Pulp & Beyond 2026, the leading event for the forest-based bioeconomy in the Northern Europe, will spotlight the role of artificial intelligence in process industries, showcase innovations within the forest sector, explore the future of the bioeconomy, and address the critical early‑stage challenges faced by industry start-ups. Pulp & Beyond 2026 will take place from Wednesday to Thursday, 15–16 April 2026, at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, Finland.
The programme for the event’s main stage has now been published and features high‑level keynote speeches and panel discussions. The main stage will be hosted and moderated by Anna Ståhle. The programme for the event’s second stage, Speaker’s Corner, will be published later in March.
Wednesday 15 April: AI, Innovation and Mill Projects
The event will open at 10:00 with welcoming remarks from Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala, and from the Chair of the Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association (PI), Pia Nilsson, together with PI’s Managing Director Antti Lindqvist.
At 11:00, the significance and potential of AI in process industries will be discussed in the session AI as a must in process industries by Felipe Alcalde Arrau, Chief Competitiveness and Innovation Officer (CMPC), and Hannele Palje‑Rossi, Chief Information Officer (Stora Enso).
At 13:00, Arauco’s Director of Research and Development Sebastian Mandiola will speak on Applied R&D: The engine behind next‑generation pulp production, addressing the role of innovation in the future of the pulp industry and touching on the giant Sucurio mill project.
At 15:00, a panel discussion titled Developing wood‑based innovations and improving efficiency: resources, obstacles and opportunities will explore the development of wood‑based innovations and pathways to enhanced efficiency. The panel will feature Stora Enso’s Senior Vice President, Group Innovation and R&D Philip Hanefeld; VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland CEO Kalle Härkki; A. Ahlström Chair of Board Peter Seligson; and AFRY CEO Linda Pålsson.
Thursday 16 April: Scaling Innovations and Renewable Solutions for the Bioeconomy
The second day of the event will begin at 10:00 with a keynote from Harald Dialer, UPM’s Senior Vice President for Technology, titled Shaping the bioeconomy with renewable carbon solutions.
At 11:00, the panel discussion Overcoming the valley of death will delve into the critical early‑stage challenges facing start‑ups in the sector and strategies for navigating them. Panellists include Fiberwood CEO Tage Johansson, Lixea Founder and director Professor Jason Hallett, and Voima Ventures Founder Inka Mero.
At 13:00, the event will feature an inspiring talk aimed at the future talents of the forest sector by philosopher Frank Martela. In his presentation Happiness and Working Life – Impossible to Combine? he will explore whether happiness and working life can go hand in hand, offering perspectives on meaningful work, wellbeing and building balance.
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