystem. Collaborations with Nokia and Qualcomm are propelling advancements in 5G+ and extended reality (XR), while partnerships with Tampere University and Microsoft are delving into metaverse research and next-generation connectivity. The city’s Data-Driven City for Citizens program, under Nikkilä’s leadership, has paved the way for a “data economy” with ethical AI practices and adaptive, proactive digital services that cater to residents’ needs.
Notable developments include Tampereen Pulssi, an AI-driven tool that forecasts visitor flows in the city center, and the Tampere.Finland app, which offers real-time information about the city. Additionally, to make these innovative concepts more approachable, Tampere has rolled out a children’s video series called “Petra and Tamu Investigates.” Outi Valkama, Programme Manager for the city, explained that this series aims to clarify complex technological concepts, stating, “Smart city solutions can sound distant, but they’re really just about everyday services that make life easier.” The series seeks to help residents envision how smart city development could enhance their lives.
The content above is a summary. For more details, see the source article.
