Programme

September 23, 2026 – Wednesday

8:30– Registration & coffee | Event arena

9:30–9:45 Conference opening | Auditorium
Turo Kilpeläinen, Rector of LAB University of Applied Sciences
Niko Kyynäräinen, Mayor of the City of Lahti

9:45–10:30 Keynote speech: Science, Sustainability and Decision-Making: Europe’s Green Transition in a Changing World | Auditorium
Ville Niinistö, Member of the European Parliament (speaking online)

10:30–11:15 Keynote speech: Beyond the Algorithm – Urban Excellence in an Age of Mediocrity Engines | Auditorium
Alf Rehn, professor of innovation, design and management, University of Southern Denmark

11:30–13:00 Parallel sessions 1 & Knowledge transfer workshop
Rooms A122, A127, A128, A135 & A116

13:00–14:00 Lunch at Restaurant Isku Center

14:00–15:30 Parallel sessions 2 
Rooms A116, A122, A127, A135

15:30–16:00 Coffee | Event arena

16:00–17:30 Parallel sessions 3
Rooms A116, A122, A127, A135

17:45 Bus to Lahti City Hall

18–19:30 Cocktail reception hosted by the City of Lahti

September 24, 2026 – Thursday

8– Registration & coffee | Event arena

8:30–9:30 Laboratory tours (optional) | Start from event arena

9:30–10:15 Keynote speech: Responsibility as a Driver of Financially Sustainable Growth | Auditorium
Joséphine Mickwitz, Executive Vice President of Communications and Sustainability at Fazer Group

10:30–11:30 Matchmaking session & Poster session 
Event arena

11:30–12:30 Lunch at Restaurant Isku Center

12:30–14:00 Parallel sessions 4
Rooms A116, A122, A127, A135

14:00– Coffee | Event arena

14:15–15:15 Panel discussion: Building Sustainable Cities: Local Partnerships in Sports, Event and Campus District Development | Event arena

15:15–15:30 Closing words | Event arena