Go where the people are: The Netti-Nysse bus in Tampere

Costs and savings

Back in 2000, the project got 600,000 Finnish marks (about €100,000) from the City of Tampere to convert the first bus. This was very cheap. For instance, we got the bus painted in vocational schools, and we also had private firms as sponsors. IBM offered the computers at half price. Microsoft gave us the software programmes for free. The first bus is now out of use and in the local museum. In 2005 the second bus cost €340,000. About 70 per cent of these costs were covered by the e-Tampere programme of the local authority and the rest was shared between the Ministry of Education, regional funds and business partners.

Besides the capital and equipment costs, we also pay salaries for four people. Overall, the operating expenses are about €250,000 a year (excluding administrative costs of the library). The income depends on projects funded by external partners and varies from €6000 – 100,000 per year.