Smart city has become an umbrella concept bringing together strategies for reinventing cities utilizing ICT. Smart city promises drastic leap in energy efficiency, less congestion, more humane conditions, in hot and crowded urban spaces, and overall responsiveness to needs of urban dwellers. Until now, the concept of smart city…
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Which smart city will be the first one loved by its citizens?
October 17, 2016
Smart city has become an umbrella concept bringing together strategies for reinventing cities utilizing ICT. Smart city promises drastic leap in energy efficiency, less congestion, more humane conditions, in hot and crowded urban spaces, and overall responsiveness to needs of urban dwellers. Until now, the concept of smart city…
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Finnish approach to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is a “political suicide”.
September 9, 2016
For the first time ever the UN is inviting all of its member states to take part in its programme for sustainable development. Finland set out to become the most sustainable nation in the world from the very beginning of 2016, which was when the new programme of the UN…
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Thousands to receive basic income in Finland: a trial that could lead to the greatest societal transformation of our time
August 30, 2016
Finland is about to launch an experiment in which a randomly selected group of 2,000–3,000 citizens already on unemployment benefits will begin to receive a monthly basic income of 560 euros (approx. $600). That basic income will replace their existing benefits. The amount is the same as the current guaranteed…
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3 things Finland can do to become the most sustainable nation in the world
August 24, 2016
Agenda 2030 – the UN’s new sustainable development programme – was launched at the beginning of 2016. Finland wants to be a leading country in the implementation of this ambitious and vitally important programme. As a consequence, the Finnish government commissioned Demos Helsinki and the Finnish Environment Institute to conduct…
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Helsinki organises a huge co-creation jam
August 12, 2016
In Finland, festivals aren’t just for music; they’re for urban planning too. At Flow Festival in Helsinki, the audience can listen to Sia, Morrissey, and M83, and envision the city of the future There’s a certain ambiance that’s created at festivals: one of utopia and possibility. “What you have at…
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ReKindle, Padurn and Rent-in-Shop are the Finnish winners of the ClimateLaunchpad idea competition
June 15, 2016
[Photo: Roope Kiviranta] The Finnish finalists of ClimateLaunchpad, the world’s largest cleantech idea competition, have now been selected. The Finnish finals were held on 15th June in sunny Helsinki, taking place at the Microsoft Flux collaborative space. The three winners (short description of each) will now head to Tallinn, where…
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How does hyperconnectivity change the way your company creates value?
June 9, 2016
4 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT HYPERCONNECTIVITY 1. From companies’ point of view, digitalization and other megatrends require more resource efficient ways of operating. Companies in all industries are affected by this change. 2. Digitalization and the new environment don’t necessarily change the basic tenets of strategy: to gain competitive advantage,…
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Flow Talks: Urban Life returns on August 12th 2016
June 8, 2016
Calling all urbanists! Flow Festival and Demos Helsinki proudly present: Flow Talks: Urban Life – an inspiring Friday afternoon free to all Flow Festival Friday ticket holders. Join us for mind-expanding discussions, insightful co-creation and electrifying talks with a set of international urban influencers. We promise you will never look at…
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The Finnish Champions of climate solutions are selected 15.6. at Microsoft Flux
June 6, 2016
The world’s largest climate innovation contest ClimateLaunchpad culminates at the national level in Microsoft Flux (Korkeavuorenkatu 35, Helsinki) 15.6. at 16:30, when 9 Finnish finalists will pitch their concepts. Sign up for the event here to hear ideas ranging from renewable-energy based solutions to clothes rental services. ClimateLaunchpad aims to…
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Africa Beyond Digital Disruption – Demos Helsinki at Casablanca Smart City Expo
May 19, 2016
More than 70% of global emissions come from cities. This has not stopped the urbanisation rate from growing: every 30 minutes, 540 families migrate into cities around the world. Smart City Expo Casablanca brought together experts from three continents to share thoughts on the role of smart cities in mitigating global climate emissions….
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THE PROBLEM WITH “SMART” CITIES – Demos Helsinki at Casablanca Smart City Expo
May 11, 2016
The Smart City approach is the favored paradigm of 2010s urban development. Smart cities are hoped to help curb greenhouse gas emissions and improve quality of life. Smart cities strive for these things with technological solutions: information technology can enable new kinds of co-operation and interweave various city elements together…
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3 principles for flourishing future cities
April 15, 2016
It is safe to say that cities in all Western countries see their futures differently compared to their situations just five years ago. Many megatrend-level drivers have made cities, their leaders, and ordinary citizens consider the future as something deviating from the steady development of the past decades: A new…
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