Pioneering the Unexplored: Tampere’s Hands-On Approach to the Citiverse

Imagine always having a clever but invisible assistant by your side. It would understand your daily needs and make your life smoother with its services. At times, it would surprise you with experiences that elevate you beyond the everyday routine. In many ways, this is already a reality. Various smart services are making our daily lives easier.

We have been living in a world where everyday tasks are handled digitally for quite some time now. Public transportation tickets are now conveniently in mobile apps, and we effortlessly place various orders on our phones anytime. For many, the phone has become a handy everyday payment method—no more worries if you forget your wallet at home.

Digital transformation is about solutions that make life easier, seamlessly blending into our daily routines. We don’t see them as ‘digital’—we simply see them as working.

At the same time, we struggle with customer service robots that ask all the wrong questions, apps that crash at the worst possible moment, or those unresponsive touchscreens. While we are still learning to navigate this environment and exploring the potential of AI, technological advancements continue to unlock new possibilities. The Citiverse represents the next step in smart urban development—one we are already moving toward.

Aiming to discover new ways for cities to support both everyday life and the major challenges they face

The European Union uses the term Citiverse instead of Metaverse to emphasise human-centricity and the strong role and responsibility of cities in this evolution. In the Citiverse, the virtual and physical worlds merge, creating new opportunities for interaction, business, and innovation.

Like digital transformation, the Citiverse is not some mysterious concept. Even today, Tampere’s Smart City data platform, an IoT-driven system, supports services like Tampere Pulse, which predicts people flows for citizens and businesses. Similarly, road maintenance planning benefits from sensors embedded in street surfaces. In both examples, data from the physical world is transformed into better services through digital solutions.

This is exactly what we are doing with Imagine the Citiverse . We aim to discover new ways for cities to support both everyday life and the major challenges they face. As the host city, we invite city officials, the most innovative companies, startups, and investors from around the world to Tampere to join us on this shared journey of exploration.

Pioneering the Citiverse: Tampere’s Collaborative Journey

Smart City solutions can sometimes sound like a niche topic reserved for experts, wrapped in technical jargon. But in reality, it’s about making everyday life smoother—using new technologies to solve challenges in ways that were never possible before.

Beyond efficiency and sustainability, the Citiverse is also about creating a more vibrant, engaging, and inspiring urban environment. For the experience economy, it unlocks new layers and opportunities previously unimaginable. We are already piloting projects that combine cultural experiences with augmented reality, and next year, we will launch exciting new experiments in collaboration with European partner cities. Collaborating and learning with other cities, companies, and educational institutions is a distinctly Tampere way of working—that’s exactly why we are organizing IMAGINE the Citiverse.

IMAGINE-event is also an opportunity to Explore the City of Action

Coming from elsewhere myself, I can easily see what makes Tampere so captivating. It’s a city of contrasts—yet in sweet harmony. Here, the old and the new, the big and the small, coexist. With its flowing rapids, rich history, and bold modern development, it’s no surprise that Tampere has been consistently ranked as Finland’s most attractive city. Tampere welcomes everyone—passersby, visitors, and new residents alike.

IMAGINE the Citiverse is also a great opportunity for our guests to experience what Tampere is all about. And I promise—when you step into the Expo Hall, you’ll get a real sense of the Tampere’s culture of action and collaboration.

Pioneering the Citiverse means exploring the unknown—there is no predefined blueprint for what it will become. As 2024 IMAGINE keynote speaker Eva Weston put it, the Citiverse will be exactly what we make of it. In the end, it all comes down to how we, as people, choose to use technology. Welcome to imagine together to a city of innovation, great food, and friendly people.

Call out to Companies! ??

Nine cities. Nine challenges. Your solution.

The IMAGINE 2025 Challenge invites companies to pitch innovative solutions for real-world urban challenges presented by cities such as Rotterdam, Phoenix, Genova, London, Istanbul, Valencia and more.

By participating, you will have the chance to:

• Present your solution directly to city officials, investors, and industry leaders.
• Collaborate with a city on a real-world implementation of your solution.
• Gain exposure through high-profile events and media features.

Want to know more about the City Challenges and submit your solution to address them? Visit the application page and dive into the IMAGINE the Citiverse challenges 2025.