Programme
September 23, 2026 – Wednesday
8:30– Registration & coffee | Event arena
9:30–9:45 Conference opening | Auditorium 2
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 2
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 2
Alf Rehn, professor of innovation, design and management, University of Southern Denmark
11:30–13:00 Parallel sessions 1 & Roundtable discussion: Knowledge Transfer for Smarter Regions – From Policy to Practice
Room A122: 1.1 Circular Material Technologies and Solutions (Governance)
Room A127: 2.1 Active and Inclusive Well-being
Room A128: 1.1 Circular Material Technologies and Solutions & 1.2 Future Perspectives of the Biobased Economy
Room A135: 3.3 Smart and Sustainable Innovations
Room A116: Roundtable discussion: Knowledge Transfer for Smarter Regions – From Policy to Practice
13:00–14:00 Lunch at Restaurant Isku Center
14:00–15:30 Parallel sessions 2
Room A116: 1.1 Circular Material Technologies and Solutions (Governance)
Room A122: 3.1 Designing Responsible and Sustainable Futures
Room A127: Co-LIFE: Co-Designing Learning for Impact-Focused Entrepreneurship
Room A135: 2.3 Sport and Nature-Based Solutions
15:30–16:00 Coffee | Event arena
16:00–17:30 Parallel sessions 3
Room A116: 3.1 Designing Responsible and Sustainable Futures
Room A122: 2.1 Active and Inclusive Well-being & 2.2 Solutions for Digital Health and Safety
Room A127: Co-LIFE: Co-Designing Learning for Impact-Focused Entrepreneurship
Room A135: 3.2 Commercial Value through Responsibility?
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 2
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
Room A116: 1.3 Sustainable Systemic Transitions
Room A122: 3.2 Commercial Value through Responsibility?
Room A127: 2.2 Solutions for Digital Health and Safety
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
Janne Roslöf, Dean of the Faculty of Technology at LAB University of Applied Sciences