Welcome to this unique multidisciplinary forum, where knowledge, expertise, and education come together to shape a smarter future. This event brings together experts, practitioners, and changemakers to co-create new approaches for learning, innovation, and sustainable urban development. Through collaboration and shared learning, we aim to develop concrete ideas that strengthen communities and resilience. This hybrid forum connects Finnish and Ukrainian professionals to foster partnerships in smart city innovations, inclusive education, digital tools, and human-centered urban development.

Join the discussion, explore funding and collaboration opportunities, and contribute to a new digital platform that will sustain and expand partnerships beyond this event. Together, we build knowledge, empower people, and create pathways for a more resilient future.

Future Construction Hub TITAN, Business Vantaa, and Urban Mill invite you to take part in this matchmaking event, which kicks off a journey to build new collaborations, exchange knowledge, and develop impactful solutions for Ukraine’s recovery.

📌 On-site registration deadline: March 14, 2025
📌 Online registration deadline: March 18, 2025

Join the live stream on YouTube

Event Details & Registration

📅 Date: March 19, 2025
🕛 Time: 12.00 – 16.00 (EET)
📍 Location: Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Myllypurontie 1, 00920 Helsinki, Finland
🌍 Hybrid event: Join in person or online
🔗 Register via Webropol form (link opens in new tab)

Follow the event online from Youtube stream

Program

12:00 | Opening & Greetings

• Riitta Konkola, CEO-President, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• Remarks by the main organizers: Future Construction Hub TITAN, Business Vantaa, and Urban Mill Innovation Platform.

12:10 | Reconstruction Challenges Presented by Ukrainian Stakeholders –  Presentation of key challenges that require solutions from Finland.

• Yevhenii Modlo, Associate Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, State University of Economics and Technology, Ukraine, Building Smarter Future Together: LID HUB Kryvyi Rih dimension; LID HUB is a smart service-oriented ecosystem that includes research, education, culture, sports, rehabilitation and business locations. The new academic building will become a place of innovation, creative management and education of thought leaders. It is more than an educational institution. The project creates a smart ecosystem around itself.
• Serhii Leshchenko, Head of the Department of State Architectural and Construction Control of the Boryspil City Council – Boryspil City Council: Construction of a Rehabilitation Center for Military Personnel in the City of Boryspi
• Stanislav Kutsenko, State Institution Ukrainian Institute of Education Development – Renovation of Schools and Kindergartens in South Ukraine
• Igor Komendo, EDU 4.0 Creative Europe, GoLocal, Kyiv – Human Capital Challenges in Post-War Society

13:00 | Invitation to Collaboration with Finnish Experts and Organizations: Solution Presentations and Opportunities– Ideas, expertise, products, and services that could help solve reconstruction challenges.

Keynote Presentation: Urban Ecosystems

• Jarmo Suominen, Professor of Environmental Design, Director of Advanced Environmental Design Program, Tongji D&I; Vice Director, Tongji MIT City Science Lab

13:15 | Solution Pitches

• Laura Koponen, Chair of the Board of Directors, GraphoGroup Oy – Give Ukrainian Children the Opportunity to Learn to Read with the Best Solution in the World
• Sanna Lukander, Founder and CCO at The Campus Company, Co-Founder, Fun Learning Ambassador at Fun Academy – Fun Learning on Wheels: Bringing Professional Development and Kindergarten Services to the Vicinity of Shelters
• Erika Ripatti, Otaniemi Upper Secondary School, City of Espoo, Learning in Upper Secondary Schools
• Yehor Tereshchenko, Metropolia UAS, Physics Lab in the Smartphone: Learning Science in Wartime
• Kari Kivinen, Faktabaari EDU Development – Developing a Digital Media and Information Literacy. Faktabaari is a Finnish fact-checking and digital information literacy service.
• Yuri Kozik, Co-founder and CEO, Advicera Oy – Public-Private Sector Cooperation for Innovation in the Reconstruction of Ukraine
• Mikko-Pekka Hanski, Founder, Solovey Productions Oy / Double Tap Investment Oy – Music – The Emotional Rebuilding Tool
• Anastasiia Pihlman, APOLI and the Power of Urban Planning in the Successful Rebuilding of Ukrainian Cities

14:00 | Break

14:15 | Solution Pitches continue

• Jarkko Sireeni, CEO, xD Visuals Oy / 6DPlanner – 6DPlanner as a Platform for Reconstruction
• Toni Pienonen, Partner, Crazy Town Oy – Providing Membership and a Support Hub for Ukrainian Companies
• Joel Hentunen, Accessibility Expert, Riesa Consultative Oy – Accessibility Index: Guiding the Development of Accessibility from the End-User’s Perspective
• Markus Vähälä, CEO, Citizen Network Cooperative – Caring Neighbourhoods – Citizens and Neighbourhoods as a Key Element of Society
• Mika Pirttivaara, Area Leader for Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, and Lithuania, Lions Clubs International Global Action Team – Opening Markets Through Collaboration with Charity Organisations – Case Lions

14:45 | Presentations about Funding Instruments

• Jyrki Härkki, Senior Advisor, Business Finland – Financing Opportunities for Ukraine Reconstruction
  Overview of available Finnish financial instruments for Ukraine’s reconstruction, including Business Finland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finnpartnership, FINNFUND, and Finnvera. Additionally, insights on market entry strategies and key sources of information.
• Dr. Henrik Keinonen, Centre for Knowledge and Innovation Research (CKIR) at Aalto University – Introduction to the Seeds of Bravery Project, Supporting the Ukrainian Tech Ecosystem
• Outi Saramäki, RDI Specialist, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences – Erasmus+ Capacity Building, Alliances for Education and Enterprises

15:15 | Matchmaking and Collaboration Kick-off

• Kari Mikkelä, Executive Producer, Urban Mill Innovation Platform – Digital Matchmaking Platform for the ”Expert and Support Forum for Rebuilding Ukraine https://urbanmill.dealroomevents.com/registration
• Commitments and pledges for action between participants.
• Conclusions & Next Steps.

16:00 | Closing of the Event

Who Should Join?

We welcome professionals from all sectors, including architects, engineers, urban planners, educators, disaster management specialists, entrepreneurs, and technology experts. Whether you aim to contribute your expertise or explore opportunities to collaborate, this forum provides a platform for growth and impact.

This forum is designed to invite and engage passionate individuals and organizations eager to co-create solutions for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Together, we aim to develop tangible actions rooted in societal and individual needs.

Key Forum Objectives:

• Establish expert teams to address key pilot cases, pooling expertise, products, and services.
• Provide participants an opportunity to explore how collaboration can benefit their business or organization.
• Foster long-term capacity building, innovative business opportunities, and impactful solutions.

Focus on Pilot Cases

In the first phase, we are addressing key challenges collected from Ukrainians through this platform, seeking innovative and practical solutions. One of the initial challenges is constructing a new campus for the universities of Kryvyi Rih to replace the old campus destroyed by Russian ballistic missiles.

Participants – pioneers eager to drive change – will have the opportunity to support Ukrainians and contribute to rebuilding the country. You can explore what this means for your own business or organization and how co-creation and collaboration with other stakeholders within these pilot cases can provide mutual benefits.

Ukrainian stakeholders are encouraged to bring additional practical pilot projects to the forum.

Looking Ahead

This initiative not only addresses immediate reconstruction needs but also fosters new expertise, develops innovative business opportunities, and advances collaborative efforts within the network. By building capacity and creating impactful solutions, we aim to generate long-term benefits for everyone involved.

Origins and Leadership

This initiative stems from the EDU 3.0 EU Creative Europe project (2023–2024). Urban Mill Innovation Platform, Future Construction Hub TITAN at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, and the team of Business Vantaa have taken the lead in continuing and developing this spin-off. They are committed to driving the initiative forward and warmly invite other stakeholders to join in contributing to this collaborative effort.