From June 10 to 13, 2024, we participated in a study trip to the Finnish city of Tampere on behalf of Smart Písek. This visit was part of our involvement in the URBACT METACITY project, which focuses on innovative urban development methods and the use of technology.
On the first day, we attended the "Imagine the Metaverse" conference at the "Exhibition and Sports Centre" stadium in Tampere. The program was filled with interesting lectures and discussions focused on the use of the metaverse in urban development and smart technologies. We were particularly captivated by a lecture from Heikki Aura about European opportunities in the data economy and the metaverse. In the afternoon, we also had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on building resilient cities through metaverse technologies, which was very inspiring for us. In the evening, the city of Tampere hosted a reception at the beautiful Hatanpää Manor, where we could engage in informal discussions with other participants and exchange experiences in the field of smart technologies.
On the second day, the conference continued with more interesting lectures and workshops. We were introduced to topics such as the vision of smart education in the era of artificial intelligence and the world of the metaverse from a user experience perspective. In the afternoon, we moved to the Scandic Tampere City Hotel, where a workshop focused on digital twin technologies took place. We had the opportunity to see how digital twins can contribute to city development, not only in terms of infrastructure but also in citizen engagement and climate change adaptation. This workshop provided us with valuable practical demonstrations and ideas for our own projects in Písek.
The last day of our visit was dedicated to meeting with representatives of the city of Tampere and visiting the local municipal administration. We discussed Tampere's strategy regarding the metaverse and how the city uses data for development and citizen engagement. After that, we visited Platform 6, a company focused on startups and innovative projects, where we were introduced to new technologies and potential collaboration opportunities.
Our visit to Tampere was not only an enriching experience but also an opportunity to gain new insights into urban development and the use of smart technologies. We believe that the knowledge and inspiration we have acquired will help us propel Písek towards a smarter and more sustainable future.
Our URBACT METACITY project partners
VR headset used in practice
Hatanpää Manor mansion
Lecture focused on: Connection between physical and digital words
Lecture focused on: The world of the metaverse from a user experience perspective
Exhibition and Sports Centre stadium interior
The Lutheran Church, or the Most Famous Cathedral in Tampere