# Forum Virium Helsinki

- Site: https://forumvirium.fi/

## Networking trip to Oslo: Nature-based climate change adaptation in the Nordic region

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/networking-trip-to-oslo-nature-based-climate-change-adaptation-in-the-nordic-region/
- Published: 2026-10-09T11:52:27+02:00
- Author: Ruska Tapiovaara

Blog text by Aino Nurmi, Mirka Råberg, Ville Santala. Climate adaptation measures in Oslo Oslo is an interesting peer city for Helsinki, as it is of a similar size in terms of population and is located in the same Nordic maritime climate zone. The expected impacts of climate change in both cities are similar. In […]

## Meet Forum Virium Helsinki at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, November 2026

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/event/meet-forum-virium-helsinki-at-smart-city-expo-world-congress-in-barcelona-november-2026/
- Published: 2026-10-06T13:26:57+02:00
- Author: Jussi Karmala

As the innovation company of the City of Helsinki and a leading securing entity for EU funding, we offer our partners the opportunity to leverage Helsinki as a top-tier testbed. Our key themes this year are: Find us at our stand: European Twinning & Citiverse Plaza, Hall 3, stand D71. Come chat with us and […]

## Travel Report from Taiwan: AI, Robotics, Smart City Solutions, and Startup Ecosystems – Observations and Next Steps for Helsinki

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/travel-report-from-taiwan-ai-robotics-smart-city-solutions-and-startup-ecosystems-observations-and-next-steps-for-helsinki/
- Published: 2026-09-29T08:30:32+02:00
- Author: Ruska Tapiovaara

Executive Summary During the trip, over 20 organisations were met across six Taiwanese cities: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taichung, Tainan, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung. The meetings included representatives from cities and public entities, startup and investment ecosystems, research institutes, and companies. The primary themes were AI, robotics, health technology, drones, smart city solutions, and cybersecurity. The […]

## Helsinki pilots AI-based parking monitoring for e-scooters – aiming for smoother parking

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/release/helsinki-pilots-ai-based-parking-monitoring-for-e-scooters-aiming-for-smoother-parking/
- Published: 2026-08-20T12:12:56+02:00
- Author: Paula Kultanen

Over the years, Helsinki has implemented numerous measures to improve e-scooter parking.. “In a few locations across the city, parking e-scooters in bicycle racks has already been tested. This new pilot will provide valuable data on how the parking of e-scooters and bicycles can be integrated in the future,” says Jere Sipponen, traffic engineer at […]

## Cooling Down in Central Helsinki: Mist and Plants Offer Relief from the Heat

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/release/cooling-down-in-central-helsinki-mist-and-plants-offer-relief-from-the-heat/
- Published: 2026-08-04T12:58:58+02:00
- Author: Forum Virium Helsinki

Climate change is already affecting living conditions in the Helsinki region in a way that calls for heatwave adaptation. A cooling point has opened under the canopy of Helsinki Central Library Oodi for the month of August. The public cooling point uses fine water mist and greenery to lower the surrounding air temperature by up […]

## Urban Mobile Robotics: Starship Technologies and Helsinki City Premises Ltd Pilot Wireless Charging for Delivery Robots in Helsinki

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/release/urban-mobile-robotics-starship-technologies-and-helsinki-city-premises-ltd-pilot-wireless-charging-for-delivery-robots-in-helsinki/
- Published: 2026-07-07T08:25:00+02:00
- Author: Ruska Tapiovaara

The charging pilot at Helsinki’s Hakaniemi Market Square was launched in July 2026 as part of the Urban Mobile Robotics project. Led by the City of Helsinki’s innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the project pilots a wireless charging station solution developed by Starship Technologies for its delivery robots. The […]

## Bringing fragmented wellbeing data together: A free data catalogue to empower companies

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/release/bringing-fragmented-wellbeing-data-together-a-free-data-catalog-to-empower-companies/
- Published: 2026-06-29T11:45:16+02:00
- Author: Forum Virium Helsinki

In the Urban Wellbeing Lab project, co-funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by Forum Virium Helsinki, Business Helsinki, and Laurea University of Applied Sciences, wellbeing is understood broadly; it is more than just healthcare. The wellbeing of city residents is influenced by factors such as a sense of community, the  livability of the […]

## Testing Building Smart Readiness: Experiences and Lessons Learned from SRI Assessments in the ERKKI Project

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/erkki-project-insights-on-building-energy-efficiency-from-tallinn-vaasa-and-prague/
- Published: 2026-06-22T14:24:34+02:00
- Author: Jussi Karmala

The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for buildings is an EU-wide methodology used to measure a building’s capacity to optimize energy efficiency, adapt to user needs, and flexibly respond to signals from the energy grid. The national implementation of SRI assessments will begin in the summer of 2027. As part of the ERKKI project, we carried […]

## ERKKI Project Insights on Building Energy Efficiency from Tallinn, Vaasa, and Prague

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/erkki-project-insights-on-building-energy-efficiency-from-tallinn-vaasa-and-prague-2/
- Published: 2026-06-16T12:18:01+02:00
- Author: Jussi Karmala

Tallinn – Smart City Exchange Forum In March, together with our project partner Green Net Finland, we headed to Tallinn for the Smart City Exchange Forum, which offered inspiring perspectives on developing sustainable cities. During the event, we visited the City of Tallinn’s demo space and learned about ongoing and upcoming local smart city pilots. […]

## Nature-based solutions in the urban environment – preliminary observations from the Med-IREN project

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/nature-based-solutions-in-the-urban-environment-preliminary-observations-from-the-med-iren-project/
- Published: 2026-06-07T15:24:49+02:00
- Author: Ruska Tapiovaara

Blog post by Project Manager Ville Santala, Forum Virium Helsinki Helsinki’s focus on combating heatwaves The City of Helsinki has ambitious climate goals, and the city is also striving to adapt to the effects of climate change, focusing on mitigating extreme weather events and their indirect impacts. In the Med-IREN project, Helsinki’s objectives are related […]

## ARKI 135 – Circularity blooms from the creative campus event 3.9.

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/event/arki-135-circularity-blooms-from-the-creative-campus-event-3-9/
- Published: 2026-06-04T14:12:34+02:00
- Author: Forum Virium Helsinki

Time: Thursday 3.9.2026 14.00–17.00Place: Helsinki XR Center, Hämeentie 135 A, 3rd floor, HelsinkiThe event is organised as part of the Helsinki Design Week‘s programme. What are the conditions for collaboration among circular economy companies? What kinds of innovative solutions grow out of working together? In this interactive event, participants will have the opportunity to engage […]

## Driving the Circular Economy: Aalto University and the TREASoURcE project reveal new solutions for plastic recycling and biowaste contamination

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/driving-the-circular-economy-aalto-university-and-the-treasource-project-reveal-new-solutions-for-plastic-recycling-and-biowaste-contamination/
- Published: 2026-06-02T11:07:37+02:00
- Author: Paula Kultanen

By combining multidisciplinary expertise across businesses, technology, law, and design, the project groups focused on two major environmental challenges: scaling non-packaging rigid plastic recycling and removing plastic impurities from industrial biowaste composting. These International Design Business Management (IDBM) industry projects developed potential pathways based on expertise and mentoring of Finland’s leading landscaping products manufacturer Kekkilä-BVB […]

## Warning system pilot at Viikki light rail crossing wraps up – System commended for enhancing safety

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/warning-system-pilot-at-viikki-light-rail-crossing-wraps-up-system-commended-for-enhancing-safety/
- Published: 2026-05-04T09:16:34+02:00
- Author: Paula Kultanen

The pilot was located at the roundabout of Viikintie, Koetilantie, and Viikinkaari. The site was chosen for its complexity: the intersection area involves multiple directions of travel, and the light rail vehicles approach the crossing partially from behind commuters. They are also quieter than traditional trams. The introduction of the light rail also brought new […]

## Navigating Towards a Seamless City: Utilising Data Spaces in Public-Private Co-operation

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/navigating-towards-a-seamless-city-utilising-data-spaces-in-public-private-co-operation/
- Published: 2026-04-23T15:54:04+02:00
- Author: Ruska Tapiovaara

Blog text by Olli-Pekka Mattila and Toni Lusikka The cityscape is a patchwork of roadworks and footbridges over trenches. My sat-nav failed to spot the works ahead, where excavations began in the early hours to renew the surface water drainage system. Now, I’m forced to take a detour to reach the national football team’s crucial […]

## EU Project Explored: Could Electric Vehicle Batteries Have Second-Life as Energy Storages?

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/release/eu-project-explored-could-electric-vehicle-batteries-have-second-life-as-energy-storages/
- Published: 2026-04-14T08:22:59+02:00
- Author: Paula Kultanen

A large portion of the battery capacity would still be usable even when the vehicles reach the end of their lifespan. Lithium-ion batteries of end-of-life vehicles would have significant capacity remaining for stationary Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The EU-funded TREASoURcE project has studied this circular economy opportunity and developed recommendations to promote the reuse […]

## Circular PSP Project Calls Follower Cities for Testing Phase

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/circular-psp-project-calls-follower-cities-for-testing-phase/
- Published: 2026-03-30T12:35:41+02:00
- Author: Ruska Tapiovaara

During the project, suppliers develop an AI-powered platform designed to support public procurement in cities by enabling more sustainable, circular, and climate-conscious purchasing decisions. It brings together dispersed case studies, tools, and data into a single system, tailored to local contexts and languages. This helps the procurement professionals identify suitable circular solutions, define relevant criteria and […]

## Five international consortia selected to develop solutions for Europe’s water crises

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/five-international-consortia-selected-to-develop-solutions-for-europes-water-crises/
- Published: 2026-03-27T08:12:29+02:00
- Author: Ruska Tapiovaara

As a result of the Open Call for Tenders published by the PCP WISE project at the end of 2025, the project received a total of 25 proposals to solve Europe’s water crises. The number exceeded expectations and demonstrated the significance of the challenge. After the evaluation process, five consortia that best met the requirements […]

## Wapice’s Smart Solution at Töölö Football Field – Computer Vision and Weather Forecasts Save Energy

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/wapices-smart-solution-at-toolo-football-field-computer-vision-and-weather-forecasts-save-energy/
- Published: 2026-03-23T06:35:00+02:00
- Author: Jussi Karmala

Football is a year-round sport for Helsinki residents, but heating artificial turf in winter is extremely energy-intensive. As part of the EU-funded ERKKI project, the IT company Wapice Oy is piloting how Töölö’s “Field Number Three” can transition from traditional temperature-based control to dynamic smart control based on actual usage and weather forecasts. Töölö football […]

## ARKI 135 Value Co-creation Lab Spring Showcase & Mingle Event 15.4.

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/event/arki-135-value-co-creation-lab-spring-showcase-mingle-event-15-4/
- Published: 2026-03-20T11:00:27+02:00
- Author: Forum Virium Helsinki

Time: 15.4.2026, 15.30–17.00 Place: ARKI 135 Hub, Hämeentie 135 A, 4th floor.  Register with the form below How can side-streams turn into new business? Throughout the value co-creation process this spring, four case case-companies and co-creators have been working together in teams to answer this question.  Join us in the showcase event to present the […]

## AI revolutionizes Helsinki’s property portfolio management

- Link: https://forumvirium.fi/en/ai-revolutionizes-the-management-of-helsinkis-real-estate-in-granlunds-pilot-project/
- Published: 2026-03-17T10:52:52+02:00
- Author: Jussi Karmala

The City of Helsinki’s goal to reduce climate emissions requires significant investments in the energy efficiency of buildings. But where should limited investment euros be directed? This theme was explored in the EU-funded ERKKI project, where a pilot by the real estate and construction expert company Granlund Oy brought AI-based multi-factor optimization to aid portfolio-level […]