Kokkola Material Week hybrid event exceeded all expectations

The Kokkola Material Week hybrid event in November gathered more than 630 participants interested in current research and development prospects within chemical industry, bio economy and battery technology. It was possible to participate in the free events of the conference at Tullipakkahuone and Kokkola City Hall, as well as through live streams. This year, Material Week gathered participants from more than ten countries. The Covid passport was required from all participants, and this new practice was introduced smoothly.

- A live audience of some 100 participants gathered at the idyllic Tullipakkahuone and followed interesting speeches led by our witty and wonderful moderator André Noel Chaker. It was also possible to follow the seminar program on Monday via live stream. However, it didn’t go us unnoticed how happy people were when they could finally come and listen to the speakers and mingle with other participants, says Nora Birkman Neunstedt, project expert at KOSEK.

The live stream on Monday’s opening seminar was offered by KPK Events, and the broadcasts at the City Hall by students at Media Centre LIME with the support of their instructors.

- The whole week is a joint effort of numerous participants, and it is great how we at the same time can offer students in the region the opportunity to get acquainted with organizing a large-scale event. Students also have the unique opportunity to participate in the seminars, where they can meet their potential future employers and get information about the development prospects of the industry, says Anu Rantamäki, coordinator at Kokkola Material Week representing Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius.

The GeoKokkola, ReKokkola and BioKokkola days continued a series of excellent discussions. On Tuesday at GeoKokkola, discussions evolved around skills and training, the battery cluster and subcontracting chains. Industry Meeting Point, a networking event aimed at enterprises, was held on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, ReKokkola addressed energy solutions for the chemical industry today and in the future, as well as future needs and technologies related to the chemical industry's climate road map, which are needed to achieve carbon neutrality. Another theme at ReKokkola was the introduction of the Kokkola Ecosystem Agreement’s spearheads. There was also an interesting panel discussion on the ecosystem of battery chemicals. Wednesday was rounded off with a Team Finland event in Finnish for particularly SMEs. On Thursday, the seminar week was finished off with BioKokkola Day and its four sections: biogas, peat, bio chemicals and ecosystems in a sustainable bio economy.

- Next year is the 10th time we will organize this event. It will take place from 14–17 November 2022. Organizing this as a hybrid event naturally requires more resources, but through the Internet, it is also easier to reach out to a more international audience, which allows us to tell a growing number of participants about Kokkola’s key role in building a sustainable future, says KOSEK CEO Timo Lahtinen.

The arrangements are planned in co-operation with Bio Valley Cluster, Centria University of Applied Sciences, Geological Survey of Finland GTK, Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia, Kokkola Industrial Park, City of Kokkola, KOSEK Kokkolanseudun Kehitys Ltd, Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, KPedu, KPK Events, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Media Center Lime, University of Oulu and ELY Centre Ostrobothnia.

More information:

Anu Rantamäki
Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius
tel. 040 8247 012
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