City Council approved the goals of the cross-administrative development programmes

For almost ten years, the City of Espoo has promoted its main goals through cross-administrative programmes. For this council term, there are four programmes. The members of each programme include both elected officials from different parties and office-holders from the city’s sectors. The programmes will promote development, help create new ideas and build networks.

“Within the cross-administrative programmes, we will develop solutions to Espoo’s main challenges through experiments and pilot projects and by learning together. Our approach is built on network-based cooperation with the city’s operators, residents, businesses and other partners,” says Programme Director Päivi Hoverfält.

The development programmes for the council term 2021–2025 are:

• Dynamic Espoo
• Healthy Espoo
• Sustainable Espoo
• Events Together in Espoo.

The Espoo Story profiles Espoo as Finland’s safest and most vibrant pioneer city of education and culture, expertise, innovation and business with strong international connections. The Dynamic Espoo programme focuses on the key aspects related to vitality and expertise, such as talent attraction and retention, supporting the operating conditions of companies that hire skilled individuals, and reducing unemployment.

“International talents are needed in Espoo. Skilled individuals’ and their families’ satisfaction with and willingness to stay in Espoo has been recognised as a bottleneck that requires measures,” says Kai Mykkänen (National Coalition Party), chairperson of the Dynamic Espoo programme.

The programme aims to increase the number of high-skill jobs in Espoo.

“Together with our partners, we will attract growth-oriented companies and start-ups to Espoo,” says Mervi Heinaro, Programme owner and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Sports and Culture.

“Increased vitality requires smooth cooperation within the city, with our partners and through our networks. The programme provides great opportunities for this,” says Programme Manager Maarit Viik-Kajander.

Goals of the Dynamic Espoo programme:

• Espoo will be the best place for skilled individuals – they and their families will live, enjoy themselves and stay in Espoo.
• Espoo will be the best place for entrepreneurship – Espoo’s appeal as the home of knowledge-intensive businesses will increase.
• Espoo is where work and workers meet.
• The city’s business services will improve.

The Healthy Espoo programme will innovate and promote various ways of addressing the long health care waiting times caused by the coronavirus pandemic and supporting mental wellbeing. The programme will also develop the city’s operations supporting a smooth implementation of the health and social services reform and promote cooperation with organisations and the entire third sector.

We will develop the residents’ own activities and other work to promote wellbeing, such as the potential of sports, culture and youth work to increase Espoo residents’ health and happiness.

“We will involve Espoo residents extensively in maintaining and developing their wellbeing. New ideas, functional concepts and activities can now be introduced to everyone through the programme,” says Programme Manager Kaisu Toivonen.

“The health and social services reform will also change the municipality’s role, and the promotion of wellbeing will become a focus area in a new way. Our measures will take account of different residential areas and groups of people. I am excited about the work that we will get to do for Espoo residents,” says Helena Marttila (Social Democratic Party), chairperson of the programme.

“The wellbeing of children and young people as well as our staff is especially important to the Growth and Learning Sector considering aftercare in relation to the coronavirus crisis. We have taken a stronger role in terms of wellbeing while we are getting ready for the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County to start its operations,” says Harri Rinta-aho, Programme Owner and Deputy Mayor for Growth and Learning.

Goals of the Healthy Espoo programme:

• Espoo residents will participate more and their community spirit will grow stronger.
• Espoo residents will have more equal opportunities to promote their wellbeing.
• Espoo residents’ mental wellbeing will improve.
• Wellbeing and health will be promoted in Espoo and in cooperation with the wellbeing services county.

Sustainable development includes economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability. Sustainability is about finding a balance between residents’ wellbeing, the economy and the environment.

“In Espoo, we have a great deal of expertise that can support the green transition in Finland and the EU. Measures aimed at slowing down climate change do not need to be incompatible with economic growth,” says Meri Löyttyniemi (Greens), chairperson of the Sustainable Espoo programme.

The green transition refers to transitioning away from growth based on fossil fuels. Utilising research and promoting innovations will play a key role in this change.

“For Espoo, the green transition means various smart city and circular economy innovations. Our development measures will especially focus on reducing emissions from energy, transport and construction,” says Pasi Laitala, Programme Manager and Espoo’s Director of Sustainable Development.

“Through our Sustainable Espoo programme work, we aim to be an international pioneer and play a strong role in the implementation of the EU programmes,” says Programme Owner, Mayor Jukka Mäkelä.

Goals of the Sustainable Espoo programme:

• Espoo will be a pioneer in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Espoo will achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
• The Espoo community and residents will act sustainably.
• Espoo will be a model city of sustainable urban development.
• Espoo will be the best developer partner for sustainable and smart urban solutions.

The programme owner is Mervi Heinaro, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Sports and Culture, and the chairperson is Joel Vanhanen (National Coalition Party).

Events play a major role in people’s wellbeing, satisfaction and the city’s vitality. The coronavirus pandemic and the related restrictions have underlined the importance of events from the perspective of wellbeing.

“The vitality aspect is highlighted by the fact that the event industry employs about 10,500 people in the Uusimaa region and has a national turnover of over 2.35 billion euros,” Heinaro says.

“Events really do strengthen the vitality of our region. I also believe that it is important for us to attend events and enjoy joyful experiences together after the long pandemic,” Vanhanen says.

“The aim of our programme is to improve the conditions for the work done in the background – in other words, make it easier to organise events,” says Programme Manager Lea Rintala.

Goals of the Events Together in Espoo programme:

• We will promote the development of a resident- and customer-oriented Event City Espoo concept.
• Espoo’s 50 Years as a City will be a year of networks and diverse partnerships.

Espoo will be an attractive and competitive partner for major national and international events