The network seeks to develop cooperation in urban research in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

Seven organisations are involved in the project: the University of Helsinki, Helsinki University of Technology, four cities – Espoo, Helsinki, Lahti and Vantaa – and the Ministry of Education.

At the heart of the project are chairs in urban research that have been filled gradually since 1998. There are nine chairs altogether at the most extensive stage of the network project. Second funding phase got underway in 2004 and it will last formally until 2010. Some of the chairs have been made permanent and some continue currently on fixed term basis.

There are currently eight professors working on the project:

• Peter Ache, European metropolitan planning
• Peter Clark, urban history
• Anne Haila, social policy, especially urban research
• Matti Kortteinen, urban sociology
• Heikki Loikkanen, urban economics
• Jari Niemelä, urban ecology
• Heikki Setälä, urban ecosystem studies
• Mari Vaattovaara, urban geography

In addition to the professors, Jussi Kulonpalo is serving as coordinator of the urban research network. Mr. Kulonpalo is responsible for coordinating both the work of the professors and urban research cooperation between the organisations involved in the project.