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1. URBAN RESEARCH PROGRAMME IN
TURKU: TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION
ICLEI Informed Cities Forum, Newcastle 14.-16.4.2010
Dr Sampo Ruoppila
Research Director (urban studies)
University of Turku

2. Abstract
The cooperation between the city and universities of Turku has
been recently further developed. Firstly, the city and universities
published their commonly developed “Turku urban research
programme 2009-2012”. The programme drawn both by the
academics and the city officials defines topics for further research
cooperation. The programme is divided into four research themes,
which are knowledge-ability, sustainability, welfare and good
governance. Being increasingly informed by the research should
promote abilities in decision-making to reach towards these
societal ideals. A further step in implementation was taken in
March 2010 with appointment of a research director to generate
urban research projects that are beneficial also for the City of
Turku. In addition to new research there is also a need to develop
consultative practices for efficient information exchange to
consider implications of already existing academic knowledge.

3. Turku Urban Research Programme 2009-2012
• Urban research
• Defined as ”multidisciplinary academic research in
which a city is either a topic or an actor. Urban research
includes also topics in which a city, urban populations or
urban phenomena are emphasised.”
• Research programme
• The goal is to identify factors and practices which
currently support successful and sustainable
development of a (Finnish) major city.

4. A novel phase in the co-operation between the
city and the universities of Turku
• 2/2008 Common urban research and urban policy seminar
• 4/2008 Advisory board of urban research co-operation
between the city and the universities of Turku (University of
Turku, Åbo Academi University, Turku Business School)
• 5/2008 Drawing of the urban research programme as well
as ideas for a co-operation structure began
• 11/2008 Four themes of the research programme were
defined
• 4/2009 The research programme was published
• 3/2010 Research director was appointed. My task is to
develop, manage and coordinate co-operation – to be the
“linkage person” between the city and the universities

5. Goals of the co-operation
• To agree which research topics should be
emphasised
• To develop a suitable co-operation structure
between the city and the universities. In order to
contribute to the knowledge-ability of societal
discussions and decision-making
• To establish an urban research unit within the city
administration, in which the universities also
contribute with certain resources

6. The research programme aims to support the
city’s development in the fields of
• Knowledge-ability
• Conditions of economic development and restructuring, factors
of economic success
• Image and attractiveness, historical specificity
• Information on context-specific development which supports
collaboration with other cities or institutions
• Welfare
• Modes/ways of living, living conditions, welfare, safety
• Multi-culturalism, integration of immigrants
• Sustainable development
• Land-use planning, housing, transportation
• Climate change
• Tools to manage multi-disciplinary information
• Good governance
• Public services provision
• Governing methods
• Local democracy enhancement
• Measuring and evaluations

7. The partners’ targets in research co-operation
• The City of Turku
• Support knowledge-base of decision making
• Increase knowledge-ability of city officials in all policy
sectors
• The universities (Uni of Turku, Åbo Academi University,
Turku Business School)
• Accomplish the universities ”third mission” regional
engagement
• Strengthen the tradition of urban research
• Strengthen multidisciplinary urban research
• Both
• To make the ”demand” and ”supply” of urban research
meet

8. Advantages to strengthen co-operation
• The city
• Provides flexible advisory resources for urban management in
various policy topics
• Supports the creative image of the city
• Potential novel approaches and increased efficiency may save
money
• The universities
• Challenging feedback from city officials, new research ideas
• Help in developing ideas about complexities of urban
development
• Systematic approach to urban research and strengthening its
tradition
• Both
• Increased publicity of urban research, contributions to more
informative societal discussions (e.g. through local media)
• Increased co-operation between and within institutions

9. First impressions and ways forward
• The idea of a high level ”linkage person” seems to work well
• Everybody knows whom to contact to reach the network in either side
• ”Translating” the interests of the two different worlds to each other will be
needed – both understand it is about benefits for both
• New research and development projects
• Public authority as a partner or just aware
• Externally financed, city may have a co-financer role
• Dissemination of the results of on-going research projects
• There is a number of on-going research projects that are fulfilling the aims of
the new urban research programme, although those researchers might not
have heard about the programme. Neither does the city authorities know
about their research.
• New consultative practices needed to make use of wide
accumulated expertise in the academy
• You don’t always have to run a research project to get an academic insight to
an urban management issue, a consultation of an expert might do the job.
• A structured, short (max 2 h) consultative practices will be introduced
• Initiative from either side
• A more systematic use of students’ thesis etc.
• A regularly updated list of possible thesis subjects, practices of reporting the
results

10. Thank you for your attention
Sampo Ruoppila
University of Turku, Department of Social Research
City of Turku, Statistics & Research
sampo.ruoppila@utu.fi