FutureTech Oulu
FutureTech Oulu
Event Details
Date: October 8th, 2026
Location: Tullisali Event Center, Oulu
Time: 8.00 – 13.30
FutureTech Oulu 2026 – New Era of Creativity
BusinessOulu invites you to FutureTech Oulu 2026, one of the region’s leading technology events, bringing together professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators to explore how technology is reshaping the way we create, think and work.
This year’s theme, New Era of Creativity, focuses on the growing connection between human creativity and emerging technologies. As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important part of our everyday lives and professional environments, the event examines how technology is influencing innovation, problem-solving and the generation of new ideas.
Join us for a morning of inspiring keynote presentations, thought-provoking discussions and valuable networking opportunities. FutureTech Oulu 2026 offers practical insights, fresh perspectives and opportunities to connect with experts and peers from industry, research, startups and the public sector.
Built on Oulu’s strong tradition of technology and innovation, the event highlights new developments in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies that are transforming how we create value, collaborate and make decisions. By bringing together researchers, businesses and technology professionals, FutureTech creates a space for learning, inspiration and meaningful dialogue about the future.
The program features keynote speakers and leading experts who will share their experiences, ideas and visions on the changing role of technology in society and working life. The event is free of charge and will be held in English.
Are we shaping technology, or is technology shaping how we create, think and decide?
Event theme
The theme of FutureTech Oulu 2026 explores the evolving relationship between creativity and technology in an era where machines are no longer just tools, but active participants in the creative process.
As artificial intelligence increasingly supports and challenges human imagination, it raises an important question: are we shaping technology, or is technology shaping how we create, think and decide? FutureTech Oulu 2026 invites participants to reflect on how creativity is changing when humans and intelligent systems work side by side.
Discussions will address human-machine co-creation, the role of artificial intelligence in generating knowledge and ideas, and the ethical boundaries of creative autonomy. The program also highlights dual-use technologies, examining how innovation can serve both civil and strategic purposes in a rapidly changing world.
Why attend?
FutureTech Oulu 2026 is designed for anyone who wants to understand how technology is transforming creativity, innovation and the way we work.
The event offers:
- Inspiring perspectives on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
- Insights from leading experts, researchers and innovators
- Real-world examples of technology-driven transformation
- Opportunities to build new connections and collaborations
- Fresh ideas for navigating a rapidly changing technological landscape
Whether you are developing new solutions, leading change in your organization, conducting research or simply curious about the future, FutureTech Oulu 2026 provides the knowledge, inspiration and networks needed to thrive in the new era of creativity.
Program
08:00 Registration & Breakfast
08:45 Opening words, Juha Ala-Mursula
CreaTech: Where Technology Meets Imagination
08:50 VISIO: Experiencing the Future of Immersive Discovery”, Maria Gullsten (Oulu Museum and Science Centre)
09:05 Creative Intelligence: The New Engine of Future Business, Jonna Häkkilä (University of Lapland)
09:25 From Idea to Experience: The Making of OP’s Future Demo, Päivi Järvenpää (OP)
09:40 From Prompt to Premiere: Building a Music Video with AI, Jani Kaipainen (VRKiwi)
09:55 Break
10:10 The real AI transformation of knowledge work (it’s not automation), Tarmo Pajunen
10:40 Valve One: Commercial Clarity in the Age of AI, Heidi Kananen
11:00 Panel: Co-created with Machine: Jussi Leponiemi
Panelists: Anna Suorsa (University of Oulu, Humanities), Marko Jaanu (Siili Solutions), Jesse Lumme (Smilee)
11:30 Lunch break (Self-paid)
12:30 AI and Creativity: What’s Real — and What Only Looks Creative? Reidar Wasenius
12:50 Dual-Use Innovation: Finland’s Next Growth Engine: Heikki Aura
13:20 Probot: Day Wrap-Up, Antti Tikanmäki
Join us and explore the new era of creativity.
Speakers
Maria Gullsten
Maria Gullsten works as a curator in the upcoming immersive VISIO space at the Tiima Museum and Science Centre in Oulu. She has a background in film, media art, advertising, and spatial audiovisual experiences. Gullsten has created several award-winning works drawing on Northern narratives — an area she considers her particular expertise. In VISIO, she curates the programme and develops a Northern immersive space where the region’s stories and phenomena are seen and heard, in close collaboration with local artists and creative professionals.
Jonna Häkkilä
Jonna Häkkilä is professor for Industrial Design, and the leader of the LUX research group and the University of Lapland’s Design & Services research community. She conducts her research at the cross-section of design and technology, where she has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers. Her research applies design fictions and research through design approaches.
Päivi Järvenpää
Päivi Järvenpää is a Communications and Culture Lead at OP Pohjola, working at the intersection of innovation, technology, and human experience. With 10+ years in innovation, she is passionate about designing cultures and concepts that invite people to think, feel, and act differently. Through her work, she blends strategy, art and experience design to bring ideas to life. Päivi plays a key role in building OP Pohjola’s innovation and experimentation culture and accelerating early-stage ideas into concrete impact. She is also the driving force behind OP Future Demo, an interactive concept exploring future everyday life through immersive storytelling. Her mission is to empower people and organizations to actively create a more meaningful and human future.
Jani Kaipainen
Jani is a Creative & Technology Entrepreneur, and musician who has been playing out with the different AI models to produce music videos combining different genres. Jani is here to showcase how much can be achieved in less than 15 minutes working with the right workflows, experience and vision. If you have just 15 minutes and a dream of producing a music video during that time. Using 3 different AI’s in the process? Is this really achievable and what is the production value and the quality? Do you have any idea what to expect? Meet Jani from VRKiwi — where ideas come to life.
Anna Suorsa
Anna Suorsa from University of Oulu has focused in her research on the creation of new knowledge, ideation and collaborative practices in working life. In her approach, she pays attention to interaction processes between people and technologies, situations of working together and alone, longer knowledge processes, and the structures that promote or hinder the creation of new ideas in organizations. Her key perspective is the examination of sustainable, meaningful, and well-being-promoting work from the viewpoints of creativity and play.
Marko Jaanu
Marko Jaanu works at Siili Solutions Oyj as a Head of Technology and Advisor. He has worked with software development, architecture, test automation, quality and product management themes for over 25 years consulting various Finnish companies, in various roles.
In Siili, Marko has a responsibility on technology strategy and vision, offerings, competence development and technology community activities. He drives the AI-powered software development excellency for Siili in the areas of modernization, software factory, open source, security and architecture.
Marko has been honored with several excellence awards during his career from project and service delivery as well as consultancy excellence.
Jesse Lumme
Jesse Lumme is the CTO of Smilee Oy, where he leads the development of next-generation AI agents and RAG-based chatbots. As an expert in practical AI implementation and modern software architecture, Jesse builds the systems that make human-machine co-creation a reality in everyday business operations.
Heidi Kananen
Heidi Kananen (MSc Econ, MSc Soc Sci) is the CEO of Valve One and a doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu Business School. Her research explores how strategic management changes as decision speed, information volume, and analytical capability increase. Combining executive leadership, commercial business experience, and academic research, she helps organizations understand the strategic implications of AI, data, and organizational transformation.
Reidar Wasenius
Reidar Wasenius combines science, business and creativity in unique ways. As an AI researcher and student at Aalto University, his focus is on developing memetic AI — the next paradigm after generative AI. As a business developer, he has been part of the startup ecosystem from the very beginning. Reidar is an advisor or board member in several startups, and actively coaches founders in incubators and accelerators. He has headed the Helsinki chapter of the Founder Institute, the world’s largest early-stage startup accelerator and been the Managing Director of FiBAN, the Finnish Business Angels Network.
Heikki Aura
Heikki Aura is a Senior Lead at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, where he focuses on building innovation ecosystems that strengthen Finland’s competitiveness and economic growth. His work brings together companies, investors, cities, research organizations, and public sector actors around emerging opportunities in dual-use technologies, defence innovation, and AI. Before joining Sitra, Heikki held strategy and business development roles at Nokia and founded several startups.
Tarmo Pajunen
Tarmo Pajunen is the CTO and co-founder of Brillian and has been at the forefront of AI-adoption in various key roles, including building growth at Europe’s largest private AI company, Silo AI. Throughout his career, Tarmo has spearheaded dozens of AI initiatives across numerous industries, supporting companies ranging from ambitious startups to leading global corporations.
Oulu Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest
You can continue networking at the Chamber of Commerce’s Oktoberfest event.
Register for the event by September 24th!
Event organizer
FutureTech Oulu Event Partners
