Tampere,Finland, has clinched top honors at the Barcelona Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s largest smart city event. Emerging triumphant in the enabling technologies category, Tampere was commended for its innovative use of data to enhance the daily lives of residents and businesses.* 
Facing stiff competition from finalists Kaoshiung (Taiwan) and Libelium with Zaragosa (Spain), Tampere stood out for its versatile smart data center, an IoT platform, facilitating applications from security solutions to business support. Notably, Tampere’s approach is not confined to local needs but serves as a replicable model for cities globally.*
Mayor Kalervo Kummola expressed pride in the city’s achievement, stating, “In a competition of this high calibre, even reaching the finals is noteworthy, and winning is truly a remarkable accomplishment.” The recognition reaffirms Tampere’s commitment to systematic development as it strives to achieve its smart city goals.*
Developed by Finnish software company Wapice, Tampere’s IoT platform powers applications like “Tampereen Pulssi” (‘pulse of Tampere’), utilizing people flow data, weather forecasts, and event schedules to predict and manage city center movement. This predictive capability aids businesses in planning for demand peaks.*
Underlining its intelligent solutions strategy, Tampere emphasizes collaboration between the public sector and businesses, leveraging existing technological infrastructure, and fostering cooperation with smart cities globally. Tampere’s success is attributed to years of systematic work, with Teppo Rantanen, Executive Director of Growth, Innovation, and Competitiveness, noting, “It’s not a coincidence that Tampere was highlighted among the world’s smart cities; we have plenty of concrete evidence, and we have systematically shared our experiences with the world.”*
This victory marks Tampere’s third time as a competition finalist and its first win. The city has garnered attention for autonomous bus operations, hosting a Hollywood production, and contributing to global innovation.
