Exploring the Future of Living Environments in Kanta-Häme
The FutureECOS project hosted a dynamic stakeholder meeting in Kanta-Häme on the 25th of March, bringing together experts, policymakers, and citizens to discuss the future of vibrant living environments. The event fostered engaging discussions on how to enhance the region's attractiveness, resilience, and sustainability in the long term.
A Collaborative Approach to Future Living Environments
The meeting began with an introductory round, setting the stage for an open and interactive exchange of ideas. It was followed by a presentation of the Interregional Report, which provides a comparative analysis of the six regions involved in the FutureECOS project. This report serves as a foundation for understanding current trends, challenges, and opportunities in regions situated outside of the main national growth poles.
The following discussion centred on the question of how Kanta-Häme can benefit from its location along the growth corridor and what opportunities this position offers. The conversation revolved around what makes an area an attractive place to live and how local and regional strategies can support the "soft vitality" of the environment - a concept encompassing quality of life, community well-being, and social cohesion.
Interactive Workshop: Envisioning Future Needs
To deepen the dialogue, the meeting featured a workshop, where participants adopted diverse roles - from high school students to entrepreneurs and retirees to mention a few - to explore different perspectives on the region’s future development. The exercise sparked some wild and fresh ideas, such as automatised transport system, The Kanta-Häme Silicon Valley of Education, enhanced storytelling for local businesses, and even a visionary growth corridor connecting Kanta-Häme to Tallinn through an underground tunnel. The participants created four promising visions for Kanta-Häme in 2050, each building on different strengths and assets of the region.
The event concluded with a lively discussion on how to implement these ideas, reinforcing the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The findings from the workshop will contribute profoundly to the future steps of the project, offering valuable insights and ensuring that community voices remain at the centre of future development initiatives.