NEWS

Over the past year, the WeGenerate demonstration in Tampere has demonstrated how digital innovation and citizen participation can work hand in hand to shape more walkable, inclusive and sustainable urban environments. Building on the city's Urban WeGeneration Action Plan, implementation has focused on developing advanced digital tools while engaging residents of all ages in the design and experience of public spaces.

 

One of the year's most significant achievements was international recognition for Tampere's leadership in data-driven urban development. In June 2025, the city won the Mobile World Capital Barcelona Award in the Public Organisations category for its Data-Driven City for Citizens initiative. The award recognised Tampere's human-centred approach to digital innovation, highlighting the city's use of digital twins, real-time data and citizen participation to improve urban planning and governance.

 

At the heart of this work is the Station Area Digital Twin, which continues to evolve as both a planning tool and a platform for public engagement. During this period, the digital twin was enhanced through the integration of sensor data, artificial intelligence and smart object simulations, enabling the modelling of pedestrian flows, accessibility and future development scenarios. These capabilities support evidence-based decision-making while helping city planners better understand how regeneration projects affect residents, businesses and everyday mobility.

 

Citizen participation has remained central to the Tampere demonstration. In November 2025, dedicated Digital Twin workshops brought together older residents to explore future plans for the station area through immersive visualisations. Participants shared valuable insights on accessibility, safety, greenery, wayfinding and the overall experience of public spaces, helping ensure that future developments better reflect the needs of an ageing population.

 

Creative urban interventions have complemented these digital engagement activities. During the Tampere Festival of Light, the interactive Chatty Parrots installation invited people to experience and discuss public space through playful interaction, while the Night Bugs installation transformed children's drawings into illuminated artworks that made the city centre more welcoming during the winter months. Together, these temporary interventions encouraged residents to reflect on safety, walkability and the role of creativity in urban life, while demonstrating how cultural activities can support participatory city-making.

 

Knowledge sharing has also been an important part of Tampere's contribution to WeGenerate. In September 2025, the city hosted representatives from the five WeGenerate Fellow Cities for a two-day study visit and Digital Twin training programme. Through expert presentations, site visits, practical demonstrations and interactive workshops, participants explored how digital twins can support urban regeneration, citizen engagement and data-driven decision-making, strengthening the capacity of cities across Europe to adopt similar approaches.

 

The city has also explored new ways of encouraging sustainable mobility through collaboration with universities. As part of the Health Innovation Challenge linked to European Mobility Week, multidisciplinary student teams worked with senior citizens to develop ideas that could improve walkability, accessibility and independent mobility, reinforcing the project's people-centred approach to urban innovation.

 

While work continues on the next generation of the Station Area Digital Twin, including new tools to simulate pedestrian movement and mobility-related CO₂ emissions, the achievements of the past year already demonstrate the value of combining advanced digital technologies with active citizen participation. By integrating data, creativity and co-creation, Tampere is helping define new approaches to building more liveable, resilient and climate-neutral cities.