Events are more than just gatherings; they are catalysts for innovation. They bring people together, foster connections, and strengthen communities. By creating energy and engagement, events help participants stay actively involved in the innovation process. They set a common pace across different areas, showcasing the progress of innovation.
Creative events e.g., hackathons are particularly powerful, as they gather diverse individuals and resources to generate new technologies and encourage collaboration. Networking sessions are designed to discover new people, problems, and ideas, while workshops delve deeper into experiences to develop clear, actionable ideas. Crowds, mentors, experts, and participants share their perspectives, enriching the collective knowledge.
Engaging Stakeholders and Boosting Creativity
Events engage stakeholders, boost creativity, maintain momentum, keep communities together, and highlight the current state of innovation. Combining virtual and face-to-face events can enhance information sharing and create more opportunities for interactive engagement. Effective communication and embracing an iterative process are key factors for success. Our communication strategy includes a mix of materials, info sessions, workshops, a webpage with articles, and numerous one-to-one meetings.
WISE Ecosystem Composition and Impactful Webinars
To illustrate the impact of events, let’s look at the WISE ecosystem composition. Today, we have 226 members:
- 44% small and medium-sized enterprises
- 39% corporations
- 16% academia and research institutes
- 1% other communities
Around 60% of our members have their headquarters in Finland, while 40% have their headquarters elsewhere. Given this diverse and global membership, virtual events is a strategic communication channel for us.
This year, we have hosted two webinars. The first, “Intelligent Technologies and Services,” focused on ensuring predictability and reliability of autonomous power plants. Intelligent technologies and services enhance safety, efficiency, reduce costs and environmental impact, while reducing the need for human intervention. Human roles remain vital for supervision and managing exceptions. The second webinar, “The Invisible Enabler – Data as the Backbone of the Energy Industry Development,” highlighted the crucial role of data in modern advancements. Data helps us understand the world better and make smarter choices. In the WISE ecosystem, data plays a key role in building a sustainable world and accelerating the energy transition.
Based on insights from last year webinar on hydrogen, a concrete co-innovation project has been scoped and recently approved by the WISE Steco. This project will be proposed for Business Finland, showcasing the tangible outcomes that can arise from these collaborative events.
Innovative Technologies Under Development
Looking ahead, our third webinar of the year will be a bit different. We will split the Annual WISE Event into two parts. The first part will be a webinar to give an update on the innovative technologies under development in the WISE ecosystem. We’ll start with the “World-First Engine Test to Convert Sugarcane into Clean Power.” This trial tests an ethanol-fuelled engine for large-scale electricity generation, demonstrating the potential of ethanol as a clean power source. According to the IEA NZE Scenario, biofuels like ethanol need to almost double by 2030. Next, we will explore the “Hydrogen-Argon Power Cycle for Net-Zero Power Generation,” which replaces air with argon in internal combustion engines to enhance efficiency. This cycle uses hydrogen, oxygen, and argon to produce water and inert argon, which is recycled in a closed loop. We’ll also introduce new projects through a panel discussion, showcasing the latest advancements and collaborations within the WISE ecosystem. I hope to see many from the ecosystem in the upcoming webinar, ready to contribute and collaborate towards our shared goals.
Events like this drive innovation forward, engage stakeholders, and maintain momentum within the WISE ecosystem.
By bringing together our diverse and dynamic community through both virtual and in-person events, we foster creativity, strengthen collaboration, and keep our members engaged and informed. These occasions not only showcase the latest advancements and the current state of innovation, but also enhance knowledge sharing and interactive dialogue. Our commitment to effective communication and an iterative approach ensures continued progress towards developing innovative technologies and sustainable solutions. Join us in the upcoming webinar and help shape the future of our ecosystem together.
– Eleonor Hedström
Director Next Business Lab & WISE Ecosystem Lead