University of Vaasa seeks new perspectives and collaboration in Silicon Valley

The Finland Investment Institute brings together researchers, businesses, investors and decision-makers around questions critical to Finland’s ability to attract and enable productive investment. Its research examines the conditions and obstacles for the investments, their broader economic and societal impacts, and the resilience and long-term competitiveness of the investment environment.

International dialogue is central to this approach: understanding how investors and businesses assess investment environments, what shapes major investment and location decisions, and what Finland can learn from leading international ecosystems and practices.

During her visit, Research Director Katja Kolehmainen has visited Stanford University and met Professor Jimmy Chen, who leads several of the university’s energy programmes. She has also met investors and business representatives, including Jeff Wallace of The Batchery, Meltwater founder Jørn Lyseggen and Tom Morrison of Derivatas.

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Vaasa’s potential as an energy technology testbed attracts interest in Silicon Valley

Kolehmainen and Jan Segerstam, Director of Research and Development at the University of Vaasa, presented the strengths of Finland’s and Vaasa’s energy ecosystem at The Nordic X-perience – Energy × AI × Finance in San Francisco on 9 October. Segerstam joined online from Finland.

Discussions raised the possibility of Vaasa becoming a testbed for US energy technology startups and scaleups. The University of Vaasa’s expertise in energy system modelling, digital twins, simulation and flexibility markets, combined with the region’s strong industrial ecosystem, offers opportunities for testing and validating new technologies, algorithms and business models. For international companies, collaboration could provide a pathway from innovation to real-world applications and potentially to European markets.

The dialogue continues at the Nordic Energy and AI X-perience on 14 October, where Kolehmainen is presenting the Energy Transition Viability Index. The event is part of Nordic Impact Week, led by Lars Ling and CleanTech Region Group, which connects Nordic and US investment, innovation and research communities.

The University of Vaasa’s Finland Investment Institute will also participate in Stanford Energy Nexus on 21–22 October. Hosted by Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy, the event brings together industry, researchers and policymakers to discuss energy challenges and pathways for accelerating the energy transition. For the institute, it offers an opportunity to explore how developments in energy, technology and AI are shaping investment conditions, capital needs and new industrial opportunities.