{"id":60073,"date":"2023-10-23T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T11:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=60073"},"modified":"2024-09-18T12:51:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T09:51:15","slug":"turku-science-park-is-developing-into-a-global-example-of-circular-economy","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/projects\/turku-science-park-is-developing-into-a-global-example-of-circular-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Turku Science Park is developing into a global example of circular economy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Turku Science Park is developing into a global example of circular economy<\/h1>\n

A circular economy roadmap and the operating principles of the cooperation forum were created for Turku Science Park through co-creation.<\/p>\n

Turku Science Park, located in the rapidly developing Kupittaa area, is an international centre of expertise that creates a unique framework and opportunities for increasing circular economy expertise. There are already a huge number of actors in the area, such as several higher education institutions with their researchers and students, business services, more than 400 companies and about 17,500 employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe strength of the area is that it is located in the heart of the city, and the actors in the Science Park are already creating a strong starting point for all kinds of development measures,\u201d says\u00a0Janne Mustonen<\/strong>, Project Director at the City of Turku. Billions of euros in investments are planned for the Science Park area, which will contribute to the development of new solutions, such as those based on the circular economy.<\/p>\n

According to Mustonen, the\u00a0key project<\/a>\u00a0of Turku Science Park is an opportunity to implement the city\u2019s strategy at the district level. \u201cCities are key solvers of global crises, which is why we want to work for the circular economy and the green transition locally and internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clear guidelines for promoting the circular economy<\/h2>\n

Our experts were asked to help in mapping and structuring the circular economy opportunities of the Science Park. \u201cIn addition, we were hoping for guidelines for developing the operations of the Circular Economy Forum,\u201d says Maija Rusanen,\u00a0<\/strong>Senior Specialist at the City of Turku\u2019s Project Development Unit. The Circular Economy Forum is a cooperation network consisting of key actors in the region.<\/p>\n

The city did not want to receive precise implementation content in advance, but to keep the process flexible and challenge experts to propose different solutions to the questions raised. \u201cThe greatest added value was its substance expertise and extensive experience in similar development projects around Finland, both at the strategic and operational level,\u201d Mustonen adds.<\/p>\n

The roadmap created together utilised existing knowledge and expertise<\/h2>\n

In spring 2023, the Science Park launched a circular economy roadmap process, the starting material for which was, among other things, the City of Turku\u2019s circular economy roadmap. The co-creation involved representatives from the City of Turku, higher education institutions, research institutes and companies.<\/p>\n

After the document analysis, we mapped the starting point with interviews with various stakeholders, where we received concrete proposals for measures and important perspectives on the strengths of the area.<\/p>\n

The development work continued in two workshops with proposals related to the circular economy. According to Rusanen, a lot of good feedback was received from the workshop participants. \u201cThe participants had the opportunity to bring their own expertise to the table, and through joint brainstorming, interesting proposals for circular economy solutions for the Science Park were created.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kupittaa tip partnership project benefited from roadmap work<\/h2>\n

The roadmap process came at an opportune time for one of the region\u2019s important stakeholders, the\u00a0Kupittaa partnership project.<\/a>\u00a0The alliance model is used to develop an overall plan for infill construction in the area between Kupittaa and It\u00e4harju. The circular economy is one of the most important aspects.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we take the city\u2019s strategic goals to the planning level, we need new ideas covering the entire metabolism of the area,\u201d says\u00a0Sirkku Huisko<\/strong>, COO of Lund\u00e9n Architecture Company, which is part of the alliance. He emphasises that regional development always takes place simultaneously at grassroots and systemic level.<\/p>\n

Huisko particularly liked the holistic approach of the workshops, which brought space to the discussion. \u201cWith regard to the circular economy, construction must take into account the processes of people, nature, legislation, society and the economy extensively.”<\/p>\n

Research and education ready in the same area<\/h2>\n

It was recognised as a strength and special feature of the Science Park that the area already has top-level research and education in the circular economy.\u00a0Piia Nurmi<\/strong>, lecturer in the Circular Economy Business Models research group at TUAS (Turku University of Applied Sciences) considers participation in the development of the area very important.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Kupittaa campus is home to most of the UAS\u2019 buildings, students and employees, and we also have several research groups that examine the circular economy from different perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Nurmi, the certainty brought by experts experience was important, because local actors are easily blinded to the strengths and unique features of their own area. \u201cThe experts also kept the operations ambitious enough and the perspective far enough away in the future.”<\/p>\n

Ideas for implementing the region\u2019s circular economy<\/h2>\n

As a result, the vision and circular economy priorities for the region were defined: energy, construction, mobility and logistics, as well as urban nature and water. In addition, education and competence, user engagement and digitalisation were identified as enablers of the circular economy area. The roadmap also included proposals for measures for the development of the circular economy in the region and for the further work of the Circular Economy Forum.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, we identified the potential of the Science Park as an example and development platform for circular economy solutions, and we received a lot of ideas from the participants for implementing the circular economy in the area\u201d, Rusanen says. In addition, a visually impressive communications package was created for the Science Park.<\/p>\n

According to Mustonen, the project has helped to communicate the plans and opportunities of the Science Park to many circular economy networks in the Turku region and to structure ideas at the same flight altitude. \u201cWe now have a good starting point for further discussions and an idea of which focus areas should be prioritised.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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