6.1 Things to think about in the future

Opportunities for co-creation

This toolkit describes a general model for urban co-creation, taking into account the conditions and different starting points. The toolkit also features case studies. In this context, the nature of urban areas has been examined as an entity made up of different systems. These systems are at the heart of co-creation, and their development needs to be coordinated in the given area. In the case of energy, it is also about creating a long-lasting production and consumption community.

The next step in developing the model could be to refine the co-creation model for other urban systems in addition to mobility and energy. The toolkit already includes preliminary drafts for green infrastructure and urban services (in Finnish). The next step could also be a more precise description of the contractual nature of different systems’ co-creation.

In the collaborative development of a sustainable area, the objective must be clear and measurable, and commitment should be ensured through mutual obligations or agreements, both during the construction phase and throughout the lifecycle of the area. However, the means to achieve sustainability should be flexible to give room for innovation. The consortium of co-creation, the scope of the development, the method of implementation and the necessary agreements should be identified at an early stage of the process.

The city’s digital twin is a set of interoperable data and systems that helps enhance the city’s operational efficiency. It is a two-way interaction – for the digital twin, the citizen or company can be an active actor and information producer. As information production expands, the twin builds a picture of the vision of the city actors and can also provide different virtual spaces for the co-creation of sustainable and smart urban areas.

Many of the sustainability targets have a time horizon up to 2050. Achieving sustainability goals and developing solutions requires a collaborative approach. Co-creation is thus underway, with different actors forming joint roadmaps (e.g. for industry, transport and trade), consortia and clusters to find concrete solutions for a sustainable society. Future cities can increase their resilience and adaptability to change by building on strong and empowered co-creation communities.

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What applications do you see for co-creation and the toolbox in your own work?

• I believe that co-creation will play an even more important role in the future. • At least in the identification and designation of roles. • Helps to identify stakeholders in a given urban area. • A digital platform is needed for the region: connectivity and a data sharing model. • Certainly useful for regional planning projects. • The model can be integrated into spatial planning in a digital environment. It supports both. • Large planning areas, sub-areas in smaller planning areas. • Roles, responsibilities and organisation. • A useful tool when the project team does not have all the necessary knowledge and skills. • It is necessary to take into account different perspectives: what is truly sustainable? How is biodiversity taken into account?
When presenting the principles of co-creation at the co-creation model development meeting on 25 October, survey tool was used to gather ideas on the possible applications of the co-creation toolkit.

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