Global Experts Gather at the University of Vaasa to Advance Sustainable Innovation

The central aim of the conference was to deepen understanding of how universities and other ecosystem actors can enable and accelerate sustainability transitions. Participants gathered to examine the conditions, capabilities and partnerships that are essential for fostering sustainable innovation. The event emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of academic institutions in shaping practical solutions to global challenges.

Organized by InnoLab at the University of Vaasa in collaboration with the Centre for Innovation Management Research (CIMR) at Birkbeck, University of London, and the Kogod School of Business at American University, the conference also welcomed members of the HERMES Higher Education Network. This international partnership underscored the global scope of the discussions and the shared commitment to advancing sustainability through research and innovation.

The conference was opened with a welcoming speech by Rector Minna Martikainen (University of Vaasa) and keynote speech by Juha Kytölä, Director of R&D and Engineering at Wärtsilä. Kytölä highlighted the critical role of industrial innovation in the green transition and called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry. Other keynote speakers included Professor Gary Knight, President of the Academy of International Business, and Professor Helen Lawton Smith, a leading expert in regional innovation systems from Birkbeck, University of London. 

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Throughout the three-day event, participants engaged in paper development sessions, proposal workshops, and thematic discussions on topics such as the circular economy, digital transformation, sustainable finance and the role of public policy in eco-social transitions. The sessions provided a space for early-career researchers and senior scholars to exchange ideas, receive feedback and build new collaborations.

Participants broadly agreed that addressing global challenges requires interdisciplinary collaborations account for diverse stakeholder needs. They also recognized a need for fostering boundary-crossing partnerships that connect innovation to societal needs to ensure meaningful impact.

- Ongoing research and exchange between academia and industry are key to advance both innovation and sustainability, and here aligning them with the SDGs for long-term success, conference organizers Martin Meyer and Ella Tolonen notes.

Both emphasized the importance of continuing the dialogue beyond the event. Plans are already underway to publish selected papers in academic journals and to develop joint EU project proposals based on ideas generated during the workshops.

In the main picture: Professor Gary Knight (President of the Academy of International Business), Professor Helen Lawton Smith (a leading expert in regional innovation systems from Birkbeck, University of London), Director of R&D Juha Kytölä (Wärtsilä) and Vice-rector Martin Meyer (University of Vaasa).