In the first episode of our IMAGINE the Citiverse special series, we welcome back two esteemed guests: Teppo Rantanen, Executive Director of the City of Tampere, and Bas Boorsma, Founder and Partner of Urban Innovators Global.

Together, they dive into the concept of the Citiverse, exploring its potential to transform urban life by merging digital and physical realities. From Tampere's initiatives like the Tampere Pulse app and AI-driven job matching to global perspectives on digital inclusion and urban innovation, this episode offers a compelling vision for the future of cities.

Don't miss this exciting lead-up to the IMAGINE 2025 event in Tampere, Finland, where cities and innovators will collaborate to shape the Citiverse!

Overview of the episode:

[00:03:13] Teaser Question: "If you had to describe your vision for the Citiverse in only three words, what would those words be?"

[00:04:12] Our guests' backgrounds

[00:05:47] Defining the Citiverse and differentiating it from the Metaverse

[00:08:54] How the Citiverse can transform urban life (mobility, sustainability, citizen engagement)

[00:11:43] Concrete examples of Citiverse applications in Tampere

[00:13:53] Examples from other cities (Rotterdam, Istanbul)

[00:17:39] Criticisms and skepticism about the Citiverse and how to address them

[00:21:38] Communication strategies for fostering trust in digital innovations

[00:23:55] IMAGINE 2025 event: Goals, uniqueness, and collaboration opportunities

[00:26:21] Message for cities and innovators interested in joining IMAGINE 2025

[00:28:15] Ecosystem collaboration and its importance for Citiverse development

[00:30:25] Combining digital and analog approaches for urban innovation

[00:31:19] Using the Citiverse to address major global challenges like biodiversity

[00:32:00] Podcast Segment: Flip the Script

[00:36:26] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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