SEMINARS

The SUBMARINER Network as facilitator for sustainable & innovative blue growth cooperation_Angela Schultz-Zehden

Opening remarks_NCM

Trend analysis for bioeconomy in the BSR & NW Russia_Mads Randbøll Wolff

Blue Economy Investment Opportunities for Baltic Sea solutions (previous title Blue Economy Investment Platform for Baltic Sea solutions)

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 10:45 – 12:15

Room: Oak Hall

The key objective of the seminar is to discuss Blue Investment opportunities to facilitate access to investment readiness support and investment to SMEs and start-ups – and highlight the opportunities in the Baltic Sea region through an inspiring cross-sector dialogue with experts and entrepreneurs.

The session will provide an overview on investment gaps and opportunities in the blue economy. Further, the seminar will also present a related technical assistance mechanism which will be operated by dedicated investment experts and will operate a blue „investment and innovation community” – including Baltic Sea region enterprises and organisations as well – to help SMEs to become investment-ready. Finally, the seminar will demonstrate concrete Baltic examples of successful sustainable blue economy projects linked to the circular economy.

Moreover, the seminar is expected to foster innovative Baltic entrepreneurs with innovative blue-green solutions to enhance the circular economy in sectors ranging from aquaculture, blue bio-technology to renewable ocean energy and green shipping.

Moderator: Marc Klaus, Race for the Baltic

Speakers:

Scene setting / opportunity for Blue Investment Platform: Bernhard Friess, Director at DG Mare
Facilitation mechanism for SME’s – access to financing platform/match-ups: D. Michael Adams, President Ocean Assets Institute
Blue Business Example – Circular Economy approach: Peter Carlsson, Sötenäs Symbiosis
Baltic Blue Bond – additional focus/finance on Blue Economy – BSR Focus: Tiina Salonen, Senior Environmental Analyst, Nordic Investment Bank

Organizers: European Commission – Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Race for the Baltic

Attachements:

Investment in the Blue Economy_Bernhard Friess

Intro Slide

Financing the EU & Baltic Blue Economy_D. Michael Adams

Industrial and Social Symbiosis in Sotenäs_Peter Carlsson

Baltic Blue Bond_Tiina Salonen

Closing Slide

Circular economy and health: it’s mainly good news

Time: Wednesday, 12 June 2019, 15:15 – 16:45

Room: Green Room

The focus of the discussion has been primarily on the economic and environmental benefits of the transfer from the linear economy to the circular economy, while health has been almost absent from the political discourse and policy documents at all levels – global, regional and national.

The main objective of the seminar is to spotlight the possible health implications on human health of implementing circular economy models and highlight the importance of intersectoral collaboration to maximize positive health outcomes and minimize negative health impacts.

During the seminar the participants, representing different fields (outside from health sector), will discuss health benefits of the circular economy, such as reduction of disease burden due to cleaner air and urban planning that supports healthier life-styles, as well as its potential risks, such as recycling and reuse of hazardous materials in products.

The outcome of the seminar will be an increased knowledge among the representatives of different fields on the opportunities and risks for health during the transition to circular economy. It will also serve as an inspiration for redefining the Policy Area Health during the revision of the EUSBSR Action Plan.

Moderator: Valery Chernyavskiy, Head of Unit, Federal Research Institute for Health Organisation and Informatics, Russian Federation

Speakers:

Maxi Nachtigall, Swedish Environment Protection Agency, PA Hazards
Alexandra Davidsson, Secretary General of the Swedish Association of Responsible Consumption (Medveten Konsumtion)
Elis Joudalova, Olio Market Growth specialist, Channel Islands Food Waste Consultant
Dorota Napierska, Chemicals Policy and Projects Officer, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe
Kaidi Kaaret, Junior Expert, Sustainable Development Programme, SEI Tallinn
Ülla-Karin Nurm, Director of the Norther Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS) Secretariat

Organizers: NDPHS Secretariat

Attachments:

Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being_Ulla-Karin Nurm

Closing the loop – sustainable and safe nutrient recycling in the Baltic Sea Region_Maxi Nachtigall

Responsible Consumption_Alexandra Davidsson

Circular Economy, Food Waste and Health_Elis Joudalova

The role of healthcare sector_Dorota Napierska

Environmental- and health benefits from circular economy_Kaidi Kaaret

Circular Economy in cities – strategy for development

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 13:15 – 14:45

Room: Concert Hall

A strategy on Circular Economy could be an important way forward for cities to achieve both environmental targets and to develop and attract new business. In the end a city transmitting towards a circular economy will increase the wellbeing of the citizens. Development of a CE strategy which includes collaborative economy and better resource management will be an important step on this way.

The seminar will give an introduction of the Urban Agenda partnership on Circular Economy and the action plan of 12 important actions. From the action plan, the seminar will focus on the work on Circular city governance, Circular Urban Resource Management for cities and the use of Resource Centres to promote repair, reuse, recycling and development of new business. The participants will be invited to participate in discussion on collaborative economy in cities, how to stimulate repair and reuse through urban resource centres and to start up mapping of urban resources.

The seminar will bring together speakers from academia, public administration on city level and NGOs. The seminar will focus on the role of collaborative economy in cities and how cities could take advantage of this in both strategic and concrete initiatives.

Circular Economy Action Plan_Visvaldas Varžinskas

Moderator: Visvaldas Varžinskas, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas City Municipality

Speakers:

Pieter Vervinckt, Circular Flanders
Gerko Brouwer, The Hague
Siri Bellika, City of Oslo

Organizers: Urban Agenda for the EU – partnership on Circular Economy, City of Oslo

Attachments:

Circular Governance_Pieter Vervinckt

Roadmap Circular Urban Resource Management for cities_Gerko Brouwer

Urban Resource Centres – Local approaches to a circular economy_Siri K. Bellika

Close plastic tap – Plastic does not belong to environment!

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 10:45 – 12:15

Room: Jazz Hall

Every year millions tons of plastic are discharged to EU seas, including the Baltic Sea. Reducing these inputs is possible both through regulatory measures by EU and national governments, voluntary actions by industry and but not less importantly – by changing our own behavior. However, do we practically know what each of us can do to close the ‘plastic tap’ to the environment? Which habits to address to gain best effect? Which of them would require more efforts? Are there solutions available?

EU Circular economy path presumes higher share of recycled materials to be used for production of new products. Plastic among other kind of used materials should no longer be considered waste but a valuable resource, however an ultimate solution would be to substitute plastic in production wherever feasible. The examples of good practices to reduce plastic use in production, consumption and waste generation, as well as effective and ineffective actions to raise public awareness on plastic circulation in the society will be discussed. Possible measures to reduce plastic pollution that could be implemented on national, municipal and personal level will be discussed. Recommendations for minimization of plastic use in various sectors, including hospitality (hotels and accommodation), offices, travel will be presented.

Circular Economy is the mind-changer towards accepting Zero Waste concept providing solutions to cope with threats of Anthropopression. Problem of plastic waste will be presented by a chemist, environmentalist, decision-maker and an entrepreneur from an international perspective (PL, BE, SE, BY). EU level lobbyist will present forthcoming changes in the EU Directives and ecodesign issue. Exhibition of the set of posters explaining the Single Use Plastic problem, solutions, alternatives will accompany.

Moderator: Piotr Barczak – European Environmental Bureau – Senior Policy Officer for Waste

Panellists:

Waldemar Wardencki – Polish Ecological Club East-Pomerania Branch/ prof. dr hab. inż. Technical University of Gdansk
Piotr Barczak – European Environmental Bureau – Senior Policy Officer for Waste
Eugeniy Lobanov – Coalition Clean Baltic – Working Area Leader, Hazardous Substances & Marine Litter
Marta Ruiz – HELCOM – Associate Professional Secretary
Maciej Lorek – Gdansk Municipality, Environmental Dept. Director
Jim Seido – Cosmetics AB
Małgorzata Drewnowska – Gdańsk Water – FanpLESStic-sea project

Organizers: Polish Ecological Club East Pomerania Branch, European Environmental Bureau, Coalition Clean Baltic

Attachments:

Micro and Macroplastics_Ewa Siedlecka, Waldemar Wardencki

EEB_Piotr Barczak

HELCOM framework to prevent plastics input to the sea_Marta Ruiz

Plastic Free Baltic – Plastic Free Ocean_Eugeniy Lobanov

Gdańsk without plastic_Maciej Lorek

FanpLESStic-Sea project_Małgorzata Drewnowska

Plastic Free Baltic movies:

PFB – By polluting the planet – you pollute your home

PFB Animation – Eco-Friendly Signs

PFB – Protect your planet, protect your Baltic

PFB – Stop micro plastics – Use natural cosmetics

PFB Animation – Microbeads

PFB Animation – Alternatives to plastic

PFB Animation – Segregation at sources

Eco and sharing tourism (tourist butterfly effect)

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 10:45 – 12:15

Room: Green Room

During the panel good experience shall be presented and those solutions that have been already implemented, by the private companies, foundation and local administration, which can be used not only by the locals but also the tourists. The presented solutions thanks to which the tourists and the inhabitants can improve their stay, using the opportunities given by the shared transport. The example of using the shared transport shows saving money and time. The cars, bicycles and scooters, it is the opportunity to travel a short distance or using the possible connections by different means of transport. The bicycles or scooters may make their travelling distance longer thanks to accumulators, powered by the ecological fuel, like hydrogen.

Every day, the solutions used in hotels develop in us the habits of water saving, packages saving and waste selections. Due to that, there is a visible way of the hotel development 3.0, where the acting philosophy is compatible with the Client’s values. Hotels improve different solutions by hosting their guests, global projects like Plastic Removal project, Food Waste project or Do Not Clean My Room save the water, energy and food. Step by step they change our habits.

The attitude of the local authorities is also important. Due to supporting such solutions, the new ways of the city development is shown and new social attitudes are shaped.

The latest idea of a bicycle powered by hydrogen by the Foundation will also be presented.

Moderator: Cezary Molski

Panellists:

Transport: MEVO – bicycles, EcoShare – scooters, Ecocar – cars
Hotels: Scandic Hotel, Mercure Hotels –Accor
NGO: Foundation Institute of Drucki – Lubecki
Venturis Horeca
PA Tourism Coordinator

Organizers: Department of Tourism Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, Department of Tourism/ Metropolitan Area of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia

Attachments:

Metropolitan Bike_Grzegorz Krajewski

Introduction

City without traffic jams- ecofriendly scooter sharing platform_Klaudia Pokrątka

Eco-friendly taxi_Michał Lewandowski

Future: Hydrogene bicycles_Bartosz Dubiński

Solutions that protect the natural environment_Grzegorz Grabowski

Sustainable hospitality_Syliwa Gadomska

Hotel guest: friend or foe in the fight against food waste – Polish experience_Tomasz Szuba

The chances of implementing solutions_René Krabbe

Enhancing business-driven circular economy

Time: Wednesday, 12 June 2019, 15:15 – 16:45

Room: Jazz Hall

The aim of the seminar is to convey the message that planning for circular economy using value-chain, gap-analysis and stakeholder analysis may enable entrepreneurial discoveries in the field. The objective of the seminar is to tap into the experiences of stakeholders working with circular economy, in order to clarify what the challenges in moving from project design and general roadmaps in the direction of concrete pilot actions are, and how they may be overcome.

The seminar will combine top-down and bottom-up perspectives on circular economy cases. We will engage policymakers from the EU-commission or alike but also stakeholders implementing the policy.

Hence the perspective in the cases presented will be on design (policy formulation of the strategy) followed by implementation (deliverance). Where did it go wrong, which are the critical factors hampering deliverance of the policy, and how can the challenges be met? The seminar will draw on experience of the organizers in policy deliverance and explore how they met the challenges.

Policy formulation and deliverance are two sides of the same coin. We will construct the interventions in a way where we ask the speakers involved in policy formulation to convey key messages to implementers and vice-versa. What kind of central-level frameworks are needed, and how can the bottom-up approaches be improved?

We hope based on this to be able to conclude on measures aimed add guiding the forthcoming policy period.

Moderator: Richard Sjölund, Chairman of the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission Energy Working Group

Speakers:

Richard Sjölund, CPMR BSC Energy Working Group: Welcome to the seminar setting the scene,
Olli Alhoniemi, CEO WestEnergy, Finland: Policy Regulation and its role in advancing circular economy in waste incineration
Åge Mariussen, LARS-project, the University of Vaasa: Public procurment as a driver of circular economy – a case from Norway
Zivile Gedminaite-Raudone & Dr Rita Vilke, Lithunian Institure of Agrarian Economics, Lithuania: Agribusiness Driven Innovation for Circular Economy
Tristan Jorde, Fachbereich Umwelt und Produktsicherheit, Verbaucherzentrale Hamburg e. v., Germany: Consumers as drivers of Circular Economy
Jerker Johnson, Coordinator of the LARS-project, Finland: Experiences on value-chain and stakeholder analysis in Circular Economy

Organizers: Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, Finland, The Hamburg University of Applied Science, The Vaasa Energy Business Innovation Center (VEBIC) / University of Vaasa, The Baltic Sea Energy Working Group / CPMR Baltic Sea Commission

Attachments:

Policy regulation and its role in advancing circular economy in waste refining_Olli Alhoniemi

Regional public procurement and R&D driving green innovation (climate change mitigation)_Åge Mariussen

Agribusiness Driven Innovation for Circular Economy_Zivile Gedminaite-Raudone, Rita Vilke

Perspectives from the experience of the LARS-project_Jerker Johnson

How smart specialisation strategy is translated through modern cluster work? Cases Lapland and Kanta-Häme Region, Finland

Time: Wednesday, 12 June 2019, 15:15 – 16:45

Room: Royal Hall I

The transition from a linear economic model to a circular economy creates huge challenges for societies around the world, also in Europe. Nordic Countries like Finland have shown remarkable progress in this change towards circular economy in past years. Transition can be seen in both public and private sector.

The Arctic Industry and Circular Economy Cluster (hosted by Digipolis Oy) and natural resource network in Kanta-Häme region form a very good examples of how smart specialisation strategies are translated through modern cluster work into concrete business and R&D activities that promote economic development and sustainable lifestyle in the regions.

The aim of this workshop is to give an example of a good practices of network cooperation in ecosystems. The seminar gives added value for macro regional cooperation for the BSR as it showcases a very successful, modern, circular economy clusters. The seminar will support networking in the Baltic Sea region within resource efficiency is of high value. Experiences gained in Lapland and in Kanta-Häme Region in the modern cluster work in developing value chains bring added value and best practices to be shared between the participants.

Keynote speakers will introduce the Arctic Smartness approach highlighting the role of the ecosystem creation and the business intermediaries facilitating the collaboration in order to develop the industrial value chains. The role of education rises also as a tool for promoting circular economy. In this workshop we also hear about how to bring sustainable lifestyle into the whole study path and what role research has in building economical circular economy systems. We also hear a case-example about the Resource Wise Roadmap of city of Riihimäki, Southern Finland. Roadmap sets out goals and actions to promote a low-carbon and material-efficient future for the urban community, sustainable prosperity, and strengthening the region’s vitality.

Moderator: Kristiina Jokelainen, Director, International Relations and S3 Implementation, Regional Council of Lapland

Speakers:

Mona-Anitta Riihimäki, Ph.D., Dean, School of Bioeconomy, HAMK University of Applied Sciences
Jyri Maunuksela, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland
Päivi Ekdahl, Development director, Regional Council of Lapland
Kristiina Jokelainen, Director, International Relations and S3 Implementation, Regional Council of Lapland
Jukka Teräs, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio
Seppo Ahola, Artic Adviser, Arctic Industry and Circular Economy Cluster, Digipolis Oy
Seppo Saari, Senior Adviser, Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Harri Mattila, Principal Research Scientist, Häme University of Applied Sciences

Organizers: Häme University of Applied Sciences – LUO Next Step – project, Regional Council of Lapland

Attachments:

How smart specialisation strategy is translated through modern cluster work?

The knowledge path to sustainable growth in the circular economy_Mona-Anitta Riihimäki

Arctic Industry and Circular Economy Cluster – Smart Specialisation in Practise_Jukka Teräs

Industrial symbiosis as a key to circular economy in the Baltic Sea Region

Time: Wednesday, 12 June 2019, 15:15 – 16:45

Room: Oak Hall

The main aim of the seminar is to present how a network of diverse organizations can foster eco-innovation and long-term culture change, create and share mutually profitable transactions to improve business and technical processes.

We would like to show that geographic proximity which is usually considered as precondition to industrial symbiosis, is neither necessary nor sufficient – nor is a singular focus on physical resource exchange.

As an example we will show how joint effort for biomass management via methane fermentation contributes to gas systems and how substrates from recycled materials can be more economical than those obtained from fossil minerals.

Through state of the art projects from various cross-border Baltic Sea programmes as well as panel debate, we would like to show how in practice, using industrial symbiosis as an approach to commercial operations of using, recovering and redirecting resources for reuse, results in resources remaining in productive use in the economy for longer. This in turn creates business opportunities, reduces demands on the fossil resources, and provides a stepping-stone towards creating a circular economy.

Participants will learn about new environmentally friendly propulsion systems and how to safely recycle batteries. They will gain awareness about selective biomass collection and digestate stabilistaion.

Presentations:

CAR – Creating Automotive Renewal, Mats Larsson, Industrial Development Center South, Sweden
RBR – Reviving Baltic Resilience, Kamil Zajaczkowski, Acceleravia Capital, Sweden
World Maritime University activities in BSR, Jennie Larsson, World Maritime University, Sweden
WASTEMAN – Integrated Sustainable Waste Management Systems decreasing pollution discharges in the South Baltic area, Dr Sc. Adam Cenian, The Szewalski Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences
Poland-Russia cross-border cooperation, Prof. Antoni Jerzy Rokicki, University of Gdańsk

Moderator: Prof. Jan Hupka, Gdańsk University of Technology

Panellists:

Anna Zielinska – Pomeranian Special Economic Zone Ltd., Poland
William Hogland – Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden
Kristoffer Klim – Sustainable Business Hub, Sweden
Paula Makuch-Bursiewicz – Voivodeship Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Gdańsk, Poland
Robert Chryc-Gawrychowski – Northvolt Poland Ltd.
Jan Talaśka – DNV Poland Ltd.

Organizers: Interreg South Baltic Programme, Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak, Poland-Russia and Central Baltic Programmes

Attachments:

CAR_Transformation to e-mobilty_Mats Larsson

RBR_Reviving Baltic Resilience_Kamil Zajaczkowski

Holistic Catchment Area Renovation_Mikko Ortamala

Innovative methods of communal waste utilization in light of existing and planned EU Dirs_Adam Cenian

Development of technologies for the rehabilitation of the ecosystem of the Vistula Lagoon_Jerzy Rokicki

Industrial Symbiosis

Lifelong Learning for Smart Specializations

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 13:15 – 14:45

Room: Royal Hall I

Changing demographic patterns has a strong impact on socio-economic development in the Baltic Sea Region and these changes accelerate regional disparities. The smart specialization focused lifelong learning is a tool to tackle demographic and economic challenges (including the needs of circular and sharing economy).

The seminar aims to raise awareness of flexible lifelong learning pathways as a solution for building SMEs capacity for learning and change to boost transition to sustainable business models in the BSR countries.

The seminar addresses the need of the SMEs to build their ability to learn and change in the transforming markets. Many sectors have not yet embraced the potential of bioeconomy and circular economy, nor the fast-moving digital world, even though their clients may already be there. The pressure for change is rising with diversification of customer needs and with entry of new competition from global and unexpected origins. Capacity to learn is vital for renewal of business models and uptake of innovations in SMEs to pave the way to sustainable and inclusive economic development.

The seminar will be innovative and with added value, addressed topics:

innovative high-quality flexible adult learning pathways in smart specialization SMEs in BSR countries. Well-developed learning methods would provide significant support to the industries,
searching to cover the gap of competencies of the workforce.

This seminar focus includes lifelong learning for building SMEs capacity for learning and on change to boost transition to sustainable business models (covering relevant topics: business-driven approach to circular economy and demography and circularity).

Moderator: Inese Suija – Markova, Managing Director, Institute for Environmental Solutions (Latvia)

Panellists/ Speakers:

Ilona Platonova, Project expert – Innovation Broker, Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia)
Annemari Sinikorpi, Communication Coordinator and Ms Anna Alto, Project Manager, JAMK University (Finland)
Esa Kokkonen, Priority Area Innovation Coordinator of EUSBSR (Finland)
Ugnius Savickas, Innovation instructor, Executive education designer, Business consultant (Lithuania)
Sabine Hahn, Priority Area Education Coordinator of EUSBSR (Germany)
Joanna Bochniarz, President of Center for Innovative Education (Poland)

Organizers: Vidzeme Planning Region, JAMK University of Applied Sciences

Attachments:

Future Skills_Joanna Bochniarz

The gap of competences for the recent economy_Ugnius Savickas

SME and innovation perspective in lifelong learning (LLL) and adult education (AE)_Ilona Platonova

Creating Competence with a Finnish Touch_JAMK University

EUSBSR Policy Area Innovation, S3 and SMEs_Esa Kokkonen

Localising circular economy – creative solutions for the challenges of our time

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 13:15 – 14:45

Room: Green Room

Addressing existing challenges with innovative and creative solutions is key for achieving the goals of the EUSBSR. The seminar aims to provide an overview on how sustainable approaches can help finding solutions to these multilevel and transnational issues. In particular, circular economy and the 2030 Agenda framework will serve as a basis for reflecting on the processes and contextualization of solutions, through multi-stakeholder dialogue and active interaction with the audience.

Old and new challenges are impacting the Baltic Sea Region, our cities, our environment and our lives. Current production and consumption patterns are intensifying the causes and impacts of climate change, detriment of our natural resources and pose a risk to the prosperity of our countries. The 2030 Agenda and its SDGs provide a concrete framework for adopting systemic approaches to the implementation of these issues, and the EUSBSR provides the platform for macro-regional cooperation towards common goals of enhanced prosperity and sustainability. The seminar will provide inspiration to boost the transition to circular economy models, by showcasing existing successful practices in the region for adapting circular frameworks with creative approaches, and will provide participants with a space to increase their knowledge, reflect and discuss how the methodologies behind the approaches can be adopted into their own context.

The seminar foresees the collaboration between CBSS Baltic 2030, working with capacity building on SDGs in the BSR and coordinating Horizontal Action Climate, and Policy Area Culture to provide inspiration, good examples, and a space for sharing knowledge to translate circular economy approaches in different BSR sectors and contexts. The seminar will learn from creative approaches, the knowledge practitioners providing existing examples in public and private sectors, as well as the experiences and produced by young people during the Youth Camp. The event will pay attention to gender and generation balance with the goal to make best use of the diversity of knowledge.

Moderator: Agata Etmanowicz, Vice-President of Impact Foundation & Oleg Koefoed Co-Founder Growing Pathways

Inspirational introduction: SDGs, circular economy & Art

1. How the cultural sector contributes to circular economy – Maciej Hofman, DG Education

Local planning supporting circularity

Public and private sectors

2. Supporting local circularity through capacity building and public procurement – Ugis, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Latvia

3. The added value of culture for the transition to local economy in our municipalities – Charlotte Lundqvist, Umeå Municipality, Sweden

4. Industrial symbiosis and profitability for the business Kalundborg and in the Baltic Sea Region – Nina Alkærsig Jensen, Symbiosis Center Denmark

Creativity as a way towards sustainability

5. Creativity as a means to finding innovative solutions – Design trends in sustainable development economy – Henryk Stawicki, Design Strategist at Change Pilot, Poland

6. Lessons from the EUSBSR Youth Camp – proposed solutions for local challenges

Organizers: Council of the Baltic Sea States – Baltic 2030, Ministry of Justice, European Affairs, Consumer Protection and Equality of Land Schleswig-Holstein, Ars Baltica

Attachments:

How cultural and creative sectors help to address (local, regional, national, global) challenges? – an EU perspective_Maciej Hofman

The added value of culture for the transition to local economy in our municipalities – some examples_Charlotte Lundkvist

Symbiosis Center Denmark

What design can do for sustainable development economy?_Henryk Stawicki

Conscious Consumerism (Short film about sustainability)

Photos

No time to waste. Unlocking the circular potential of the Baltic Sea Region – findings from the Report

Time: Wednesday, 12 June 2019, 15:15 – 16:45

Room: Concert Hall

The authors will present findings from the report, including scenarios and policy recommendations for the development of the Circular Economy in the region. The report will provide the basis for a discussion among participants from various sectors, including business, public administration and NGOs.

Moderator: Krzysztof Bolesta, Vice-President, Electric Vehicles Promotion Foundation

Speakers:

Adam Czerniak, Director for Research, Chief Economist, Polityka Insight
Paweł Wiejski, European Affairs Analyst, Polityka Insight

Panellists:

Piotr Barczak – European Environmental Bureau – Senior Policy Officer for Waste
Kuba Walasek, Country Manager, Too Good To Go
Kari Herlevi, Project Director Circular Economy, SITRA
Carolina Garcia Gomez, CEO, IKEA Retail Poland

Organizers: Polityka Insight, Pomorskie Voivodeship

Attachments:

No time to waste_Adam Czerniak, Paweł Wiejski

Pressures for sustainable food – the role of public meal in changing food system_Minna Mikkola

Pressures, chances and the changing future in sustainable production and consumption of food

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 10:45 – 12:15

Room: Motława Hall

The seminar will introduce the participants to current pressures, threats, as well as the opportunities and chances for developing the food system towards sustainability. The role of public procurement will be discussed, as the European public food service market amounts to 82 billion EUR per year.

Food is a fundamental need of everybody, therefore its environmental and societal impact is enormous. Developing circular economy in BSR will not be possible without improving nutrition habits of individual consumers and consumption patterns of public buyers, as well as optimizing business models. In food sector, pressures amount not only from the environmental impacts, populations’ health problems and weakening economic base for agricultural production, but also from insufficient opportunities to learn from each other. The seminar highlights the opportunity of public procurement and catering services in making the change in food sector.

Moderator: Grzegorz Piskalski, Institute for Sustainable Public Procurement, StratKIT project

Panellists:

Minna Mikkola, University of Helsinki, Ruralia Institute, StratKIT project
Piotr Masłowski, Deputy Mayor of the City of Rybnik, StratKIT Project
Emile Bruls, Advisor for Dutch Rijkswaterstaat Agency, CIRCULAR PP project

Organizers: Institute for Sustainable Public Procurement, University of Helsinki, Ruralia Institute

Attachments:

City of Rybnik_Piotr Masłowski

Procurement and catering_Emile Bruls

Recognising potential – easing the way for migrants

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 13:15 – 14:45

Room: Oak Hall

Integration of migrants is a key challenge for Europe as a whole. Already today the macro-regional strategies are working with different measures. This seminar will foster a closer collaboration between the four macro-regional strategies on all levels of governance, supporting an emerging joint flagship. The seminar focuses on exchange of good practice for smoothening integration of refugees and migrants into education, labour market and society.

The seminar focuses on integration of migrants as a case study illustrating the need for learning between macro-regional strategies. Increasing numbers of migrants constitute a challenge to countries. At the same time, many countries struggle with demographic changes such as an ageing population leading to a deficit of skilled workers.

How can macro-regional strategies complement and support existing initiatives and foster cooperation between actors entrusted with the responsibility of integrating migrants? How can integration of migrants contribute to competence supply and sustainable economies in an EU facing demographic changes? How can macro-regional strategies contribute to learning across borders and across EU?

The seminar will give significant input when forming a joint flagship for all four macro-regional strategies regarding integration of migrants. Furthermore, the seminar will show the importance of multilevel governance when addressing this complex societal challenge. Different perspectives need to be considered and involved in joint development of new policies and methods.

Moderator: Mikko Lohikoski, Union of the Baltic (Horizontal Action Capacity of the EUSBSR)

Panellists:

Examples from various EU macro-regions:

Sanja Cukut Krilić, Researcher at the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, project member of Danube Region Information Platform for Economic Integration of Migrants (DRIM), Slovenia
Robert Moosbrugger, Project Coordinator, project PlurAlps, Regionalentwicklung Vorarlberg eGen, Austria
Matti Mäkelä, Head of the project management office, City of Turku, Finland. Knowledge Platform on Newly Arrived Refugees and Migrants within PA Education of the EUSBSR

Perspectives on integration of migrants:

Bodo Bahr, Secretary General, The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference
Katarina Carlzén, Director Partnership Skåne, (County Administrative Board of Skåne), Sweden
Pehr Granfalk, Member of the European Committee of the Regions and Mayor of Solna, Sweden
Farbod Rezania, Senior advisor labour market, The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Sweden
Karolina Stubinska, President, Immigrant Support Center, Poland

Closing remarks: Towards a joint European flagship on integration

Sabine Hahn, Coordinator of Policy Area Education of EUSBSR, Germany

Organizers: HA Capacity (consisting of Baltic Sea NGO Network/Norden Association in Sweden, Swedish Institute, Union of the Baltic Cities) and PA Education (consisting of Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg/Norden Association in Sweden) together with colleagues in EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, EU Strategy for the Danube Region and EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region

Attachments:

Recognising potential – easing the way for migrants

Reduce, reuse, rethink: connecting EU macro-regions

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 10:45 – 12:15

Room: Concert Hall

EU macro-regional strategies (MRS) are frameworks for more functional, focused and efficient regional development and for better coordination and cooperation within a certain geography. The MRS are influenced by developments happening in Europe.

Valuing experiences and established ways of implementing the EUSBSR, it is good to reflect what happens outside the MRS, where Europe develops and what implications it has on regional development and delivery. Where is room for improvement?

This workshop is aiming to share views on what trends in Europe impact working in macro-regions and across those. Acknowledging resources are less in post-2020, we will exchange views on how better to use existing resources, building up, connecting and securing collaboration mechanisms of regional cooperation.

Description

Moderator: Baiba Liepa, Interact and Kai Böhme, Spatial Foresight

Panellists:

Bettina Rafaelsen, COWI
Esa Kokkonen, The Baltic Institute of Finland, Policy Area ‘Innovation’ Coordinator, EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
Luca Ferrarese, Interreg Central Europe
Stasa Mesec, Facility Point for the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region
Jean-Pierre Halkin, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission
Jacek Szlachta, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland

Comment from the floor:

Michał Tuszyński, Gdynia Port Authority SA, Poland

Organizers: Interact Programme

Attachment:

Safe nutrient recycling for cleaner Baltic Sea

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 10:45 – 12:15

Room: Royal Hall II

The Baltic Sea region has committed, through HELCOM, to elaborate a Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy by 2020. It aims for reduced nutrient inputs to and eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. The seminar presents the status of the strategy and invites stakeholders to discuss the draft objectives, knowledge base and social and economic aspects for safe nutrient recycling in the region.

Presentations:

Welcoming words and presenting the status of the Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy, Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky, Professional Secretary, HELCOM secretariat
BSR WATER platform – solutions to enhance recycling of nutrients in waste water sector, Taavo Tenno, Associated Professor, University of Tartu
Swedish sludge inquiry, Swedish EPA (video)
SUMANU platform – nutrient management examples, Minna Sarvi, Research Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland

Panel discussion

In the panel discussion experts and policy makers from EU countries will elaborate the state of knowledge and regulative framework to close nutrient loops, and drivers and challenges that nutrient recycling concept brings to sustainable management practices. Social and economic viability and further steps in the policy development will be discussed also.

Moderator: Taavo Tenno, Associated Professor, University of Tartu

Panellists:

Johanna Bernsel, Deputy Head of Unit, DG GROW
Małgorzata Bogucka-Szymalska, Deputy Director of the Department of Water Management and Inland Navigation, Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation of Poland
Leena Anttila, Ministerial adviser, PAC Bioeconomy, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland
Marek Swinarski, Chief Process Engineer, Gdansk water utility, IWAMA project
Yaric Cohen, Development manager, EasyMining Sweden AB

Organizers: Ministry of the Environment of Finland / PA Nutri, Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation of Poland / PA Nutri, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency / PA Hazards, HELCOM secretariat

Attachments:

HELCOM nutrients recycling strategy – the current state_Dmitry Frank Kamenetsky

BSR WATER Solutions to enhance recycling of nutrients in waste water sector_Taavo Tenno

National Inquiry on Circular and Non-Toxic Reuse of Phosphorus from Sewage Sludge_Uwe Fortkamp (movie)

SuMaNu platform – nutrient management examples_Minna Sarvi

„Sustainable Working Life in the Baltic Sea Region”, focusing on demographic change, labour market and future work

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 13:15 – 14:45

Room: Jazz Hall

The seminar is aiming to provide the holistic cross sectoral overview of the current challenges in the labour market. In upcoming decades, the countries in BSR will face considerable challenges with regard to ageing population as well as the new requirements of the labour market on skills and qualifications. It will concern the need for better synergies between educational systems and labour markets’ demands, respond to ageing workforces and pressures on pension systems. Since the ageing population will have strong impacts both on economic growth, social cohesion (between social groups) and social sustainability (between generations) within the region it is essential to learn more about how effectively use the resources at hand by fostering active and healthy ageing and increasing the labour force participation of older people.

It is of common interest that labour mobility improves – benefiting not only employees and employers but also national economies, some of which unfortunately have been negatively affected by „brain drain”, which should be handled on a smart way to be transformed to the „brain circulation” instead – a phenomenon describing the movement of skill and talent that is advantageous to all parties.

We live longer, and we stay healthier longer. At the same time labour markets are changing, less stable where the workforce needs to frequently upgrade their competences in order to be able to stay in the present job or to meet the requirements of a new one.

Moderator: Daria Akhutina, CBSS and Anders Bergström, EUSBSR Policy Area Education

Panellists:

Anders Bergström, EUSBSR Policy Area Education
Daria Akhutina, CBSS, Baltic Sea Labour Forum (BSLF), EUSBSR Flagship,”BSLF for Sustainable Working Life”, an ESF-funded project
Irena E. Kotowska, prof., Institute of Statistics and Demography, SGH Warsaw School of Economics
Pyry Niemi, Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference
Olga Korchemkina, Federal Service for Labour and Employment of the Russian Federation
Sonia Buchholtz, Confederation of Employers Lewiatan, Poland
Joanna Pankowska, EU Life Long Learning Platform

Organizers: Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), Centrum Balticum Foundation (HA Neighbours), Norden Association in Sweden (PA Education)

Attachments:

Sustainable Working Life in the Baltic Sea Region_Daria Akhutina

Prolonging working life – does job satisfaction matter? What Baltic countries can learn from each other?_Irena Kotowska

Demographic Changes and Pension Reform in the Russian Federation_Olga Korchemkina

Labour shortages: the new normal?_Sonia Buchholtz

The Lifelong Learning Platform_Joanna Pankowska

Towards a digital bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea Region

Time: Wednesday, 12 June 2019, 15:15 – 16:45

Room: Royal Hall II

Digitisation gives new opportunities for the circular economy in rural areas by transforming business models and value chains. „Digital bioeconomy” is addressed by policy and stakeholder initiatives but coordination is needed across sectors and borders. BSR has pioneer potential with strongholds in technology, innovation and sustainability but no shared vision for a digital circular economy. The seminar will exemplify a digital business-driven approach and inspire coordinated action across BSR.

The seminar will explore synergies between digitalisation and circular/bioeconomy to inspire cross-sectoral initiatives. We will discuss how EUSBSR can promote interaction between the two trends by coordinated policy efforts and joint activities across PA’s/HA’s dealing with various aspects of innovation, education, labor market, digitalisation and smart specialisation. Format is a mix of short presentations, inspirational inputs and panel discussion.

The seminar will exemplify and discuss innovative business-driven approaches to circular economy in the BSR: How digitalization can support new business opportunities and development in rural areas and how coordinated policy action can support these developments. The seminar will provide inspiration for regional/national/BSR strategies and policy initiatives, cross-sectoral activities in projects and programmes and ideas for new innovative projects exploring digital bioeconomy across the BSR.

Moderator: Maria Tunberg, Manager, Analysys Mason (Sweden)

Speakers:

Stefan Sipka, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (Belgium)
Anders Vestergaard, Project Manager, Climate-KIC Nordic & Wood in Construction (Denmark)
Jaakko Kuusisaari, Director, Sales and Business Development, Tieto Corporation (Finland)
Santa Niedola, Project Manager, Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia)
Torben Aaberg, Interregional Programme Manager, Aalborg University Copenhagen (Denmark)

Panellists:

Stefan Sipka, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (Belgium)
Beate El-Chichakli, Head of Secretariat of German Bioeconomy Council, member of BSR Bioeconomy Council (Germany)
Anders Olsson, Manager of Research and Innovation, Värmland Region (Sweden)
Jaakko Kuusisaari, Director, Sales and Business Development, Tieto Corporation (Finland)
Valdonė Daugėlaitė, Founder/CEO of CupCup (Lithuania)

Organizers: EUSBR PA Innovation (Baltic Institute of Finland, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia), EUSBSR PA Bioeconomy (Nordic Council of Ministers)

Attachments:

Transition towards a Digital Circular Economy – the case of bioeconomy_Stefan Sipka

Organisers slides

Towards a digital bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea Region: The forest industry view_Jaakko Kuusisaari

Wood in construction_Anders Vestergaard Jensen

What will demographic changes bring to BSR accessibility?

Time: Thursday, 13 June 2019, 13:15 – 14:45

Room: Royal Hall II

Workshop will look at sharing-mobility solutions for both densely and sparsely populated areas combined with spatial planning tools, identified and promoted in various projects and discuss regional development perspective and lessons learned from current approaches tackling accessibility challenges.

Recent studies and projects show that BSR is facing an internal polarization of accessibility caused by rapid growth of metropolitan areas and shrinking of rural and remote areas. Therefore the mobility in sparsely, as well as in densely populated areas requires for place-sensitive, effective, sustainable, innovative solutions to provide access to key services, activities, employment opportunities and commercial possibilities.

Answering the demographic changes, new mobility patterns have arisen in BSR – starting from shared community car or transport on demand for rural citizens to complex and integrated mobility systems in metropolitan areas in order to balance available resources and sustain or even increase the efficiency of mobility with regard to territorial cohesion, the quality of life and sustainable economic development.

Workshop will observe the spatial challenges and consequences for accessibility in the BSR due to the demographic changes and will discuss the existing „sharing economy” solutions tackling these challenges both in sparsely populated rural regions and in dynamic metropolitan areas.

Workshop participants will have a chance to get to know and discuss the changing patterns of mobility due to the demographic changes in the BSR, as well as acknowledge how spatial planning tools can be applied to increase the effectiveness of mobility.

Workshop will engage local actors representing towns/regions off the beaten tracks (corridors) and offer them a platform to talk about their needs.