District heating industry is looking for new models and technologies in striving for carbon neutrality, decreased independence of fuels, and enhanced competitiveness. Core measures are solutions that integrate power based heat production methods to conventional combustion systems, utilization of waste heat sources and heat stores, and including heat consuming estates to holistic optimization of the systems. Digital tools for gathering information from the network and controlling the operations optimal way are also crucial. New district heating systems are more complex that their predecessors, which causes increasing need for new knowledge and skills in both planning of investments, introducing of new concepts, and running of new systems in various conditions. New product development needs can be seen, as well. In this project, a district heating testing and demonstration platform, a "living-lab" will be built on the Bioeconomy campus in conjunction with its existing district heating system. Businesses, researchers, universities and colleges can use the platform for creation of various concrete district heating solutions for testing and demo purposes, in order to get realistic data about functions of the concepts. Pilot-tests will be implemented during the project in order to get preliminary data and experiences of new district heating concepts. The platform can be used for training of personnel and experts, and as a demonstrative element in events.