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URBAN & LOCAL – Future Food Ecosystem

URBAN & LOCAL project supports the innovative and sustainable solutions of the future for the urban restaurant's and local food services', including production, market, and distribution chain. These are required to advance the growth of the companies in the region and to generate a competitive advantage for the same.

Our Goals

The Urban & Local project creates a business ecosystem in the capital region that advances, and utilizes, RDI activities in the food services and restaurants. We create new operation methods, business openings, forms of data collection and sharing models. We promote the introduction of new technologies in the project.

In addition, we are developing a new kind of cooperation for small and medium-sized (SME) companies operating in the local food and restaurant service ecosystem in the capital region.

Our Operations Focus on Platforms

In pilots and test bed environments, the focus is on:

  • Utilizing the technologies and digitalization to form a sustainable urban food chain
  • Trying out new technologies and solutions on test platforms in the capital region together with companies, organizations and city residents.

Through the project, environment and platforms related to the restaurant and food service sectors of the capital region will also be developed. At the same time, long-term regional R&D cooperation related to the theme is improved and strengthened via this project.

Execution of the Project in Cooperation with

The main coordinator is Forum Virium Helsinki. The project is carried out by Metropolia and Haaga-Helia Universities of Applied Sciences, Perho Culinary, Tourism and Business College and cities of Helsinki and Vantaa.

More Information

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Contact Information

  • Project Manager Kaj Lindedahl, Metropolia UAS, Kaj.Lindedahl [at] metropolia.fi (Kaj[dot]Lindedahl[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
  • Project Coordinator Oruç Can Hasmaden, Metropolia UAS, Oruc.Hasmaden [at] metropolia.fi (Oruc[dot]Hasmaden[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
  • Communications Manager Grace Chung, Metropolia UAS, Grace.Chung [at] metropolia.fi (Grace[dot]Chung[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
  • Bio and Food Specialist Pia-Tuulia Laine, Metropolia UAS, Pia.T.Laine [at] metropolia.fi (Pia[dot]T[dot]Laine[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
  • Laboratory Analytics Specialist Marja-Leena Åkerman, Metropolia UAS, Marja.Akerman [at] metropolia.fi (Marja[dot]Akerman[at]metropolia[dot]fi)