The Association of Local and Regional Authorities and INFRA ry have awarded the City of Joensuu the Best Infrastructure Client of 2025 award. Joensuu is an open and development-oriented infrastructure client that works closely with companies and educational organizations in the region. The city utilizes regular market dialogue and promotes digitalization and low-emission implementation methods.
"Joensuu emphasizes low-emission and efficient implementation methods in all its infrastructure procurements and is constantly developing its operating methods to support climate-friendly solutions. Among other things, the city's procurements have agreed to introduce machine control models as a minimum requirement. This has promoted the digitalization of the sector and the accuracy and efficiency of work," city engineer Tero Toivanen crystallize.
The City of Joensuu has also been involved in national development work, for example in development groups for the organization and procurement of municipal infrastructure services. In addition, the City cooperates with INFRA ry to improve the attractiveness of the infrastructure sector, arouse interest among young people and ensure the sustainability of a skilled workforce in North Karelia.
The Papinkangas project showed: Joensuu is developing the infrastructure sector through cooperation
The city's infrastructure projects are based on close and goal-oriented cooperation with local companies, INFRA ry and educational organizations. The city's personnel's information sessions at Ylä-Savo Vocational College promote open information exchange and ensure that companies, the City of Joensuu as the client, and future experts in the field are on the same page.
The Papinkangas construction project is an excellent practical example of how the city builds cooperation with companies, educational institutions and organizations and creates a common development platform for actors in the field.
“The contract model was exceptionally collaborative: the city put out a tender for the contract on the condition that it would be implemented as a teaching site, with students carrying out the actual work under the supervision of the contractor. The students worked under the supervision of the main contractor and had access to the contractor's machinery and equipment, so the work was carried out on a champion-contest basis,” Toivanen says.
Another time with a common cause
The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities and INFRA ry jointly awarded the Best Infrastructure Client award in the municipal sector for the second time. The award was presented at the KEHTO forum meeting for municipal technology development in Hämeenlinna. The previous award was given to the City of Espoo in 2021.
The organizations want to use the recognition to encourage municipalities to develop procurement and to raise awareness of the importance of procurement in implementing sustainable infrastructure and improving productivity in the sector.
Additional information:
Specialist Marika Kamppi, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, 0400 460 841, marika.kamppi@kuntaliitto.fi
Deputy CEO Kari Muhonen, INFRA association, 0400 943 350, kari.muhonen@infra.fi
City engineer Tero Toivanen, City of Joensuu, 050 310 9779, tero.toivanen@joensuu.fi