At the beginning of June, the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society Matchmaking Event brought together leading European researchers, project professionals, and representatives from higher education institutions at the historic campus of the University of Greenwich in London. The event aimed to build new international consortia to respond to the themes of culture, creativity, and an inclusive society in the Horizon Europe 2025 call.
Representing Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) were Pirita Ihamäki (Principal Lecturer, Innovation Management), Juha Suonpää (Principal Lecturer), and Juhokalle Pekkala (RDI Specialist). The trio actively engaged in networking, workshops, and discussions on new research and development projects through which TAMK can strengthen its position as a European player in the creative industries.
Cultural Development in Virtual Worlds – A TAMK-Led Initiative
Pirita Ihamäki led a workshop on the topic HORIZON-CL2-2025-05: Evolution of Culture in a Virtualising World. The session explored how culture transforms and evolves in virtual environments and what opportunities this opens for research, education, and the creative sector. Ihamäki announced that TAMK is ready to coordinate the VIRTUA – Cultural Futures in Immersive World research project, which aims to develop new types of cultural experiences and formats through immersive technologies.
Sustainable Design as a European Strength
Juha Suonpää participated in the workshop HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-06: Europe as a Global Powerhouse of Design for Sustainable Competitiveness, which examined the role of design in promoting sustainability and competitiveness. TAMK’s strong expertise in visual communication, design, and cultural heritage research attracted interest, and the university is now emerging as a partner in several consortia around this theme.
Networking and Influence
The event offered a unique opportunity to network with European universities, research institutions, and project partners. TAMK’s participants met several potential collaborators and highlighted the university’s strengths, particularly at the intersection of the creative industries, cultural heritage, and digital technologies.
Looking Ahead
Tampere University of Applied Sciences continues to play an active role in European research and development. The Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society Matchmaking Event was an important step toward new Horizon Europe projects, where TAMK can act both as a coordinator and a strong partner.
If you are interested in learning more about the VIRTUA project, please contact Pirita Ihamäki (pirita.ihamaki@tuni.fi).
Writers: Pirita Ihamäki, Juho Suonpää, Juhokalle Pekkala
