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)

Facts, presentations and art including Everything is Energy, and Terra:Forms. WIC resident artist Benjamin Knock (Australia) has been building a permanent exhibition of digital and physical works to our 'Hall of Energy' named Terra:Forms. Official info to follow.

Marko Kohtamäki

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

Maria Pajuoja

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

Workshop arranged by the project Ports as Innovation Platforms for Clean Transition, led by the Port of Vaasa, in cooperation with VAMK and VASEK. The idea is to dig into the themes: PortGrid, Seamless Port and Port Center. The session supports the co-creation model and the process of moving from idea to more concrete steps within the port ecosystem. The project has previously arranged two innovation workshops based on innovation opportunities related to a new port terminal and center. The first workshop brought together a broad cross‑sector group of stakeholders, and the second workshop deepened this by drawing on the research and expert knowledge of higher education institutions. The focus on co‑creation has genuinely opened up the development process to multiple stakeholder groups and enabled their participation. The workshop is held in Finnish; all material is in English. Tags: innovation, ports, charging, etrucks, sustainability, construction, IoT, smart building, energy, scalability

VAMK & Partners, TBC

EnergySampo, Sari Kola

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

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

13:00 Seminaarin avaus – Moderaattori Sarah Väre, kasvujohtaja, Merenkurkun neuvosto EAYY 13.05 Tervetulopuheenvuoro – Kjell Skoglund, toimitusjohtaja, Suomalais-ruotsalainen kauppakamari 13.10 Avauspuheenvuoro: Tulevaisuuden infrastruktuuri – tärkeää sekä teolliselle kasvulle että uuden Pohjolan turvallisuudelle Merja Kyllönen, Euroopan parlamentin jäsen 13.30 Kaupan uusi maailmanjärjestys – valtapeliä, jännitteitä ja pohjoismaiset linjanvedot Anders Ahnlid, Pääjohtaja, Kommerskollegium 13.50 Lääkejakelu tarkastelussa – huoltovarmuus ja yhteistyö Pohjolassa Katarina Gabrielson, toimitusjohtaja, Oriola 14:10 Rajaton elinkeinoelämä? – elinvoimasta, yrittämisestä ja yhteistyöstä Niklas Nordström, Senior Advisor, Egenmakt AB 14.20 TAUKO ja tarjoilu 14.50 Merenkurkun alueen kasvupotentiaali luo Pohjoismaille lisäarvoa Jan Wejdmark, Head of Strategic Sales, Newsec Sweden 15.10 Transport network under pressure – a scenario analysis of military mobility in the northern Nordic region Hans Tino Hansen, toimitusjohtaja, Risk Intelligence 15:30 Suuren mittakaavan liikenneinfrastruktuuri Pohjoismaissa – miten rahoittaa? Case Nordic Connector Anders Jungar, Manager, PBI 15:50 Merenkurkun alueen tulevaisuus; miten luomme entistä integroituneemman rajaseudun? Helene Hellmark Knutsson, Västerbottenin läänin maaherra 16.05 Pohdintoja ja seminaarin päätös Mathias Lindström, johtaja, Merenkurkun neuvosto EAYY Moderaattori Sarah Väre, kasvujohtaja, Merenkurkun neuvosto EAYY 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.

How can art be used as a tool for growth and innovation in businesses? The discussion features corporate culture and art experts Ia Adlercreutz, Teemu Mäki, Ulrika Romantschuk, Janne Ylinen and Elina Melgin. Learn more: http://www.artists.fi/fi/uudet-mesenaatit-wasa-future-festivalilla-1382026-taide-innovaatioiden-kiihdyttajana The discussion and the networking coffee that follows are open to everyone. Please register in advance via the Artists’ Association of Finland’s website. The panel discussion will be held in Finnish.

Full program including pm to be published 10.6

Living Labs for 1000 pupils per year Minister Anders Adlercreutz, Projectmanager Jan Holmgård and Erkki Saviaro Marcus Norrby : New collaboration with companies Director of education in Vaasa Salme Sulander + 12.30-14.30 INVITATION ONLY Voluntary concepts and concrete proposals to be discussed in Invitation Only session, by Skolresurs/Markus Norrby

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

Organized by VAMK.

Special agendas: drones , dualpurpose, AI, resilience