Closing Seminar 1–2 October 2026

The closing seminar of Future Challenges in the Nordics takes place in Hotel Pier 4 in Helsinki, Finland 1–2 October. The seminar is for invitees only.

Programme

Thursday 1 October

10:00 Registration opens

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Opening of the conference
The Nordic Countries and the EU in a New Trade Policy Era
Keynote by Anders Ahnlid, Diplomat, Director-General at the National Board of Trade Sweden

13:45   Coffee 

14:15 Parallel sessions (open panel discussions with project researchers and commentators)

Session 1: Balancing Power: Trust, Tech, and the Future of Governance
Session 2: Who Carries the System? Labour, Elites and Inequality

16:00 Communication workshop for members of research projects, led by Heli Suominen, Head of Media Department, Council of Europe   

Friday 2 October

10:00 Mind the Gap: Bridging Academic Freedom, Research and Political Decision‑Making
Keynote by Veronika Honkasalo, member of the Finnish Parliament and Chair of The Society of Scientists and Parliament Members TUTKAS 

10:45 Coffee

11:15 Parallel sessions (open panel discussions with project researchers and commentators)

Session 3: Green Shifts: Energy, Innovation and the Nordic Path Forward      
Session 4: Across Generations: Education, Youth and Ageing in Transition

12:45   Closing of the seminar

13:00   Lunch

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the seminar, please contact:

MARIKA MÄKLIN
Head of Communication 
Society of Swedish Literature in Finland
+358 40 739 0149
marika.maklin@sls.fi