Program

The popular public day of Kokkola Material Week, OpenDay Kokkola, returns once again to Chydenia Shopping Center. This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest themes in the region’s material industry and research in an engaging and hands-on way. 

Representatives from Kokkola Material Week’s partner organizations will be present with interactive stands, showcasing their work and innovations. There’s something interesting for all ages – whether you’re curious about science, technology, the environment, or regional development. 

Come and experience, learn, and get inspired – OpenDay Kokkola brings science and industry to the heart of the city! 

The Future of Peatlands – Production, Restoration, or Something Entirely New?

The era of energy peat is coming to an end – so what happens next? Stricter energy taxation and the impacts of emissions trading have rendered peat an unprofitable fuel, and its production is in decline. This transformation is freeing up large peat production areas for new uses – but what kinds of opportunities do they offer?

Join us to hear the latest findings from the nearly completed TURKE project, along with insights from other experts on the future use of peat production areas in Central Ostrobothnia. The seminar will explore, among other things, the profitability of various alternatives, their impact on the regional economy and environment, and whether restoration is a realistic and sustainable solution – or if more productive and appealing future uses can be found.

The seminar will be opened by Member of Parliament Janne Jukkola, who will address the topic from the perspective of national security of supply.

Join the discussion and help shape a new future for peatlands at Kokkolan Kalahalli on Monday, November 10, 2025! The seminar presentations will be in Finnish

Port of Opportunities – The Gateway to Possibilities 

The Port of Kokkola is more than just a port – it is a key hub for the green transition. Join us to discover how the port area is becoming a vital enabler for sustainable industry, renewable energy logistics, and the use of cleaner fuels. This session takes a deep dive into how the Port of Kokkola is already enabling future energy solutions and supporting businesses in their journey towards low-emission production, as well as sustainable import and export operations.
Be inspired by concrete examples and learn how a port can drive green growth for the entire region and its industries. 

The flagship seminar of Kokkola Material Week, the Grand Seminar, will bring together the region’s key industrial players and the most current large-scale projects on Tuesday, November 11th at Kokkola City Hall. During the afternoon, we will hear impactful presentations from both established industrial operators and new innovators shaping solutions for a cleaner future.

The seminar offers a unique insight into regional development trends, investments, and innovations – as well as an excellent opportunity to network with industry experts and stakeholders.

Welcome to the GeoKokkola seminar, where the focus is strongly on the mineral economy and metal refining processing. The aim is to create a versatile overview of new metal processing projects related to the mineral economy and the battery value chain. Experts and company presentations in GeoKokkola will present new mining projects and also regionally key international new research projects in the battery value chain.

The Business Insights event delves into current subcontracting opportunities and future collaboration prospects through three main themes. The program features presentations on major projects, developments in the defense industry, and local construction and development initiatives. The event offers information and opportunities to become part of the region’s growth stories. 

Welcome to Industry Meeting Point, a networking event where you can connect and even negotiate new subcontracting partnerships. 

Welcome to the ReKokkola seminar on November 13th, where we gaze into the future but without forgetting the past. The Kokkola Industrial Park is celebrating a major milestone this year thus making it the perfect time to look at how circular economy is taking shape in the area.

In the keynote of the area’s history, you will find out how the area has developed during the decades to become the largest chemistry and metal processing ecosystem in Northern Europe.

After the coffee break the program includes local examples. Expert and company keynotes will highlight how circular economy is utilized in practice, both through RDI work as well as large-scale strategic EU projects. 

Welcome to the H2Kokkola event to learn about the local hydrogen ecosystem and its history, operated in the Kokkola Industrial Park. The focus is especially on the local use of hydrogen as well as on hydrogen handling safety practices. At the event, you will hear how local customers use hydrogen and how it is delivered to the points of use. In addition, there will be an overview of how hydrogen production has evolved in the region.

Explore the Future of Industry at the FutureFair Event – One of the Highlights of Kokkola Material Week 

The 2025 seminar will spotlight themes of sustainable development, circular economy, and responsibility – combined with top-level expertise in heavy industry and chemical engineering. Learn how these themes are connected to working life and career opportunities in the Kokkola Industrial Park area. 

The program features expert talks from Centria University of Applied Sciences and the Chydenius Institute at the University Consortium of Kokkola. In addition, representatives from the Kokkola Industrial Park will take the stage. The seminar morning will culminate in a panel discussion where both young professionals and experienced experts working in the region share their career stories and insights into the future of industry and working life. 

The event is especially aimed at students from upper secondary schools, vocational upper secondary schools, and vocational colleges, but it is open to all interested participants. 

The event will be held trilingually: in Finnish, Swedish, and English, and will be hosted by students from Kokkola’s Finnish- and Swedish-speaking upper secondary schools.