Exploring How Digitalisation Can Support Sustainable Urban Development

Representatives from Melbourne, Australia, travelled to Tampere, Finland, for their first IURC study visit, exploring how digital tools can support sustainable urban development, strengthen citizen participation and contribute to major urban regeneration projects.

Melbourne representatives visited Tampere this week to gain a deeper understanding of the Finnish city’s approach to sustainable urban development, with particular attention to its creative and extensive use of digital resources. The two cities are linked through Community of Practice (CoP) 10 of the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme.

A key focus of the visit is how digitalisation can support more meaningful citizen participation in the planning of major urban regeneration projects. Melbourne is also strongly committed to consultative approaches and, despite the considerable differences in the demographic and political contexts of the two cities, Tampere’s experience is providing valuable perspectives on how digital tools can strengthen public engagement.

As a capital city authority, Melbourne must regularly balance different and sometimes competing interests in urban development. The exchange in Tampere is therefore offering an opportunity to examine how digital resources can support consultation and decision-making while helping cities keep people at the centre of the development process.

This shared emphasis on putting people first has emerged as an important point of connection between Melbourne and Tampere. The study visit is allowing both cities to compare their approaches, learn from their respective experiences and explore how digitalisation can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable urban development.

Melbourne representatives are also interested in Tampere’s success in bidding for European projects. With Australia expected to become associated with the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme from 2027, this could create further opportunities to support continued cooperation between the two cities.

Discussions throughout the study visit are helping to deepen the exchange and build a clearer understanding of where future collaboration may be possible. For Melbourne and Tampere, the visit represents an important first step in developing their IURC partnership and identifying practical areas in which they can continue learning from one another.