In Finland, Virtual Is Reality

Finland is one of the world’s most digitalized countries. Nearly 100 % of essential public services are available online. Cities, universities and companies work closely together. They share problems, results and failures.

The metaverse is shared virtual reality. 3D spaces wired together so people can move between them. You can teach a class in it. You can sit in a fighter jet cockpit. You can walk through a building before the first shovel hits the ground.

In Finland, the network working out what cities can do with it is called FINverse. The question they keep returning to: what is a city actually for in the metaverse?

Oulu, Espoo and Tampere are three Innocities working with researchers and companies on what cities can actually do with virtual reality. Working across city boundaries, with companies and researchers, they found answers most cities are still looking for.

What is already happening?

In education, there are virtual classrooms, operating rooms, maternity wards and power grid control rooms that are studied by doing, not memorizing.

In culture, museums are showing what immersive 3D does to storytelling. The National Opera designed its spaces virtually before touching a wall.

In urban planning, cities build digital twins to plan their futures differently.

Collaboration? That’s what we do best. Finnish cities have been ahead on what it actually takes to operate across physical, augmented and virtual spaces. As the technology matures, we’re ready for whatever comes next. Get in touch. Ask how we made it work!

Contact: Kirsi Hyry, kirsi.hyry@businessoulu.com