The future of Tampere Ambassadors is tightly connected with the future of Tampere
As stated in Tampere’s Internationalisation Strategy issued by the City Council in March 2025 (Tampereen kansainvälisen toiminnan kärjet 2025–2029), “In the midst of intensifying competition between cities and countries for experts and technology, Finland has the opportunity to succeed in many competitions with its strong technological expertise, stable society, and clean nature. In this context, the contribution of cities is needed. Cities are also increasingly dependent on international success to succeed. We need experts, exports, and investments, and the best ideas to promote pioneering.”
In fact, internationalism in its various forms already penetrates the city. Nowadays, Tampere and its partners are more international than ever: the global dimension is involved in almost everything happening here. The main aims of further internationalisation activities are securing economic conditions to enable sustainable development, strengthening the city's competitiveness in the long term, and promoting international attractiveness, recognition, and pioneering.
– It is fantastic to see international awareness of Tampere grow, especially as a city known for its innovation and high quality of life. Strengthening our global profile and creating a welcoming and open community is something I’m really excited about, admits Katri Rauvola, Senior Marketing Specialist at the City of Tampere and Coordinator of the Tampere Ambassadors program. – We have a lot of expertise to offer and are just as open to learning from others. I hope that as Tampere continues to grow, we’ll see even more international professionals and companies choosing to join our community. It’s essential that we support an open atmosphere, embrace multiculturalism, and foster a strong sense of community where everyone feels welcome and included.
Three main priority areas in Tampere’s international activities for the next 5 years
These priority areas encourage the mission of Tampere Ambassadors to boost Tampere's internationalisation efforts by taking advantage of their skills and networks.
The first area is attracting international talent. The availability of experts is one of the most critical challenges for the growth and internationalisation of local companies. Tampere is competing for experts with the rest of the world.
– Today in Tampere live and work approximately 4,300 highly skilled professionals engaged in management, specialist, and expert positions, highlighted Mikko Kesä, founder of Mikko Kesä Oy, and presenter at the Kansainvälisellä osaamisella kasvuun forum, 31.10.2025, Tampere. As marked in the new Roadmap for attracting and retaining global workforce (Kansainvälisen työvoiman saatavuuden ja pitovoiman tiekartta 2026–2035), the city aims to increase the number of immigrant entrepreneurs, business owners, senior executives, and specialists, and to further improve the services for them and their families. The targeted growth of this segment is about 750 people per year.
At the same time, there is a clear focus on sustainable talent attraction – aligning the region’s labor market with the expectations of people who have moved to Finland and making the overall employment processes smooth. Also, connecting talent attraction communications with the strengths associated with the city image is considered important. The above-mentioned measures will be embedded in the activities of the Tampere Talent Ambassadors and Tampere Alumni Ambassadors subprograms in talent attraction and integration.
The second area is strengthening Tampere as a sustainable and smart city. As international pioneering cities are profiled as a combination of sustainability and intelligence, in Tampere the theme has been promoted through the joint development of climate and biodiversity initiatives and smart city solutions. Tampere has been internationally recognised and awarded in several sustainable and smart city competitions. Tampere Congress and Business Ambassadors activities strongly reinforce this direction.
The third area is strategic industrial focus areas. The regional business strategy, implemented under the leadership of Business Tampere – which coordinates the Tampere Business Ambassadors subprogram – provides a framework for promoting exports and attracting investments in the fields of chips, the defence industry, the experience economy, and energy. In the experience economy, events and congresses are particularly important. Through the Congress Ambassadors subprogram, Tampere strives for partnerships with international actors in the field of the experience economy and new technologies and increases its own expertise and visibility through cooperation.
– The Tampere Ambassadors program is a great example of how the city puts its internationalisation strategy into action. It’s not just about promotion; it’s about building real connections, says Katri Rauvola. – The program brings together people who are passionate about Tampere and gives them the tools and platform to share the city’s story globally.
The city’s internationalisation strategy is backed up by the new Mayoral Programme
“Our Tampere is a vibrant, equal, international and prosperous city that will continue to be the most attractive and ambitious in Finland regarding its goals related to nature and the environment,” says Mayor of Tampere Ilmari Nurminen in his new Mayoral Programme Creating a Future Together 2025–2029. “We will promote the city’s growth, taking into account its economic situation as well as socio-cultural and ecological sustainability. We actively seek to attract international companies and investments to Tampere. The city will live and thrive when international residents feel at home here.”
Among the main goals of the Mayoral Programme are: attracting a wide range of international experts, students, companies, and investments; improving the vitality of Tampere by supporting the RDI, start-up, and innovation environment; and increasing the provision of services in foreign languages as well as the employment and integration of the international population.
– Mayoral Programme and Tampere Ambassadors program resonate strongly and complement each other in meaningful ways, claims Katri Rauvola. – What I find especially powerful is how both programs highlight the importance of people. Together they help position Tampere as a forward-looking city that values diversity, innovation, and global collaboration.
Tampere Ambassadors program development on the operational level
On the operational level, the Tampere Ambassadors program will continue to function through its four subprograms: Talent, Business, Alumni, and Congress Ambassadors. Each of these will be further developed in collaboration with key partners like International House Tampere, Business Tampere, Tampere University, and Tampere Convention Bureau.
– The goal is to ensure that each subprogram has a clear focus and meaningful impact, says Katri Rauvola. – If there are changes, they’ll likely focus on strengthening the program’s strategic role: a platform for co-creation, peer learning, and long-term engagement with stakeholders. The program will also support the city’s goals around talent attraction and retention, international business, and cultural exchange.
During the past five years, the subprograms have accumulated plenty of coordination experience, allowing them to shape activities in the most efficient way for each subprogram. However, there are a number of universal practices that will be carried into the future- for example, personal meetings.
– We have noticed that meeting face to face is important for community spirit and for exchanging ideas, says Nuppu Suvanto, Service Manager of International House Tampere.
Tampere Ambassadors are annually invited to the honorary Mayoral Luncheon in the City Hall, and this tradition will continue. Within each subprogram, there is a separate annual plan of internal meetings and communications – some meet monthly, others several times per year.
Tampere Ambassadors are volunteers, and at the same time, they are very active and busy in their main fields of occupation. Another important takeaway for the future is wise human resource management:
– We invite professors to become Congress Ambassadors as a way of thanking them for their commitment and active role in hosting and/or bidding for international congresses. They are outstanding representatives both internationally and within the University, says Laila Walldén, Account Manager at Tampere Convention Bureau and coordinator of the Tampere Congress Ambassadors Programme.
– We know professors have very busy schedules, so we truly value their participation in our events. Whenever we meet, we aim to create an agenda that benefits everyone, adds Account Manager Pia Helminen, who co-leads the Tampere Congress Ambassadors Programme with Laila.
Each subprogram has its own digital channels where members will continue to receive city updates, materials, and invitations to projects and events. Similarly, subprogram coordinators will maintain individual communications with Tampere Ambassadors based on their profiles and program needs.
The number of Tampere Ambassadors will not significantly change and will remain around 40 people. New members are planned to join mainly by invitation, based on recommendations, track records in the field, and personal motivation.
As well said, stability is a sign of skill. And a platform for profound and reliable activities, especially meaningful in hectic times. – We definitely want to continue joint development and operational activities with the Ambassadors, because they benefit both the city and international inhabitants. The program will, of course, be developed and improved continuously, but most likely there will not be big changes in the near future, says Nuppu Suvanto. – The future of the Ambassadors program looks both promising and purposeful, adds Katri Rauvola.
In accordance with that, leaning on the rich traditions and striving boldly for the next decade, the Tampere Ambassadors will keep boosting visibility, building international connections, helping Tampere attract and retain global talent, investments, and events – and strengthening its image as an open and connected city!
More information on Talent Ambassador program and activities:
Natalia Gromova
Tel. +358 44 2370 594
Email: [email protected]
General information about the Tampere Ambassador program:
Katri Rauvola
Tel. +358 40 183 7258
Email: [email protected]
