Northern Dimension Future Forum
December 1, 2021
Adapting to COVID-19: Social innovations & policy measures
In the Northern Dimension Future Forum 2021 experts, decision-makers and stakeholders discussed the sustainability of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced social innovations and policy measures in the fields of transport and logistics, health and social wellbeing, and culture.
The Northern Dimension Future Forum took place at Aalto University, Finland, and online on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
In the Forum, we heard international expert presentations and a panel that discussed the COVID-19 pandemic-induced social innovations in the fields of transport and logistics, health and social wellbeing and cultural industries. Many of the innovations have environmental implications, as well.
The forum was a follow-up to the previous forum in 2020, as there is a need to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic also in the future. In the Forum, the panellists discussed what kind of bottom-up innovations have been developed, how viable they are, and how they have been met on the policy level.
The annual ND Future Forum enables open discussion and dissemination of the research-based solutions for future challenges with the ND area decision-makers.
The Future Forum gathers experts, decision-makers and stakeholders to exchange information on topics of relevance for the thematic Northern Dimension partnerships.
The ND Future Forum is organized by the Northern Dimension Institute.
SESSION 1
All times Helsinki time, CET+1
13:00 Welcoming words
Greetings from the EU, Russian Federation, Norway and Iceland.
13:40 Opening
Prof. Riitta Kosonen, Director
Northern Dimension Institute, Aalto University, Finland
Decarbonization of Transport & the Northern Dimension Ambitions towards Net-Zero.
Dmitry Vasilenko, Vice-Rector for International Relations
St. Petersburg State University of Economics UNECON, Russia
Why is the COVID-19 impact important for the Arctic?
Marina Kalinina, Vice-president for interregional cooperation
Northern Arctic Federal University NArFU, Arkhangelsk, Russia
14:00 Introductions by the Northern Dimension Partnerships
The flexible new normal.
Sanna Kulmala, Programme Director, Development programme for work and well-being at work (WORK2030), Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
COVID-19: Transforming the crisis to sustainable resilience.
Inese Vaivare, Director of the Latvian National Platform for Development Cooperation LAPAS
Digital, green and on the move.
Hermanni Backer Johnsen, Seconded Expert, Finland
Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport and Logistics (NDPTL)
14:30 Keynotes
Culture creates stability and supports sustainability.
Antti Huntus, Special Advisor, Arts Promotion Center Finland
Telemedicine as a healthcare solution for remote areas.
Dr Yury Sumarokov, Head of the Department of International Cooperation, Northern State Medical University NSMU, Arkhangelsk, Russia
15:15 Break (15 min)
SESSION 2
Case Finland: From bottom-up solutions to policy measures?
15:30 Live Panel Discussion
Adaptation of the event industry to the challenges of the coronavirus.
Juho Hiidenmaa, Member of Board, the Finnish Event Industry Association & Production and Account Director, Lataamo Group
New requirements for urban planning, transport and housing.
Juha Kostiainen, Executive Vice President, Urban Development, YIT Corporation
Digitalisation of healthcare and e-services from a citizen's perspective.
Maiju Kyytsönen, Researcher, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Experiences from digital healthcare solutions.
Ossi Laukkanen, Business Unit Director, Digital Health Services, Mehiläinen Group
Student life & studying practices during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
Milja Leinonen, Chair of the Board, Aalto University Student Union
The challenges in allocating support for businesses during the coronavirus crisis.
Otto Toivanen, Professor, Dept. of Economics, Aalto University School of Business
16:55 Conclusion
Mr Jari Vilén, Ambassador for Barents and Northern Dimension, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (5 min)
17:00 Networking with sparkling at Dipoli
18:00 The event ends
The Future Forum 2021 is moderated by Mirja Kivimäki.
Speakers
Sanna Kulmala is working in the Occupational Health Institution of Finland where she's leading the governmental development program for work and wellbeing called WORK2030.
She has strong experience in the workplace and work development, and is constantly seeking ways to improve productivity and wellbeing simultaneously with her team.
Antti Huntus works as a special advisor in the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
Huntus was one of the experts that the Committee for the Future (Finnish Parliament) invited to evaluate the consequences of the covid-pandemic in the fields of art and culture. Huntus is a member of the intangible cultural heritage advisory group and the workgroup of cultural tourism in Finland. He is also a consultant of sustainable development for the Finnish local heritage federation.
Yury Sumarokov is the Head of the department of International cooperation at Northern State Medical University (Arkhangelsk, Russia).
In 1999-2001 he was a Chief Physician of Regional Psychiatry Hospital #1. During 2001-2003, he organized the Medical Information and Analytics Center in Arkhangelsk, and was involved as an expert in the EU TACIS project. Since 2003 Sumarokov has worked at the NSMU. His major research interest focuses on the problem of suicides among the indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Russian North.
Hermanni Backer Johnsen is currently serving as a Seconded Expert at the NDPTL Secretariat.
Backer Johnsen has previously worked as a Senior Specialist in transport, energy, and environment issues at Wega, as a PhD researcher at the University of Helsinki, and as a Professional Secretary of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM). During 2004-2012 he worked with projects at the HELCOM Secretariat, including leading Plan Bothnia, a maritime spatial planning pilot, as well as other initiatives on developing ecosystem assessments, science-based policy measures and cross-sectoral maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea region. He has a PhD in Environmental Sciences and a LL.M in Public International Law, both from the University of Helsinki.
Inese Vaivare
Director of the Latvian National Platform for Development Cooperation LAPAS
Inese Vaivare is the Director of the Latvian National Platform for Development Cooperation LAPAS for 9 years and has worked for government institutions for 12 years. She is also elected member in the Council of Memorandum between NGOs and the Cabinet of Ministers and Council member of the global network Forus. Inese also works as a lecturer at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and the Academy of Culture. Her specific interests are good governance, civic participation, foreign aid and resilience.
Panellists
Maiju Kyytsönen
Researcher, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Juha Kostiainen
Executive Vice President, Urban Development, YIT Corporation
Milja Leinonen
Chair of the Board, Aalto University Student Union
Otto Toivanen
Professor, Dept. of Economics, Aalto University School of Business
Juho Hiidenmaa
Board Member, the Finnish Event Industry Association
Ossi Laukkanen
Business Unit Director, Digital Health Services, Mehiläinen Group
Venue & Online Event
The venue of the ND Future Forum 2021 is Dipoli, the main building of Aalto University in Espoo, Finland.
The Lumituuli auditorium in Dipoli has seats for 250 people.
Explore Dipoli and its event and conference facilities through a 360° tour >
Visiting address:
Otakaari 24
02150 Espoo, Finland
COVID-19 Guidelines
Traveling to Finland for the ND Future Forum? Check the latest news and restrictions.
Information on travel and the coronavirus pandemic by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Information on the effects of COVID-19 on activities at Aalto University.
FINENTRY service provides information about travelling to Finland.
Traveling from EU and Schengen countries to Finland is permitted. As for several other countries, travel restrictions are still in place.
Partners
The ND Future Forum is organized by the Northern Dimension Institute in collaboration with the Northern Dimension Partners and Partnerships.
NORTHERN DIMENSION INSTITUTE
Lead Coordinator:
Aalto University/CEMAT
Co-coordinators:
Northern (Arctic) Federal University (NArFU, Russia)
St Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON, Russia)
The organization of the ND Future Forums is supported by the European Commission/DG NEAR and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
