📍 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)

📍 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.

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square

Marko Kohtamäki

10.30 Vaasa Startup Ecosystem developments - Philipp Holtkamp, Patrik Österåker  11.15 Vaasa goes Silicon Valley - Lars Ling (TBD)

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Right Wing

Maria Pajuoja

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square

Hanna Smith, Petri Uusikylä How can resilience and preparedness drive economic growth? What opportunities does it bring?

VAMK & Partners, TBC

EnergySampo, Sari Kola

Kristoffer Jansson

Minna Martikainen, Atte Jääskeläinen (SITRA), Pekka Koponen

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Right Wing

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square

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.

GigaVaasaTeam/ Riitta Björkenheim

Karimäki, Segerstam, Sirviö, Mikulski, Kauhaniemi     Purpose: Demonstrate how effective university–industry collaboration creates impact today and co-define how it evolves toward system-level innovation and cross-sector collaboration tomorrow. Part 1 - Seminar part · Success cases from today (UVA + partnering companies) · Transition to future needs Part 2 - Workshop part · Value of system-level research · Expanding value beyond engineering · Defining relevant use cases Part 3 - Wrap-up and next steps

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Right Wing

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square

Taking risk is main element in market economy and main element for growth – specially regarding realeconomy! Main mental challenge for private capital and public capital sector. But as well important for researchers, management, start-ups and civil servants. Minister Riikka Purra , importance of technology Two Panels with concrete proposals: Panel 1: president of SITRA Atte Jääskeläinen, member of parliament Martin Paasi, CEO Mikael Jungner, CEO Philip Aminoff, EU parliamentarian Merja Kyllönen Panel 2: Minister Joakim Strand, Head of Research Heidi Schauman, former prime Minister of Finland Esko Aho, Rector Minna Martikainen, Permanent Secretary Timo Jaatinen

Case 1: Revolutionary way for AI to create new wealth (potentially 10 Billion per year) by understanding reality and potentiality using real facts from Statistics Finland: Hugh knowledge increase for businesspeople, teachers, pupils, politicians, researchers, civil servants. Trusted National AI — Trusted Data In, Insights for People Out Deputy Director General Ville Vertanen Case 2 : ”Kuutio” . Fundamentally new ambition to create wealth impact by R&D (target 10 Billion eur per year).

Innovative company of the year with hugh export and ecosystem impact. Grant for excellence in young entrepreneurship

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.

Full program including pm to be published 10.6

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Right Wing

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. With minister Anders Adlercreutz, Director of education in Vaasa Salme Sulander, projectmanager Jan Holmgård

📍 Ball Room

Main issues for New Nordic Defence : Logistics, Energy , Data, Technology Main points by Finnish Military Representative to NATO and EU :Mika Kalliomaa. Concrete proposals by : Rector of Defence Force University Jaro Kesänen, Chairman of Sweden Defence Committee Peter Hultqvist, Deputy Chief of Staff Jari Mikkonen, Finnish military AI Chief Petteri Hemminki, geopolitical officer Mikko Hautala, Viceamiral i.a. Jan Thörnqvist, Major General i.a. Inge Kampenes, Rear-Admiral (ret) Jakob Rousöe, Major i.a. Rolf Helenius, Commander Thomas Ljungqvist, NESPO CEO Mikael Wigell, CEO Olli Pohjanvirta , EU defence Industry and Space Jonas Cederlöf

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Mind Square

Organized by VAMK.

📍 Wasa Innovation Center: Right Wing

Special agendas: drones , dualpurpose, AI, resilience