The “citiverse” is emerging, representing a future where cities blend digital and physical realms for an enriched urban experience. Imagine the Citiverse 2025, hosted in Tampere, Finland, on May 27-28, 2025, is where these visions will be explored and built. This event signifies a leap beyond current “smart city” concepts, aiming for a deeper, more immersive integration of digital layers into urban life.
Tampere’s role as host highlights Finland’s leadership in technology and sustainable living, positioning the city as a hub for citiverse innovation.
Decoding Imagine the Citiverse: What’s the Big Idea?
Imagine the Citiverse explores “how smart technologies and data can solve urban challenges and foster a more inclusive, equitable, participatory, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban future”. Its objectives include showcasing innovative solutions to city leaders, facilitating high-level networking, and providing insights into the digital metamorphosis of cities.
Organized by the City of Tampere, the event underscores a strong public-private commitment to cultivating the citiverse. The guiding philosophy is human-centric: “to demystify technological terminology – making it accessible – while keeping people at the heart of digital transformation”. This approach ensures the conversation about future cities remains relevant.
The event structure promotes direct engagement between solution providers and city leaders to bridge innovation and implementation, emphasizing “inclusive, equitable, participatory” urban environments.
The Main Event: Solving Real Problems with “The Cityverse Challenge”
A central feature is “The Cityverse Challenge,” where nine international partner cities present specific urban challenges. These partners include Aurora (USA), Genova (Italy), Istanbul (Turkey), Las Rozas de Madrid (Spain), London’s Thames Freeport (UK), Phoenix (USA), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Tampere (Finland), and Valencia (Spain).
The challenges fall under four themes:
| Mobility | How can growing cities create the future of mobility, respecting the environment while making everyday life smoother for residents? |
| Safety & Resilience | How can smart solutions help anticipate different scenarios and plan for a city that remains liveable and pleasant for all? |
| Citizen Engagement, Democracy & Wellbeing | How can innovative solutions create future cities that are more inclusive, equitable, and participatory, fostering belonging and well-being? |
| Sustainability, Environment & Biodiversity | How can smart technologies and data provide cities with solutions to protect our shared planet and strengthen the biodiversity of sustainable cities? |
Imagine the Citiverse has invited “bold companies with innovative solutions” to address these issues. The application process required details on the solution’s approach, previous implementation, the organization’s suitability, and anticipated scaling challenges.
This “Cityverse Challenge” is a global crowdsourcing platform for urban innovation, fostering cross-border learning and focusing on solutions with a viable path to real-world application.
The Brains Trust: Meet the Shapers of Our Urban Tomorrow
The event will feature an “exciting lineup of speakers who are experts in the field of smart cities and digital transformation”. Confirmed speakers include Michael Peques (CIO, City of Aurora, USA), Roland van der Heijden (Program Manager, Rotterdam Citiverse, Netherlands), Martin Whiteley (CEO, London’s Thames Freeport, UK), Professor Kaisa Väänänen (Tampere University, Finland), Ingmar Kasser (CEO, Random Forest, Estonia), and both Ksenia Stark and Stewart Rogers (⅄Oᒋ⅋NOISՈᖵNOϽ). This diverse group ensures a multi-faceted dialogue.
Content partners include SMART Community Council (SCC) USA, Urban Innovators Global, Business Tampere, Startup.Tampere, Platform 6, and Tampere University reinforce the event’s collaborative nature.
The program will include company pitches, talks, and discussions around the four main themes. An event app will provide the full program and networking opportunities, mirroring the “citiverse” theme by integrating digital and physical experiences.
Who’s Invited? And What’s In It For You?
Imagine the Citiverse targets “city representatives, companies, startups, and investors interested in the digital transformation of cities and finding innovative solutions to urban challenges”.
Benefits for attendees include:
- City Leaders: Discover solutions, learn from other cities, and network with innovators.
- Companies and Startups: Showcase solutions to decision-makers, find partners, and gain visibility.
- Investors: Identify promising ventures in urban tech and connect with entrepreneurs.
- General Public: Learn about future city trends and sustainable urban development.
Attendees will “learn about the latest trends and innovations in smart city development, network with key stakeholders, and potentially find solutions or partnerships to advance their urban development goals”.
The event is a marketplace connecting urban challenges with innovative solutions, facilitated by capital and expertise.
Tampere 2025: Your Portal to the Citiverse Experience
Imagine the Citiverse will occur on May 27-28, 2025, at the Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in Tampere, Finland. Tampere embodies an innovative spirit, as highlighted in its “Pioneering the Unexplored: The Host-City Tampere’s Hands-On Approach to the Citiverse”.
Attending offers a chance to be at the forefront of a new urban paradigm. The event’s focus on the “citiverse” positions attendees as pioneers. It provides a “glocal” experience, combining global conversations with the specific innovative context of Tampere, fostering in-person engagement while tackling universal urban themes.
Imagine the Citiverse 2025 offers an opportunity to co-create the future of our cities.
Registration for this event is entirely free. Claim your complimentary pass on the official website and complete the online registration.
