Kymenlaakso Summit 2024 sheds light on the unique business environment the Kymenlaakso region has to offer companies and investors. The summit is organized by Cursor with support from Business Finland, Kymi Chamber of Commerce, XAMK, Ekami and local companies such as Google.

Date: October 9, 2024
Time: 8:30 – 16:30 (program starts at 9:00)
Place: Satama Areena, Kotka
Admission: Free of charge
Language: English

PROGRAM

8:30-9:00 Coffee served

9:00-9:10 Opening remarks, David Lindström, CEO, Cursor Oy

9:10-9:20 Keynote speech, Antti Häkkänen, Minister of Defence, Finland

9:20-9:40 A Glimpse into Industrial Transformation: Key Projects Shaping the Kotka-Hamina Region, Jarkko Harjula and Jukka Tani, Senior Advisors, Cursor Oy

• Battery Industry, Power Coast Battery Cluster
• Hydrogen Economy
• Biofuels
• Green Energy’s Potential
• Datacenters
• Development of Aviation Industry

9:40-10:20 Keynote speech, Teppo Säkkinen, Policy Adviser working with Climate, Energy and Industries, Finland Chamber of Commerce

10:20-11:20 Theme 1 – New and Developing Industries: Discover the burgeoning sectors that are reshaping Kymenlaakso’s economic landscape. From green technologies to advanced manufacturing, explore how innovative industries are creating new opportunities for growth and investment.

• Markku Hannonen, Director of Urban Planning, City of Kotka
• Markku Kivistö, Head of Industry, Business Finland
• Ville Koikkalainen, Director, Industrial and Biogas BU, Nevel
• Terhi Lindholm, Mayor, Municipality of Pyhtää
• Ilari Soosalu, Mayor, City of Hamina
• Timo Strengell, Senior Vice President, Battery Value Chain, Finnish Minerals Group

11:20-12:50 Lunch break and guided tours of the brand-new Xamk campus (by reservation only, space limited)

12:50-13:50 Theme 2 – International Talents and Their Settlement in the Area: Learn about the initiatives designed to attract and integrate international talents into the Kymenlaakso region. This theme highlights the benefits of a diverse workforce and strategies for creating a welcoming environment for global professionals.

• Mikko Green, Datacenter Operations Manager, Google
• Elina Koskela, EVP Global Talent Solutions, Barona
• Laura Lindeman, Senior Director and Head of Work in Finland Unit, Business Finland
• Manuel Norbert, VP Sales Operations for ADECCO Northern and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa
• Valeria Pinto, Project Researcher, Xamk International Services
• Thomas Stendahl, CEO, Loval Oy

13:50-14:20 Coffee break

14:20-15:20 Theme 3 – Emerging Technologies: ICT, Datacenters, AI, and Beyond: Delve into the cutting-edge advancements in information and communication technology, the growing importance of datacenters, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. This theme provides insights into how these technologies are driving progress and opening up new avenues for business development.

• Philip Ginzboorg, Professor of Practice, Aalto University and Xamk
• Patrick Halford, Strategic Advisor AI Organisational Impact, Next CoLabs
• Markus Hongisto, Country Manager, Google Cloud, Finland
• Ari Kurvi, Chief Development Officer, Hyperco

15:20-15:30 Closing remarks

15:30-16:30 Meet & Greet Happy Hour

Join us at the Kymenlaakso Summit 2024 to connect, collaborate, and capitalize on the unique opportunities that Kymenlaakso has to offer.

The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the program. The program will be finalized before the event.