Opening of the University of Vaasa European office in Brussels

🗓  Tuesday, 21 April 2026, 16:45–18:45 followed by reception
📍 University Foundation, Rue d’Egmont 11, 1000 Brussels

Located in the heart of Northern Europe’s leading energy technology cluster, the University of Vaasa is a fast growing impactful research university with a strategic focus on sustainable business, energy and society, solving real-world challenges for industry and society. The university collaborates closely with industry, public sector organisations and other ecosystem key actors across Finland and Europe. Its research focuses on energy transition and sustainability, business renewal and societal transformation. In addition, the university conducts multidisciplinary research in its research platforms, covering energy and sustainability, digital and space economy, innovation and entrepreneurship, preparedness and resilience and investment environment.

The University of Vaasa is actively engaged in European collaboration through key networks and alliances such as EERA, EUNICE, UniLiON, EARMA, DERlab and participates in a wide range of EU-funded research and innovation projects. With the establishment of its Brussels office, the university further strengthens its engagement with European partners, institutions and programmes, contributing to collaboration, knowledge exchange and European added value.

The evening will feature short keynotes and panel discussions from distinguished speakers, including representatives of the European institutions, the University of Vaasa ecosystem, and other Finnish and European research and innovation stakeholders, followed by a networking reception.

Please register below to confirm your participation, as there is a limited number of seats available. 
Registration

Programme

16:40-16:45 Welcome & Opening 

• Philippe Vanrie, Head of the Brussels EU Liaison Office                                                                                                                                                     

16:45-17:00 Setting the University of Vaasa EU strategy

• Minna Martikainen, Rector, University of Vaasa
• Tomas Häyry, Mayor, City of Vaasa 
   

17:00-17:30  Energy transition, resilience and digitalisation

• Adel El Gammal, Secretary General, EERA (European Energy Research Alliance)
• Mika Kalliomaa, Finnish Military Representative to the EU and NATO
• Damien Lecarpentier, Director International Collaborations & Partnerships, CSC-IT Center for Science
• Anders Öster, General Manager, Research Coordination and Funding, Wärtsilä                                  

17:30-18:15 Perspectives from the EU Institutions                                                                 

• Markku Markkula, Vice-President,Committee of Regions
• Ann-Sofie Rönnlund, Member of Cabinet of Startups, Research and Innovation Commissioner Zaharieva
• Béatrice Coda, Head of Unit Clean Energy Transition, DG RTD, European Commission
• Hugues Parmentier, Head of Unit, Strategy, Interinstitutional Relations & Security, DG DEFIS, EC
• Szilvia Nemeth, Deputy Head of Unit, Knowledge Valorisation & technology Infrastructures, DG RTD 

18:15-18:45 European networks and collaboration

• Muriel Attane, Secretary General, EARTO (European Association of RTOs) 
• Gregg Jones, Chair ofUniLiON (University Liaison Offices Network) and Coventry University (UK)
• Massimo Busuoli, Head of Brussels Office of NTNU (Norwegian National Technical University)  
• Marc Labie, First Vice-Rector of University of Mons (BE), and Founder of EUNICE University Alliance
• Emilia Pernaa, Director of the Western Finland EU Office (WFEO)                                                                                  

18:45-19:00: Conclusions 

• Minna Martikainen, Rector, University of Vaasa
• Lauri Hirvonen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the EU

19:00-20:00: Cocktail reception