Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub

We warmly welcome you to Helsinki in November for two good reasons. The world-famous start-up – investor meetup is taking over Helsinki in November: SLUSH 2024. Join us and meet some of the fastest-growing startups in the world who are changing the way we work and live. Another good reason to come is the Nordic Circular Summit, which collects societal influencers, entrepreneurs and investors to discuss, share and find workable and scalable solutions together. So, to get a glimpse of what is happening in the Nordics and globally, we welcome you to our Sustainability Super Week in Helsinki 18-21 November: Nordic Circular Summit + SLUSH 2024.

20 November: Meet the Nordic frontrunners at the SLUSH kickstart — AI to solve sustainability challenges for better profit

8.00 Breakfast is served

8.10 Opening

8.15 Are the Nordic listed companies going circular? Launching the Nordic Outlook 2024

– Michel Bajuk, Managing Director, Cradlenet/Nordic Circular Hotspot

– Heidi Peltonen, Vice President/Sustainability, Outokumpu

– Michael Hanf, Lead/Sustainable Business, VTT

8.35 Reoccurring profit with AI-supported tools

Why sell the product only once? What second life forms, platforms and digital tools are companies using to make better profit?

Case textile sector:

– Tuomo Laine, Co-founder/Managing Director, Twice Commerce

– Kasper Karimaa, Managing Director, STRGL

– Mikko Linnaluoma, Digital Programmes Director, REIMA

Case construction sector:

– Ulrikke Lien, CEO, Sensorita (Norway)

– Leo Salomaa, Founder, Make a BIM + Maija Parviainen, CEO, Studio MPRA

– Miro Ristimäki, Leading Adviser/Head of Innovation, SKANSKA

9.30 The power of synergy: Connecting ecosystems more important than ever

– Inka Orko, Chair (VTT), Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub

– Outi Suomi, Mission Lead/Circular Transition for Zero Waste, Business Finland

– Cathrine Barth, Managing Partner & Co-founder, Nordic Circular Hotspot

9.45 Closing, Breakfast mingle continues

The Side Event is organized by Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub in collaboration with Business Finland, Nordic Circular Hotspot and MiXi.

>> Register now!

(No Slush ticket is required: only registration on the Slush website)

18-19 November: Nordic Circular Summit

The annual summit gathers actors across the Nordics and Europe to share their insights on entrepreneurship and the circular economy. The event attracts investors, companies, societal influencers interested in finding sustainable solutions and new business models.

Nordic Circular Summit 2024 is a hybrid event and will take place online and in Helsinki at Ravintola Töölö and Aalto Executive university on November 18th and 19th. Save the date in your calendar.

The Nordic Circular Summit is co-hosted by Nordic Circular Hotspot and Nordic Innovation and it is an official World Circular Economy Forum Side Event. Read more and sign up: Nordic Circular Summit.

>> Check the programme here!

The Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub is a regional initiative that aims to take the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and Finland to the pinnacle of circular economy. The hub is a community of experts, municipalities, companies, organisations and research institutes that form an innovation ecosystem.

We aim for a carbon neutral Helsinki-Uusimaa region by 2030. To support this aim, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub was established. It is the accelerator for new solutions and pilots focusing especially on construction, food chains and textiles, plastics, and electronics as well as knowledge building, financing instruments and international collaboration. As a regional ecosystem, we facilitate new business opportunities while building a good living environment for our citizens. We search, develop and share knowledge, knowhow, data, ideas, resources and networks.  

Helsinki-Uusimaa is a strong entrepreneurial region with large material flows, research and development activities of a high standard, and an efficient waste recycling system. We have strong tradition in public private partnerships and collaboration across organisations.   

The region is also a pilot in the EU Circular Cities and Regions Initiative.

The Circular Hub focuses on the following themes: food, construction, plastics, textiles, and e-waste. At least one workshop for stakeholders is organized for each theme. The thematic entities have been selected based on a preliminary report, and ultimately focused on those in which the Circular  Hub can provide the most environmental benefits, business, and circular economy models. The hub is also involved in national Green Deal initiatives and seeks to contribute to the realization and implementation of its goals in the five themes.

In brief, The Hub is an ecosystem looking for new business opportunities, innovations and building pilots! Check out our map of circular economy businesses and projects around the area!