For Forum Virium Helsinki, the City of Helsinki’s innovation company, 2025 was a year of partnership. The work focused on smooth mobility, climate change mitigation, and health technology innovations.
In 2025, co-creation and collaboration helped Helsinki to tackle both social and environmental challenges with innovations. Development was carried out together with residents, professionals, companies, and city departments. Now, we list eight of the most significant themes and successes from the year.
1. Increasing Urban Nature through Innovation – Data-Driven Solutions for Heat and Floods
Seven experiments brought temporary greenery to Helsinki in 2025. “Temporary green” can for example refer to green roofs and walls added to existing buildings. In the summer, a meadow was installed on the roof of the Herttoniemi metro station entrance. Meanwhile, planting boxes at Ilmalantori square were filled with wild plants rescued from construction sites. The EU-funded PilotGreen project aimed to increase vegetation and biodiversity in densely built environments.
The Regions4Climate project resulted in a demo tool designed to help visualize the impacts of climate change, such as heatwaves and flooding. The tool allows testing how cooling centers and increased green elements would improve adaptation across different city districts with varying socioeconomic profiles. By cross-examining socioeconomic data with temperature and flood maps, the tool helps identify where actions – like planting shade trees or replacing asphalt with permeable gravel – are most needed.
2. Reducing Emissions in the Capital Region
Emission reduction goals were accelerated through numerous transport projects. The GEMINI project explored and piloted solutions for more sustainable commuting. In Ruoholahti, the ePowerMove project worked with residents to prepare a new type of bidirectional electric vehicle charging pilot along streets.
The ELABORATOR project collected and evaluated data on “near-miss” situations involving shared e-scooters to improve traffic safety and develop smoother parking solutions.
The Hologistics and eCargo projects promoted solutions for reducing heavy traffic emissions. Throughout the year, eCargo mapped and tested the suitability of public charging points in the capital region for electric trucks and vans used in urban logistics. Together with a survey of logistics companies and mobility data the work resulted in recommendations for future charging locations.
3. Health Technology through Agile Pilots
In 2025, numerous agile pilotes were conducted within Helsinki’s Social Services and Health Care division and the Laakso Joint Hospital project. Forum Virium Helsinki has a long history of agile pilots and .
In the joint Helsinki-Tallinn FinEst Twins project, an agile innovation culture was introduced to the New Children’s Hospital by piloting gamification and AI in pediatric rehabilitation. Based on these lessons, Aalto University students designed a visual roadmap for the innovation process to serve as a foundation for future experiments.
The EU-funded CommuniCity project carried out a total of 101 pilots, 27 of which were coordinated from Helsinki. Most of these pilots took place in senior centers and hospitals, co-creating technologies to support the daily lives of vulnerable groups. In Spring 2025, pilots included activity sensors for neurological rehabilitation patients and sensory rooms to alleviate anxiety in psychiatric patients.
4. Record Number of Applications for Satellite Data Project
Nine open calls for experiments and innovation competitions were held during the year, offering companies the chance to pilot solutions in real-world environments. Nearly 300 companies submitted applications.
The SPACE4Cities project, which utilizes satellite data for green area maintenance and climate adaptation, received a record 141 offers. Of these, 20 moved to further development, and five will be piloted during 2026–2027. This international project has garnered significant interest from European cities. Other projects working with satellite data in 2025 included Regions4Climate, PilotGreen, and PCP WISE.
5. Mastering Recycling and a Hub for Circular Economy Startups
2025 saw the launch of the Recycling Master (Kierrätysmestari) online course, which teaches the basics of household recycling through videos and tasks. The TREASoURcE project will also publish these materials on the Finnish National Agency for Education’s website in 2026.
The ARKI 135 Circular Hub opened its doors this spring in Arabianranta. The innovation hub and ecosystem for small and medium-sized circular economy enterprises aims to accelerate collaboration and growth for circular business.
Also managing electrical end electronic equipment scrap evolved in Helsinki. As part of the SERkut project, the Lunni360 ERP system was piloted with the City of Helsinki’s digital services for the unemployed, proving so successful that it will remain in use.
6. Sustainable and Vibrant Food Culture
Sustainable food development requires strategic commitment from cities and regions. In 2025, insights from various projects influenced several strategic initiatives.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council and the City of Helsinki are working together toward a more sustainable food system. The Urban&Local project focused on promoting local food and restaurant businesses. These insights ensured that sustainable food became a key component of Helsinki’s new city strategy, the regional strategy, and the national food strategy.
7. New Ideas and Smooth Urban Mobility
During 2025, Helsinki looked to the skies to learn to find new ways to utilise drones within the city. Forum Virium Helsinki has long promoted sustainable urban aviation. In November, a two-week pilot saw drones delivering supplies to health centers to pilot their utility in emergency situations. Furthermore, the ACUMEN project developed a tool using real-time drone data and AI to predict and manage traffic flows, encouraging sustainable transport choices and reducing congestion and noise.
On land, smart mobility was discussed and explored with citizens. At the end of the year, we opened a mobility-focused showroom to develop urban transport. At the SOLMU Showroom in the Mall of Tripla, companies showcased services that facilitate commuting and leisure travel. Visitors could even experience navigating a shopping mall from the perspective of a visually impaired person.
8. Residents as Experts in Their Daily Lives
Ordinary residents participated in developing their home city in many ways. In projects focusing on well-being, local services, and green environments, residents acted as experts in their own daily lives.
In the KauKo project in Malmi, elderly residents piloted and commented on technologies encouraging physical activity. In Malminkartano, children and youth got new low-threshold hobby opportunities. These pilots were preceded by “innovation sprints” where residents and experts mapped regional challenges together.
The CommuniCity experiments focused on the daily lives of vulnerable groups, including people with developmental disabilities and those in rehabilitative work activities. Finally, the GreenInCities project’s nature evenings gathered over 600 participants in the Malmi area to discuss local biodiversity and the development of the Longinoja area.
The projects mentioned in this article receive funding from the European Union.