Sustainable Energy Reimagined
The conference will explore the reimagining of sustainable energy transition through regional and European collaboration, providing an opportunity to share views, exchange ideas, and formulate recommendations for a sustainable and competitive European industry. The event will feature a diverse mix of public and private speakers and panellists from Finland, the Nordic region, and Europe, including industry leaders, universities, policymakers, and EU officials. The aim is to foster discussions that lead to recommendations for a sustainable, resilient, and competitive European energy transition industry.
Time: Wednesday 15 January 2025, 14:00-18:00
Venue: 'Palais des Académies' Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium in Brussels, Rue Ducale 1, Brussels
Programme:
Registration from 13:30
14:00: Context and challenges
Minna Martikainen, Rector, University of Vaasa
Joakim Strand, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Finnish Government
Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General DG R&I, European Commission
14:30: Keynote address
Tomas Kåberger, Director, Energy Area of Advance, Chalmers University of Technology
14:50: Panel discussion: Green and resilient energy transition
Tomas Häyry, Mayor, City of Vaasa
Hannu Mäntymaa, Managing director, Wärtsilä Finland
Muriel Attané, Secretary General, European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO)
Marko Kohtamäki, Professor of strategy, University of Vaasa
15:25: Coffee break
16:05: Panel discussion: Energy transition requires smart digital transformation
Mika Grundström, Vice-rector for research, University of Vaasa
Cécile Huet, Head of Unit AI and Robotics, DG CNECT, European Commission (to be confirmed)
Heidi Kuusniemi, Professor, University of Vaasa
Marcello Colledani, Professor and Director of the Re-manufacturing Lab, Polytechnic University of Milan
16:50: Panel Discussion: EU collaboration by all means - trans-national, cross-border and inter-regional
Mathias Lindström, CEO, Kvarken Council
Slawomir Tokarski, Director, EC-DG Regio, European Commission
Massimo Busuoli, Director of NTNU Brussels office and Chair of the UniLion Network
Åsa Ågren Wikström, Councillor, Västerbotten region, and member of the European Committee of Regions
Tiiu Treier, Head of International Cooperation and Funding Office, Enterprise Estonia
17:45: Concluding remarks
Minna Martikainen, Rector, University of Vaasa
Emilia Pernaa, Director, West Finland European Office
18:00: Networking cocktail
We reserve the right to make changes to the programme.