Wasa Future Festival (WFF) 2024

The Vaasa region and the Nordic Kvarken EGTC can become a significant European center of excellence and growing competitiveness over the next 20 years, especially in the fields of energy and the green transition. Europe needs pioneers as it is falling behind the rest of the world economically and technologically compared to the time following the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

A key theme is “Modern Export Industry Policy” (MEIP), which does not only mean industrial buildings and production but also expertise, know-how, productivity, and understanding of world markets. Products and services must remain competitive for decades. During the WFF days, a comprehensive review and decision-making process will take place regarding regional actions: technological development, innovation, RDI levels, talent utilization, education and new learning environments, productivity improvement, healthcare reform, and the integration of leisure and culture to support these activities. The goal is to achieve leadership, and each session aims for collaboration and concrete actions over the next year.. 

Good people are more important than institutions and structures. Projects must respond to real needs, not the other way around. 

NOTE: PROGRAMME IS STILL UPDATING -CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE!

Opening: Permanent Exhibition  “The Region’s Innovations and Expertise”
Venue: Showroom

Forestry Day
organized by, among others, the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
“200 million € more from Ostrobothnia’s forests with the same harvesting volumes” 

Lunch for speakers, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia

Welcome
Mats Brandt, Regional Director, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
Venue: Mindsquare

“Political Autumn”
Member of Parliament Matias Marttinen, Coalition Party

“From Finland’s Forests and Countryside Come the Ingredients of the Future” 
State Secretary Päivi Nerg, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
including 10 minutes of discussion

“From timber to medicines – added value in the forestry sector”
Monika Österberg, Professor, Aalto University, member of the Finnish Scientific Panel for Forest Bioeconomy

Wood is the Way Forward!
Maarit Lindström, Director, Forest Industries Federation 

Venue: Mindsquare

Coffee break

Industrial Areas, Circular Economy and Industrial Carbon Sinks
Venue: Right Wing
Alholmen Circular Economy Platform, Åsa Björkman, Concordia

“New Rural Life”
Venue: Right Wing
Sun, wind, and water – long-term sustainable resources in vibrant countryside.
Ingvar Kulla, CEO, Esse Elektro-Kraft
Mathias Högbacka, Executive Director, Aktion Österbotten and PEAK Project (Development of a Local Energy System in Ostrobothnia)

University Day
“Breaking through Borders, Broadening our Perspectives”
University of Vaasa, Novia, VAMK, Åbo Akademi

The Impactful University and the RDI ecosystem. University of Vaasa creating new ways of industrial and societal impact from academia
Venue: Mindsquare
Moderator: Minna Martikainen

Building the Vasa Startup Ecosystem – How to strengthen the development of new high potential companies from Vaasa?
Venue: Mindsquare
Moderators: Philipp Holtkamp, Patrik Österåker, Jussi Itävuori, Marko Koski, Pekka Koponen

Vaasa Spouse Program Panel Discussion (University of Vaasa)
Venue: Right Wing
Moderator: Lukumanu Iddrisu

Lunch, Bock’s Corner Brewery

Vaasa International Talents Presentation
Venue: Right Wing
Novia, Aina Rodriguez Angelet, Pia Junger

Workshop on the impact of the pandemic on innovation culture. How did the innovation culture change? What kind of remedies, policies, and approaches could be implemented to strengthen the innovation culture of the region? Linking to the topics around culture 3.0 to develop concrete actions
Venue: Barn
Martin Meyer, Darren Dalcher

Future of Media & Journalism
Venue: Barn
Moderator: Hanna Hietikko
Imagine and write to our canvas your ideas about the best possible future of communication, journalism, social media, games. What if everything goes well? What is possible? What is good development?

YoungTalk24 – International talents and SME’s: an evening of solutions in the spirit of co-creation
Venue: Mindsquare

Networking – Get out of your own bubble

Welcoming words and a glimpse from YoungTalk23
Moderators Khin Phyu Cyn Kyi, Kartik Sharma and Ready for Talents Project Manager Sara Nyyssölä

Get Inspired: How to develop Ostrobothnia in order to attract and retain international talents?

Joakim Strand, Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Streering
Emilia Lidsle, Glocal talents, Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce
Mikko Pohjola, R&D Manager, Kempower

Success story of an international talent in a SME
Shariful Islam Chowdhary, VEO 

Co-creation Starts, A moment of interaction with the audience

Theme 1:
Young Talent’s/Entrepreneur’s Perspectives: The Future of Work: Enhancing Ostrobothnia’s business landscape with international expertise
Pitch Talk: Laila Fe Balinggan, Design and Disrupt
solution discussion at the tables

Theme 2:
SME’s perspectives: Success Stories in Hiring Foreign Employees
Pitch Talks: Jakob Wikström (Wikström Media)
Solution discussion at the tables, a moment of interaction with the audience

Break

Theme 3:
Solutions to International talents recruitment to SME’s
a moment of interaction with the audience
Pitch Talk: Maija Aarnio, Rannikko-Pohjanmaan Yrittäjät
solution discussion at the tables

Solutions on the table – how to proceed
moderators Khin Phyu Cyn Kyi and Kartik Sharma

Breakfast, Wasa Innovation Center: Mindsquare

ENERGY @ NEW FRONTIERS

THEME 1: Circular economy business models
Venue: Mindsquare
Opening words: Hanna Malkamäki

Finance and Legislation
What everyone should know about the opportunities provided by the sustainability transition to create new circular economy business models. What financing opportunities does it offer, and what requirements does the legislation impose.

From coffee grounds to coffee mugs
A substantial amount of coffee grounds is discarded every day, despite their valuable properties, while the use of disposable cups is increasing at an alarming rate each year. Grounded has developed a one-day coffee cup that utilizes coffee ground waste as the main material.
Tinus Byrgesen, Grounded, Denmark (Teams)

The Future of Corporate Textile Care
Clewor combines expert services, a digitized service model, logistics solutions, and industrial laundry services into a certified service solution for corporate textiles. 
Annastina Liedes, Clewor

Closing remarks
Hanna, Fredrik and Pia

THEME 2: BotH2nia HydrogenValley
Venue: Mindsquare

The Future of Finland’s Hydrogen Market
Gasgrid promotes a future carbon-neutral energy and raw material system: Key areas of operation include the transfer platform and gas market, developed with a customer-centric approach. 
Heli Virkki, Gasgrid

BotH2nia Hydrogen Valley in a Nutshell
BotH2nia Hydrogen Valley spans 4 regions and 8 value chains. Its total investment value is EUR 3.6 billion, and when realized, it will bring together over 90 innovative actors.
Sari Kola, Merinova 

Panel Discussion
What does BotH2nia Hydrogen Valley mean from the perspective of different stakeholders: Who benefits and how?
moderator, Sari Kola, Merinova
Herkko Plit, P2X 
Matti Malkamäki, Hycamite
Tomas Häyry, City of Vaasa
Olli-Pekka Aalto, Danfoss 

Lunch, Bock’s Corner Brewery

Kurikan Grand Canyon – Research, Technology, and the Future
Venue: Right Wing
Hydrogeological Science Institute: Anna-Kaisa Pusa, Mayor of Kurikka
Kurikka Deep Groundwater Project: Juha Kotiranta, Kurikan Vesihuolto Oy, Niko Putkinen, Researcher, GTK
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins in Geosciences: Holger Kessler, Geoscientist, Geoscience Technical Adviser, Geologist at the British Geological Survey

After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for further discussion in the exhibition area/ Showroom

THEME 3: Development of Finland’s Power Market
Venue: Mindsquare

The Future of Finland’s Energy System
Modeling Results: Future Outlook of Finland’s Energy System and the Need for Flexible and Reliable Capacity. 
Kenneth Engbom, Wärtsilä

Perspectives on Power Market
Results of an Interview Study Conducted in May-June as a Basis for Discussion.
Sari Kola, Merinova

Panel Discussion
What does the development of the power market require from energy companies? What is Fingrid’s role? What actions is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment taking? 
moderator Sari Kola, Merinova
Kenneth Engblom, Wärtsilä
Hannu Linna, Fingrid
Stefan Damlin, Vaasan Sähkö
Kirsi Hautala, Kokkolan Energia

Coffee break, Wasa Innovation Center: Mindsquare

KvarkenSat / SpaceEconomy
Venue: Right Wing
Space Business Learning Café: What kind of business models does Space enable? For you? Your company? The region? How do we leverage space to enable new products and services? Learning café style workshop to untangle the mystery of new space business and the usage of space data to strengthen existing businesses or create new business opportunities.

Photonics
Finnish Photonics Association, Åbo Akademi
Venue: Barn

Silicon Valley for Energy Transfer
Venue: Mindsquare
Moderator: Minna Martikainen
–BY Collaborators and University of Vaasa. What do we want to achieve? What do we need? WHO do we need (national and international collaborators)? What are key steps by 2030 in order to make this happen?

THEME 4: GigaVaasa Talk 2024
Venue: Mindsquare
moderator Marko Kuokkanen
Our roundtable discussions will cover three exciting themes:
– Preparing for investment in the GigaVaasa area: Where do we stand?
– Making mega-investments a reality: Strategies for success
– The role of public authorities in fostering investment: How can they help?
Participant list includes for example following speakers:

Freyr Battery Finland, Tor Stendahl, Managing Director & Country Manager
Epsilon Advanced Materials Vikram Handa, Managing Director
Shanshan New Material, Yuan Ruwei, Deputy Director, Supply Chain
GigaVaasaTeam, Tomas Häyry, Vaasan kaupunginjohtaja
Member of Parliament, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri
Business Finland, Markku Kivistö, Head of Industry, Cleantech, Invest in
European Investment Bank, Jaani Pietikäinen, Head of EIB Group Office for Finland

Breakfast, Wasa Innovation Center: Mindsquare

TECHNOLOGY @ NORDIC
Mexico Day, with ambassador and business delegation

Artificial Intelligence for Business, moderator Stefan Lindström
Venue: Mindsquare
Tero Ojanperä, Silo.AI
Atte Jääskeläinen, SITRA
Antti Vasara, CEO, VTT
Harri Kulmala CEO, DIMECC
politicians, etc.

Productivity improvement  
Venue: Mindsquare
Ville Vertanen, chief director of Statistics Finland
Hannu Krook, CEO, S Group
Timo Korkeamäki, Principal, Aalto University
Timo Jaatinen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Minna Martikainen, Principal, Vaasa University

The Importance of the Real Economy: Wille Rydman, Minister of Economic Affairs, WIC Innovation Award, Entrepreneurial Grant by Christoffer Häggblom
Venue: Mindsquare

Lunch, Bock’s Corner Brewery

Theme: Kvarken and Modern Export Industry Policy

Growth and Security in the Nordic Region
moderator Sarah Väre
The event language is English, questions can be asked in Nordic languages and English. (Simultaneous interpretation from English to Swedish.)
Coffee and mingle 

Introduction
Sarah Väre, Growth Manager, Kvarken Council EGTC

Welcome
Åsa Ågren Wikström, Member of Västerbotten County Council and Deputy Chair of the Board of Kvarken Council EGTC
Anna-Kaisa Pusa, Mayor of Kurikka and Deputy Chair of the Board of Kvarken Council EGTC, Kjell Skoglund, CEO of Finnish-Swedish Chamber of Commerce 

A Northern perspective – challenges and opportunities for collaboration in the North
Wegger Christian Strømmen, Norwegian Ambassador to Finland 

Finland needs an inspiring vision for its future: a Nordic approach
Martin Paasi, Chairman of the Board at Suomen Ekonomit, Financial Expert at Nordnet, and founder of the consulting company Recubator

Nordic and Arctic Security – convergent connectivities?
Niklas Eklund, Docent, Department of Political Science, Umeå University, and Deputy Director of Arctic Centre (Arcum) 

Plan B for the Nordics
Risto E.J. Penttilä, CEO, Nordic West Office

Nordic Connector – how to finance a fixed link over Kvarken
Kim Wikström, Professor, Laboratory of Industrial Management, Åbo Akademi  

Panel discussion
What challenges and opportunities does the new geopolitical situation create in the Nordics and the Arctic region? How about our NATO membership? What does politics and the business sector need to act on now? 

Wegger Christian Strømmen, Risto E.J. Penttilä, Martin Paasi, Niklas Eklund, Kim Wikström

Reflections and conclusion
Tua Takasu, Project Manager, Finnish-Swedish Chamber of Commerce 

The latest version of the program can be found here: https://www.kvarken.org/en/events/wff2024

Nordic Defence Industry (invitation only)
Venue: TBA
Speakers include Commander Janne Jaakkola, Finnish Defence Forces, SAAB, Patria, EK, PM, DI Försvar & Sikkerhed, etc.
(a separate press conference possible)

Dinner, Bock’s Corner Brewery, pre-booking required, anne.suomalainen@bocksbrewery.com

Breakfast, Wasa Innovation Center: Mindsquare

Nordic Connector (invitation only)
Venue: Mindsquare
Nordic logistics – energy – industry – softpower – security integration: New Nordic world.
Representatives from all sectors from Nordic countries

Leadership in Healthcare, part1: “Early-Stage Diagnostics and Treatment”, Data and AI
Venue: Right Wing
moderator: Suvi Einola, director, INNOHUB
Lasse Lehtonen, ”Finland’s top expert”, HUS
Enni Sandmark, University of Helsinki

Leadership in Healthcare, part2: “Preventing Youth Marginalization”
Venue: Right Wing
moderator Anne Salovaara-Kero, chairman of the board, wellbeing services county of Ostrobothnia

Case studies:
Analysis of exhaled breath
Caring code to prevent youth exclusion

Regional Leadership in Natural Sciences: New Learning Environments
Venue: Mindsquare
Minister of Education, Anders Adlercreutz
Jan Holmgård, Sursik School: Natural sciences on a boat
Miikka Mattila, Kuulampi School: Increasing interest and genuine skills in mathematics with videos and mobile phones.

Lunch, Bock’s Corner Brewery

CULTURE 3.0

Kvarken EGTC, Culture 3.0 Leader in Europe
Venue: Mindsquare
Sanna Bondas and Suvi Aho, City of Vaasa 
KIC program’s pioneering role for the region
prof. Pier Luigi Sacco
Ambra Trotto, director, EIT Culture & Creativity
Ragnar Siil, Creative Industies, Tallinn
Rosa Meriläinen, Secretary General, KULTSA ry

Local case studies: New sports culture, new work culture, new entrepreneurial culture

Coffee and a Breakdance Show
Saiffa

Artificial Intelligence in visual art
Jukka Hautamäki

“Neural god beings in their sugar formations. Artificial Intelligence in visual art.”
The lecture is part of the Vauhdittamo project of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Culture 3.0
Venue: Mindsquare
moderators: Sanna Bondas and Suvi Aho, City of Vaasa
Cross-over culture, Krista Petäjäjärvi
Kaisa Rönkö, Director of the Arts Promotion Centre (TAIKE)
Suptopia, Martin Q Larsson