In our final episode of our IMAGINE the Citiverse series, Marko Teräs, Project Manager for the x-CITE Project at the City of Tampere, and Arnaud Verstraete, Project Manager at Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), share their insights into reshaping civic participation in the digital age. The conversation explores how emerging technologies like local digital twins and immersive virtual environments are being used to enhance democracy, accessibility, and urban planning. Marko and Arnaud discuss the challenges of inclusive design, ethical considerations, and public engagement in smart city development. They highlight the importance of human-centred innovation, transparency, and collaboration in building interconnected, equitable communities.

Episode Overview:

[00:01:07] Teaser Question: “If you had to describe the mission behind the x-CITE project with only three emojis, which one would you use and why?”

[00:03:01] Our guest’s background

[00:05:30] Vision and mission of the x-CITE project

[00:08:27] Arnaud’s role in communications and outreach

[00:08:56] What is the ‘Citiverse’ and how does the project define it?

[00:12:18] Who are the partners involved in x-CITE and where are pilots being implemented?

[00:15:17] Inclusivity and addressing the digital divide in smart city services

[00:16:53] Ethics advisory and human-centred values

[00:18:28] Upcoming milestones and opportunities for citizen involvement

[00:22:41] Reflections on the Imagine 2025 event and quadruple helix collaboration

[00:29:24] Podcast Segment – Flip the Script

[00:35:11] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

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