Regional innovators gathered in Vaasa to connect expertise, ideas and opportunities for new research, development and innovation partnerships.
WISE Ecosystem was presented at the Ostrobothnia Innovation & Development Fair, held at the University of Vaasa on 8 October 2026. The one-day event brought together higher education institutions and research groups from the Vaasa region, Business Finland Veturi companies, large companies, SMEs and regional development organisations under one roof.
Connecting regional capabilities
The fair was designed to make it easier for organisations to find the right partners, research expertise and funding paths for future RDI projects. Throughout the day, participants explored exhibition stands, heard presentations from Veturi programmes and research groups, listened to SME pitches and received practical guidance on innovation funding. Pre-booked matchmaking meetings created further opportunities for focused discussions between companies and researchers.
WISE Ecosystem on the main stage
WISE (Wide & Intelligent Sustainable Energy) was among the Business Finland Veturi programmes presented on the main stage. The presentation introduced the ecosystem to an audience interested in new collaboration opportunities and highlighted its role in bringing companies, research organisations and other partners together around the development of more sustainable and intelligent energy solutions.
Alongside WISE, the programme featured Veturi initiatives led by ABB, Danfoss, Kalmar, Meyer Turku and Mirka. This broad representation gave visitors a compact overview of several major innovation roadmaps and potential entry points for cooperation.
From introductions to collaboration
The event’s mix of short presentations, informal stand discussions, laboratory tours and matchmaking supported both quick introductions and more detailed conversations. A panel discussion on how SMEs can join Veturi ecosystems and access RDI funding also offered practical perspectives on turning interest into concrete cooperation.
For WISE, the fair provided a valuable opportunity to increase awareness of the ecosystem and connect with regional companies and researchers whose expertise can contribute to shared innovation. By gathering key actors in one place, the Ostrobothnia Innovation & Development Fair demonstrated the strength of the region’s collaborative approach—and the value of creating accessible meeting points for the partnerships behind future energy solutions.
