Facilitating dialogue on culture, innovation and entrepreneurship in large European cities 

This article series presents cases of innovations built here in Espoo that strive for a better tomorrow for all.

Espoo aims to strengthen its leadership and influence within the European key city network Eurocities to foster collaboration, share best practices, and support important causes like aiding Ukrainian cities. In 2022, Espoo hosted the annual general meeting of Eurocities. The event featured a co-creative conference attended by 400 mayors, key leaders, experts, and two EU commissioners, and included young citizens participating in the Future Mentors program. This gathering culminated in a joint commitment to support Ukrainian cities, further solidifying Espoo’s role as a leading member in the city network for large and mid-sized European cities.

Espoo has a history of leadership within Eurocities, having chaired the Culture Forum in 2019–2020 and continuing to lead cultural dialogue in 2024. For 2024–2025, Espoo chairs both the working group on cultural management and the working group on innovation and entrepreneurship. Espoo has shared insights on how strong cultural leadership can enhance wellbeing, learning, and creativity in cities. T As chair for the working group on innovation and entrepreneurship, Espoo collaborates with other innovation-focused cities to share best practices on supporting growth-oriented companies in Europe as well as on attraction and retention of talent.