On October 10, the University of Turku will host the first event of the Built4People network, inviting researchers, companies, and authorities to discuss the future of housing and urban space. This event will also launch a new call for applications for the Turku Urban Research Program.
In 2024, the University of Turku joined the international Built4People/ECTP network, which brings together European research institutes, universities, companies, and public actors to develop user-centric and sustainable built environments. This event is part of our post-membership development work, where we are building our own university-level B4P network.
The Built4People network at the University of Turku brings together researchers and experts to examine the built environment from a user and human perspective – from housing to urban planning and zoning.
The network aims to bring people’s everyday experiences, community aspects, interaction, and practical insights into planning and decision-making.
Themes include housing design, planned and actual use of public spaces, participation models and information asymmetry, construction business models, and research on cross-sectoral cooperation and co-creation with public authorities.
The event will also feature the opening of the Turku Urban Research Program’s call for applications and an introduction of the new program director, Hanna Mattila, who will present the program’s future priorities and opportunities.
- Date: Friday 10 October, 2025 at 9:30–12:00 (morning coffee 9:30–10:00)
- Venue: Conference room Manu 1–4, Mauno Koivisto Center, Tykistökatu 6
- For: All researchers and experts at the University of Turku interested in user-oriented built environment research. Experts from other universities or organizations related to the field are also welcome to attend the event.
- Language: The event will be held in English.
The main objectives of the event are:
- Present the network's current focus areas and research themes
- Share research on the built environment conducted in different units
- Network and find common research initiatives
- Co-create future activities and potential projects
- Learn about the Turku Urban Research Program’s call and new opportunities
Programme
- 9:30–10:00 Morning coffee and networking
- 10:00 Opening of the event and introduction to the network
Research Coordinator Jarmo Malmsten, UTU, Research Services - 10:10 User-oriented built environment and research in the field
Research Director Taina Eriksson, UTU, Centre for Collaborative Research
Research Director Aki Koponen, UTU, Centre for Collaborative Research - 10:25 Turku Urban Research Program presentation of the program’s open call
Research Director Hanna Mattila, Turku Urban Research Programme - 10:40 A Success Story in Preparing a Multidisciplinary Project
Senior Researcher Carolina Islas Sedano, UTU, Faculty of Technology - 11:00 Interactive workshop: introductions, project ideation, and next steps
Facilitators Taina Eriksson and Aki Koponen
A. Introductions: Participants briefly introduce themselves and their research interests and current projects and project ideas.
B. Project ideation: Group discussions to identify shared interests and explore potential project ideas.
C. Summary and next steps Joint summary of the discussions and planning of possible next steps. - 12:00 Event ends
Registration is required. Please register by Thursday October 9.
More about Built4People and ECTP
In 2024, the University of Turku joined the Built4People (B4P) partnership and the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP).
Built4People is a partnership between the EU and industry aimed at accelerating the development of sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive built environments.
ECTP brings together research institutes, universities, companies, and public organizations to develop future solutions for construction and the built environment, and to influence research and innovation policy in the sector.
Read more about the networks:
Built4People – European Partnership
ECTP – European Construction Technology Platform
