2026 Ohjelma (10-15.08)
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WFF 2026
NEW NORDIC initiatives are on this year’s agenda. 200 + people on stage (ministers, ambassadors, key business and public decisionmakers, key specialists from all Nordic countries) and several tech- and solution demonstrations plus exhibitions. Complete program with timeslots is published end of May. Unique agendas:
• New Nordic Energy System
• New Nordic Energy & Data key competence areas with export targets
• New Nordic “MIT” level R&D, with impact
• New Nordic Defense: main issues and targets
• New Nordic Logistics in world economy
• New Nordic Forest Economy
• New Nordic Culture 3.0 with impact
• AI implementations for leaderships
• New ambitions in Healthcare, Education, Circular Economy, Neurology (we-they in politics), Quantum Tech, Space Economy
• Unique new Exhibition: Everything is Energy – Energy is everything
Please note that topics, speakers, schedules and venues are subject to change.
(10.08) maanantai -
Circular Economy
Forest Economy: national and Nordic
Forest values and investment potentials
Hall of Energy Grand permanent Exhibition opening ceremony: Everything is Energy – Energy is Everything. Facts, presentations and art
12:00 - 15:00
New value chains – Forestry in wartime – New politics for the future of forests and forestry
📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square
Preliminary programme
New value chains
· International value chains and the future potential of the bioeconomy, perspectives from North Karelia – Markus Hirvonen, Regional Mayor of North Karelia
· International value chains and the future potential of the bioeconomy, perspectives from Västernorrland – Helena Näsström, Senior Project Manager, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
· New wood – unlocking the potential of wood – Virpi Korhonen, Project Manager, Metsäviestintä
Forestry in wartime
· Sustainable raw material supply for forest energy production in Ukraine – Pasi Poikonen, Project Manager for the Forest Energy Ukraine Project 2025–2028, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
· Perspectives on forestry from the Kherson Region in Ukraine (Teams, Speaker to be confirmed)
New politics for the future of forests and forestry
· Nature, climate and land use: current policy priorities – Mikko Peltonen, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
· TBC: Tapping into the innovation potential of forests and forestry, perspectives from EU agricultural and forest policy – Taru Haapaniemi, Member of Commissioner Hansen’s Cabinet (Agriculture)
17:30 - 19:00
Hall of Energy Grand permanent Exhibition opening ceremony: Everything is Energy – Energy is Everything
📍 Catacombs
Facts, presentations and art. WIC resident artist Benjamin Knock (Australia) has been building a permanent exhibition of digital and physical works to our 'Hall of Energy'. Official info to follow.
(11.08) tiistai -
Nordic “MIT” (Vasa University, Kvarken University, Fintech, Energy & Data)
AI execution and drama: AI for company decision makers
16:30 - 21:00
YoungTalk26 - From Potential to Belonging – Unlocking Talent into Regional Success
📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square
VAMK & Partners, TBC
(12.08) keskiviikko -
Energy& Data (EnergySampo, Giga, Energysystems)
New Tech:
- Photonics,
- SpaceEconomy,
- Quantum tech
- Local Battery Energy Storage
Biology/Neurology (we and they, why political parties criticize other parties more than create together)
10:00 - 11:00
“Simulating the Future” – EnergySAMPO
EnergySampo, Sari Kola
12:30 - 13:00
Resilient Energy Solutions for a Secure Future, VASEK + Merinova
One sentence description: The session highlights EnergyVaasa’s work in developing scalable, crisis resilient energy production concepts and strengthening the region’s ability to maintain and restore critical energy supply under disruptive conditions.
13:00 - 13:30
Energy Storage, Infrastructure, and the Strategic Role of Data Centers
GigaVaasaTeam/ Riitta Björkenheim
(13.08) torstai -
Theme: “Lisää riskiä – kiitos”, ”More Risk – thank you”. Taking risks is main element in market economy!
For all: management, researchers, private capital, public sector.
Case: AI for whole country and all users with correct data from Statistics Finland.
Case: ”Kuutio”
Awards ceremony: Most innovative company with huge export and ecosystem impact.
NEW NORDIC:
• NC, logistics including Atlantic harbors
• New Energy & Database
• New Export Industry region through collaboration, innovation,
• Culture and integration
• Success Stories
Suomen Taiteilijaseura
Dinner
13:00 - 16:15
Framtidens Norden – globala spänningar och tillväxtmöjligheter (Kvarken Counsil EGTS & FIN-SVE Chamber of Commerce)
Merenkurkun neuvoston ja Suomalais-ruotsalaisen kauppakamarin yhteisen WFF 2026 -seminaarin ohjelma ja lisätiedot löytyvät täältä: www.kvarken.org/fi/tapahtumat/wasa-future-festival-2026
Ja ruotsiksi: www.kvarken.org/evenemang/wasa-future-festival-2026
Ohjelma on yhtä puheenvuoroa lukuunottamatta suomeksi ja ruotsiksi. Tilaisuudessa tulkkaus suomi/ruotsi.
(14.08) perjantai -
Nordic Defence: New reality and new Horizons
• Main issues: Logistics, Energy, Data, Technology
• Special sessions: drones, dual-purpose, AI
Health
- Yliopistollinen hyvinvointialue seudulle (University-level care region)
Education
• Living Labs, new cost-efficient and better impact in mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry. Pilot for 1000 elementary and upper secondary school pupils per year.
Culture
• Aiming as forerunners in Europe: 4 million Eur Vaasa-Umeå collaboration project Culture 3.0.
09:00 - 11:00
Nordic Defence (invitation-only)
📍 Ball Room
Nordic Defense: New reality and new Horizons
• Main issues: Logistics, Energy, Data, Technology
• Special sessions: drones, dual-purpose, AI
12:00 - 16:00
• Beyond Defence – Nordic Civil Preparedness ja yhteiskunnan resilienssin uusi aika
📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square
Organized by VAMK.
(15.08) lauantai -
• Cultural events, music and performances
• “New Hedonism” – relax with VR arena