Who is the Six City Strategy for?
Smarter, more open and climate-friendly cities
In the last few years, the Six City Strategy has done a great deal for developing Finnish cities with its projects. The projects help companies to test and develop new, smarter services and operating models. It is necessary to make operations more efficient and develop new smart services so that Finnish municipalities can continue to produce their required services in the future, despite significant upcoming challenges. However, a city cannot solve all problems by itself, so solutions need to be developed together with residents, companies and R&D&I organisations.
The project portfolio of the Six City Strategy echoes the strategic goals of the individual cities, for example in terms of carbon neutrality.
The Six City Strategy offers city developers a unique network of specialists from various fields, an extensive set of tried-and-true operating models, as well as studies, guides and education to support the development work.
Read about examples what the Six City Strategy projects have achieved.
New business
In the Six City Strategy projects, companies cocreate their products and services with city residents. This means that companies get to test their services in authentic environments, such as schools, and collect feedback from users, such as pupils and school staff. Agile piloting is a cocreation method used in many of the Six City Strategy projects.
The Six Cities have created joint operating models for opening up data and interfaces, and supported the use of open data for business purposes. Open data sources and interfaces offer companies opportunities to develop applications that also for improve the residents’ quality of life at the same time.
The Six City Strategy projects also allow for market dialogue for companies and increase companies’ competences with needs-focused trainings and workshops.
The Six City Strategy provides opportunities for business, but does not fund companies’ projects directly.
Read about examples of the Six City Strategy projects.
A showcase for Finnish urban development
The cooperation between six Finnish cities has attracted international attention. Such extensive cooperation across different cities, organisations and sectors is rare on an international scale, which is why the Six City Strategy and the related projects have been showcased in various international events. We have also hosted many international visitors in Finland.
The operating model of the Six City Strategy combines many aspects that are interesting from a European perspective. The projects have been built around various themes, such as learning, circular economy, employment and smart mobility. The projects are funded by two structural funds (the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund). The Six City Strategy has been prepared jointly by the cities, which also collaborate closely at various levels. The Strategy also implements the EU’s smart specialisation agenda. The Strategy has been studied for the preparation of the Union’s upcoming budget season and cohesion policy for 2021–2027.
See the Six City Strategy on Euronews:
These six Finnish cities are building a model for sustainable urban development
Finland’s Six City Strategy making impact
The Six City Strategy was chosen to represent Finland for the EU Cohesion Policy’s 30th anniversary year:
The Six City Strategy Finland’s flagship project for EU Cohesion 30