1. Helsinki – Accelerating Open Innovation
Santtu von Bruun
Vice-Director of Economic Development
“The entire city is developed as a platform for experimenting, new innovations and new solutions.”
”City cannot solve the big challenges on its own… we need strategic partnerships with everyone who is interested in developing Helsinki“

2. Open innovatio ecosystem
Developing open innovation ecosystem…
Open innovatio ecosystem
Empowering citizen led development
R&D&I
community
Transparent governance
Open city
State
Neutral broker 
connector
City as an platform
R&D&I and testing in real environments
Enabler
Ecosystem builder
City
Open innovation
ecosystem
References for companies
Ecosystem promoter and marketer
Building collaboration with and between R&D&I and companies
Citizens
Solving complex urban challenges
Maker communities

3. Re-designing the role of the city
R&D&I
community
Companies
State
Neutral broker 
connector
Enabler
Ecosystem builder
City
Ecosystem promoter and marketer
Innovation driver
Service provider
Maker communities
Citizens
Start ups

4. FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS: Helsinki - What are the most characteristic elements of the local innovation ecosystem and which role is played by the public sector as accelerator of innovation? (5 minutes)
Helsinki (Finland) has always been very innovative city. The change from in 100 years from 1 of the poorest countries in Europe to where we are now is a story of social innovation. The underlying foundations are still very much the same: 1st class education, equality, trust, strong maker communities,
In 2013 City of Helsinki decided on a strategy which stated: “Helsinki will be the world’s leading testbed for innovation”.
In the new city strategy the idea of a city as test bed has been taken even further and also on building and strengthening the dna of Helsinki.
Focus on open innovation: from narrow, traditional innovation policy towards comprehensive and open innovation policy.. Where city promotes and drives innovation by leveraging its infrastructure and services in a way that promotes innovation and commercialization - innovative/pre-commercial procurement, innovation platforms, test beds, proof of concept and market reference opportunities…
There is a significant difference between Helsinki and most of the other European or global cities – the responsibilities and the reach of the city are very large… for example Helsinki energy company is one of the most innovative energy companies, testing and developing lots of vanguard technologies, even if they are not yet commercially viable.
And this mean re-designing the role of the city..
Helsinki takes multiple roles in enabling and driving innovation.
We are a neutral connector:
We are an enabler: we offering testbeds and testing opportunities
We drive innovation by: Funding, procurement, city led R&D and piloting new technologies…
We help build the ecosystem and services: If there is a service or a platform missing, we build or help build it.
We have a think tank (Forum Virium) for digital solutions.. European forerunner in urban open data and IoT solutions
Quick experimentation programmes..
Innovation funder 4

5. SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS (To all) - What are the most relevant changes to local innovation strategies occurred in the last 10 years and how these strategies will be in years, on medium-long term? (1 minute each - 5 minutes in total) I think there is is the turn towards open innovation.. The complex challenges, like climate change, that we as human kind face today are solved by innovations. But no city, company, university or NGO, no matter how big or capable, can do it alone. 2. is the growing realization that cities are key players in local and even global innovation: regulators ((in good and in bad), investors, customers.. And in increasingly urban world – the role and importance of cities as innovation platforms, innovation enablers, will grow How local innovation challenges are linked to global phenomena and how cities can respond to changes and trends (such as the evolution of AI and its impact on the market of jobs) happening on different scales? (1 minute each - 5 minutes in total) Urban tech: Innovations that make cities more livable, resilient and sustainable – innovation (technological or social) is the key survival human race.. Sustainable innovation policies – do innovation / scan innovation / test/pilot to learn / co-operate, share and learn from others / use leveraging power to regulate disruptive innovation.. Case Uber in NYC - What cities need from EU? How EU can help cities in developing and implementing integrated local innovation strategies? (1 minute each - 5 minutes in total) Recognize role of the cities (EU is still mostly about the regions) Create city specific instruments Innovation is messy and unpredictable – EU funding is rules rules rules…
Etunimi Sukunimi

6. LAST ROUND OF QUESTIONS (To all or just to city representatives, according to the time left) - Which is the innovation story happened along the years in your city that impressed you most and how it showed you that cities have a decisive role in fostering innovation? (2 minutes each minutes in total)
Etunimi Sukunimi