Sustainable Energy Re-Imagined

The context and challenges

The question of Energy is everywhere, and appears at the top of priorities for everyone, policy-makers level, scientists & innovators, industry leaders, startupers, and citizens of course. The role of Universities – such as the University of Vaasa – is crucial, and their strategies should clearly prioritize Sustainability & Energy, for the Society and the Industry.

• Minna MARTIKAINEN, Rector University of Vaasa
• Lassi NOPONEN, Director general Business Finland

The state & perspectives of low-carbon research in Europe

Renewables, energy efficiency, energy storage, energy systems, energy transport, decarbonization, circularity, energy markets, the grid, without counting the diverse value chains concerned by Energy Transition. What about the SET plan and the new Clean Industry deal?

• Mika GRUNDSTRÖM, Vice-rector for Research, University of Vaasa
• Adel El GAMMAL, Secretary General, European Energy Research Alliance (EERA)
• Béatrice CODA, Head of Unit Clean Energy Transition, DG Research & Innovation, EC 

The role of industry in energy collaborative research

The Vaasa region accelerates its energy transition thanks to industrial leaders such as ABB (and its leading electrification & power grids products), HITACHI Energy (and its transformers manufacturing plant), DANFOSS (and its Drives factory), the Wärtsilä Corporation (and its new Sustainable Technology Hub-STH), and also the GigaVaasa Green Batteries project, are some of the most impacting flagship players, which contribute to a sustainable Energy Transition & competitive industry. These transformations cannot be achieved without embarking the public sector (and its public procurement lever), and technology-driven SMEs, into deeptech entrepreneurial and open innovation collaboration schemes.

Panel:

• Pekka TIITINEN, Managing Director, ABB Finland
• Paolo BONDAVALLI, Program Manager Advanced materials for Energy (European Innovation Council-EIC)
• Tallak BAKEN, Director, Otechos (Norway)  – supported by SPIN4EIC 

Energy Researchers in action 

Let’s materialize Energy Research at its best. A selection of University of Vaasa’s Research Group leaders will pitch their cases and interact with the audience. 3 to 5’ each !

• Hannu Laaksonen, Future Flexible and Resilient Power Systems
• Petri Uusikylä, Preparedness & Resilience
• Heidi Kuusniemi, Cyber Physical Systems
• Petri Välisuo, Vaasa Zero Emission Data Center