How can we implement and refine EU policies impactfully and coherently towards multiple societal gains? How does new scientific knowledge integrate into bioeconomy and climate governance in the knowledge valorisation framework?
UNITE Flagship and FinnCERES together with Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), are organising a policy event in Brussels on 5 May 2026, at 9:15-12:45.
The event addresses the questions above with presentations and interaction covering value chains from sustainable primary production to ecoefficient bio-based products. We look at forest data management, carbon-related policies, restoration regulation, and natural hazards as well as new bio-based materials and upscaling of resource-scarcity solutions.
The event is organized at the Helsinki EU Office (Rue Guimard 7, Brussels). Following the event, a networking light lunch will be offered. We would be pleased to have you join us for further discussion and exchange. We kindly invite you to register your participation via the link below. We look forward to seeing you there!
Programme
9:15 Session 1
Opening words
Raisa Mäkipää, Research Professor, Finnish Climate Change Panel and Luke
Good practices and just orchestration for restoring forests and wetlands
Teppo Hujala, Professor, University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
From forest data to policy impact: European forest data for bioeconomy and climate governance
Kari T Korhonen, Research Manager, Principal Scientist, Luke
How improved forest management practices can contribute on the CRCF?
Aleksi Lehtonen, Research Professor, Luke
Dealing with natural hazards in decision support
Annika Kangas, Research Professor, Luke
10:45 Coffee break
11:15 Session 2
FinnCERES talks by Monika Österberg, Professor, and Jaana Vapaavuori, Associate Professor, Aalto University
Resilience through advanced biobased materials
Monika Österberg, Professor, Aalto University
Materials for wellbeing Europe
Jaana Vapaavuori, Associate Professor, Aalto University
Panel discussion on ‘Forest bioeconomy and the alignment of multiple policy objectives’. Moderator Teppo Hujala, Professor of forest bioeconomy foresight, University of Eastern Finland. The Panelists are:
- Christian Holzleitner, Head of Unit for Land Economy and Carbon Removals, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission
- Tytti Peltonen, Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Metsä Group
- Atte Virtanen, Vice President, VTT / Raisa Mäkipää, Research professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland and Vice Chair of Finnish Climate Change Panel
- Heli Kangas, Development manager, Valmet
12:45 Event ends
Optional lunch served to all participants 12:45-14:00