In 2021, Tampere identified a major challenge: artificial intelligence and digitalisation were advancing rapidly, but the city lacked the foundations needed to apply them in services — particularly skills, shared goals and practical tools. The city set a long-term objective to use AI and technology to improve residents’ wellbeing and safety, as well as the city’s vitality.
This led to the creation of the Data-Driven City for Citizens development programme, built on a clear principle: digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence are not solely the responsibility of IT departments or small expert groups. They are a shared task that touches the city’s core functions and everyday work across the organisation.
The programme was implemented during the council term 2021–2025.
The programme has developed the first city services that utilise artificial intelligence. Even more importantly, it has established permanent structures, capabilities and ethical guidelines to enable the large-scale, responsible and well-governed use of new technologies. The aim has not been to create individual applications, but to renew the entire organisation so that all city sectors have the capacity to use and develop AI-enabled solutions as part of daily operations.
The programme’s guiding principle is that technology serves people — not the other way around. Data and artificial intelligence are used to develop services that respond to residents’ real needs in areas such as safety, education, experiences, business services and sustainable urban development. Digitalisation can also help reduce inequality by ensuring services reach all population groups.
For example, the Pulssi application, which anticipates visitor flows, helps businesses prepare for customer peaks and allocate resources more effectively.
The operational logic developed in Pulssi is already being applied to new use cases. In cooperation with Pirkanmaan hyvinvointialue, a new data-based approach is currently being developed to assess where and when the demand for emergency medical services is greatest.
Digital twins, in turn, are virtual 3D models of the city that enable testing and forecasting of changes in the urban environment while supporting sustainable planning and decision-making. They also allow residents to participate in planning new districts and assessing experiences of comfort and safety. With digital twins, the impacts of lighting, traffic and emergency routes can be simulated before construction — helping create safer, more accessible and more pleasant environments for everyone.
In the future, services will become increasingly personalised. The goal is to provide timely, situation-specific information — for example on parking availability, nearby events and current news — centrally through the Tampere.Finland application.
The Data-Driven City for Citizens programme represented a fundamental cultural shift for the city and required collaboration across the entire organisation. Previously, digitalisation was largely approached through individual projects, but it is now embedded strategically throughout all city operations. Digital solutions are developed systematically in cooperation between different city sectors and the business community, guided by a shared DigiVision.
During the programme, permanent services have been created for multiple sectors, and city employees have been trained to apply technology in their everyday work. The scale of development has been significant: more than one hundred city professionals have participated, and the programme’s annual budget has been approximately €1.3 million.
Its goal has been to build a lasting foundation and expertise that can be utilised and further developed beyond the programme period.
