Turku Science Park Vision – towards a new kind of cityscape
Turku Science Park is being developed into an urban space for innovation and encounters – an urban, open, diverse area that moves at the pace of its people.
Urban space for innovation and encounters
The development of the Science Park is guided by the Turku Science Park Vision published in 2024, which is an update of the previous vision from 2017 (Masterplan 2050). The new vision creates an outlook extending beyond the 2060s.
Turku Science Park Vision
18
000
18 000
new jobs
16
000
16 000
new residents
90
90
hectare area
4 billion
4 billion
euros in investments
10
000
10 000
new apartments
An internationally attractive center of expertise
The Science Park is the most significant strategic development project in the Turku region and one of the city’s most important development targets in the coming years. At the heart of the development is the growth of the region’s competitiveness and attractiveness as a diverse center of education and research, an internationally significant center of high expertise, and an attractive place to live.
1
The mixed urban structure combines downtown-style living, diverse services, new types of expertise, research, and knowledge exchange.
2
Work and leisure complement each other, and the area has a lively atmosphere at all hours of the day.
3
Construction, transportation, and housing solutions are in line with the principles of sustainable development and promote the well-being of the environment and people.
Turku Science Park DNA
Boldly experimental
Turku Science Park is a breeding ground for new ideas, where research, development, expertise, and innovation come together.
The Science Park combines smart services, intelligent mobility solutions, and diverse leisure opportunities to support the well-being and comfort of city residents. The ecosystem and structure of the area have been designed to encourage the emergence of new ideas, innovations, and thoughts. The Science Park is built on strong centers of expertise: the area has several campuses that serve as living laboratories for research and development.
The Science Park boldly mixes the familiar with the unfamiliar and is a meeting place for the new and the old, history and modernity, nature and the city, and different modes of transport. New ways of using urban space and adapting it to different needs make the area ideal for residents, businesses, and employees alike.
Logistically attractive
An excellent location, high-quality and constantly developing connections, and new forms of transportation reinforce the appeal of the Science Park.
Turku Science Park is located close to the city center, with excellent and constantly improving transport connections. It is a transport hub where different modes of transport blend seamlessly together: the area serves pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and public transport alike. Shared bicycle and car services, parking solutions, public transport development, and smart transport solutions facilitate mobility and reduce the need to use private cars.
Smooth traffic flow will also be achieved by unifying the area. A deck to be built over the railway line and Helsinginkatu will anchor the Kupittaa and Itäharju areas to each other. The planned boulevard-like street area will connect the neighborhoods, promoting the area’s attractiveness and urban character. Public transport solutions, such as possible tram services, will connect the Science Park more closely to the city center. The planned Weat Railway line will expand the commuting area of the whole of southern Finland.
Alive 24/7/365
Combining housing, services, businesses, and leisure opportunities, Science Park pulsates with life around the clock, all year round.
The Science Park will not be isolated on the outskirts of the city: in an urban structure, work and leisure support each other. The boundaries between public, semi-public and private spaces are redefined, opening up completely new possibilities for the use of urban space. Excellent transport connections, diverse wellness and sports services, and a comprehensive range of leisure activities ensure that the area is alive at all hours of the day.
Modern housing solutions will bring up to 16,000 new residents to Science Park, which will not only bring life to the area but also services. Park-like areas, distinctive neighbourhoods and high-quality services will increase the attractiveness of the area. The aim is to create an attractive area where all city residents can enjoy their free time.
Sustainably growing
The Science Park is Turku’s most energy-efficient built-up area, emphasizing not only high-quality basic infrastructure but also pleasant green spaces and circular economy projects.
Covering an area of nearly 90 hectares, Kupittaa and Itäharju offer Turku Science Park significant opportunities for growth. At the same time, it is the city’s most energy-efficient area, with a focus on sustainable construction and smart solutions and technologies. In addition to an efficiently built environment, Science Park also has space for squares, promenades and parks: diverse green areas connect the different parts of the area.
In addition to growth, Science Park’s vision is to be an exemplary area for sustainable living, learning and business in line with the circular economy, and to serve as a development and testing platform for new solutions that support low-carbon and circular economy.
Turku Science Park Vision images
Visualisations: City of Turku & Lundén Architecture Company
