Special Event at Nordic Pavilion, EXPO 2025
City of Oulu is an official partner of Finland at the Nordic Pavilion.
OULU, Finland – Build a Better Future by Connectivity and Trust
(Invitation Only Event)
City of Oulu will hold a special event at the Nordic Pavilion, EXPO 2025 Osaka/Kansai,
“OULU, Finland – Build a Better Future by Connectivity and Trust”.
We offer a showcase of Oulu’s expertise in ICT (Resilience & Security) & Healthcare (Smart Solutions in Healthcare) and networking with our excellent local partners.
Oulu is an official partner of Finland at the Nordic Pavilion.
Event details
Date & Time:
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
13:30–18:50 (Doors open at 13:15)
Place:
Large Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Nordic Pavilion, EXPO 2025 Osaka/Kansai (Access to the EXPO 2025)
Participation:
Free of charge (EXPO admission ticket ID will be offered to confirmed participants)
Language:
English (No interpreter) ** Digital translation is possibly available.
Dress Code:
Business casual
How to Join: Invitation only event
Confirmed participants will receive a one-day EXPO admission ticket ID (valid on June 4, entry at 12:00 via East Gate) by email. Entry time can be changed by yourself through EXPO official mobile application up to 3 times.
Preliminary Programme
(to be updated with further details & subject to change):
ICT session
“Resilience & Security”
13:30
Welcome & Introduction to the City of Oulu, ICTOulu
by BusinessOulu/City of Oulu
13:45
Keynote presentations
6G and Cybersecurity by University of Oulu
Autonomous work machine research program by Oulu University of Applied Sciences
14:15
Company presentations
Orbis Systems
FabPatch
TactoTek
15:00
Networking & Mini Fair & VR Demo possibility
Coffee, tea and cinnamon roll will be served
15:45
Panel discussion (ICT related topic)
Facilitator: Simo Kekäläinen (event MC)
Panelists:
- Prof. Kimmo Halunen, Professor of Cybersecurity, University of Oulu
- Dr. Noora Jansson, Director, Researcher and Development, Oulu University of Applied Sciences
- Finnish company
16:25
Pikku hetkinen: Refreshment time
Finnish way of interviews by MC Simo Kekälainen
Healthcare session
“Smart solutions in healthcare”
16:40
Keynote presentations
OuluHealth: (Oulu Healthcare ecosystem) & OYSTER (Incubator for healthcare startups) by BusinessOulu
Smart hospital by Oulu University Hospital
17:10
Collaboration Talk between Oulu and Tohoku University Hospitals (Topic: TBD)
Facilitator: Simo Kekäläinen (MC)
Speakers:
- Dr. Minna Komu, OuluHealth Network Director, BusinessOulu/City of Oulu
- Dr. Hideo Harigae, Director, Tohoku University Hospital
- Dr. Atsuhiro Nakagawa, Design Head, Tohoku University Hospital
- Dr. Miia Turpeinen, Hospital Director, Oulu University Hospital
17:40
Closing words by BusinessOulu / City of Oulu
17:50–18:50
Mingle evening at a terrace restaurant
Mingle foods and drinks will be served
Speakers
Dr. Hideo Harigae
Dr. Hideo Harigae is Professor of Department of Hematology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Director of Tohoku University Hospital, Executive Vice President for Public Relations, Medical Care and Co-creation Strategy of Tohoku University, Japan. Tohoku University Hospital is a central hospital of Tohoku area in Japan, providing advanced medical care. In addition, Tohoku University Hospital focuses on innovation of medical devices and medicine, and cultivates professionals for medical care and innovation to solve the medical and social problems in Japan. Dr. Harigae leads Tohoku University Hospital to achieve these missions.
Dr. Atsuhiro Nakagawa
Dr. Nakagawa graduated from Tohoku University School of Medicine and joined the Neurosurgery Department in 1998. He obtained Doctoral Degree in medical application of Shock Wave at Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University in 2003. After UCSF Neurotrauma Fellowship (2008–2010) and Global Faculty Training at Stanford Biodesign in 2015, He is now in charge of industry alliance of Tohoku University Hospital as Design Head. He also is in charge of the Customer Discovery Program (Academic Science Unit: ASU) to accept corporate R&D researchers into the bedside, and has accepted over 1,750 people from 69 companies. Roughly his team co-create with 100 companies per year for holistic design, and value creation.
Dr. Minna Komu
Dr. Minna Komu (female), PhD (Med Biochem), MSc (Econ & BA) works as OuluHealth Network Director being responsible for ecosystem’s strategy, strategic partnerships, collaboration and invest in activities in Health and Life Science. Minna is also a person in charge for OYSTER Incubator, that is pre-incubator & incubator for health & life science.
Minna is business professional with high science background. She is driven business development professional with strong experience in internationalizing business, identifying and creating new business opportunities and managing relationships with a special focus on customer experience. Minna is specialized to health & life sciences, including digital health & medical devices. Minna has a vast experience working in highly esteemed research groups in Finland and USA.
Minna’s aim at OuluHealth is to bring partners together locally, nationally and internationally, to seek enablers for innovation and identifying business opportunities.
Dr. Miia Turpeinen
Oulu region is located in northern Finland just below the Arctic Circle. Oulu is the fifth largest city in Finland, one of the country’s fastest growing cities, and the centre of innovation, business, culture, and education in the North. It is also one of the major technological hubs and R&D living labs in Europe, especially when it comes to world-class wireless excellence. Oulu is often called the Silicon Valley of Northern Europe.
The event will highlight Oulu’s strengths – the world-class expertise and innovations of ICT, and a dynamic and versatile trust-based ecosystem – through showcasing cutting-edge research in our local universities, remarkable activities for future health and social care, and companies with novel technologies.ections between Japan and Finland.
For inquiries, please contact:
Takako UCHIDA
Senior Advisor, International Affairs (Japan)
BusinessOulu
takako.uchida@businessoulu.com
