International e-mobility seminar expands in Lahti – New Trends of Electrification 2026 brings together key industry players
An international seminar on electrification and sustainable mobility will take place next week in Lahti, as New Trends of Electrification 2026 – Connected Society brings together leading experts and organizations from Finland and abroad. The speakers and programme have now been published.
Since its launch in 2023, New Trends of Electrification has established itself as an expert seminar focusing on the transformation of electrified transport and energy systems. In 2026, the event expands and moves to larger premises at the conference facilities of the Lahti Sports and Fair Centre.
This year’s theme, Connected Society, explores electrification through different parts of society. The theme highlights how transport, energy, data and different industries are becoming increasingly interconnected.
– Connected Society describes well the stage that electrification has now reached. We are no longer talking only about individual vehicles or technologies, but about how different systems and actors are together creating a new kind of society. We want to bring this discussion to Lahti and explore what this change looks like in practice and what it requires from different actors, says Antti Suikkanen, Head of Business Development, International Business / eMobility at Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd.
The seminar also demonstrates the strong cooperation around electrification and the green transition in the Lahti region. The event is jointly organized by Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd, LAHTI GEM – Green Electrification of Mobility Cluster, LUT University, LAB University of Applied Sciences, Kempower Oyj and Electric Mobility Research Center EMRC. The cooperation reflects the region’s expertise and ability to bring together research, companies, and development activities around a common theme.
– Kempower has now been involved in building the event for the third year. Through the HETE ecosystem, we have seen what can happen when researchers, companies and public organizations come together. NTE strongly supports our goal of acting at this intersection, says Tommi Rissanen, D.Sc. (Econ.), Head of Ecosystem, HETE Program at Kempower Oyj.
The seminar programme includes experts from public administration, industry and academia. The event will be officially opened by Mika Nykänen, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland / Ministry of the Environment. Speakers include Roberts Abele, CEO, IONCOR, and Heikki Handroos, Professor, LUT School of Energy Systems, Mechanical Engineering, LUT University. The programme also addresses the role of ports as energy hubs, the importance of data in EV services, and the impacts of electrification on aviation and maritime transport.
– This year’s programme shows very clearly how broadly electrification affects different sectors. During one day, the discussions range from energy and data to ports, maritime transport and aviation. It is great to bring to Lahti speakers who are working at the forefront of these changes both in Finland and internationally, says Lassi Aarniovuori, Professor in Electric Transportation, LUT University.
The event will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, starting at 9:00 at the conference facilities of the Lahti Sports and Fair Centre. The seminar is aimed particularly at experts, companies and decision-makers working with electrification, energy systems and transport. A limited number of places have also been reserved for students.
Programme
8:30 Coffee and registration
9:00 New Trends of Electrification 2026
Welcome Address by the City of Lahti
Johanna Särkijärvi, Environmental Director, City of Lahti
Official Opening of the Event
Mika Nykänen, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland / Ministry of the Environment
DRIVE towards GREEN: exploring Finnish SMEs' readiness for decarbonization through internal experiences and external pressures
Hector Aceves, Research Assistant, Social Sciences, LUT University / Titta Matikainen, Post-doctoral Researcher, Business Studies, LUT University / Antti Silvast, Associate Professor, Social Sciences, LUT University
10:45 Networking break
11:00 Harmonized data unlocks better EV services – and future-ready solutions
Kimmo Ylisiurunen, Head of Cluster, Traffic Data Service Cluster, Fintraffic
Electrification of mobile working machines – challenges and opportunities
Heikki Handroos, Professor, LUT School of Energy Systems, Mechanical Engineering
Ports developing into energy hubs – impact on machinery and the surrounding ecosystem
Jukka Borgman, Director, Technology and Research, Kalmar
Electrification of short sea shipping
Teemu Kyläkallio, Head of Department, R&D, Rauma Marine Constructions Oy
12:00 Lunch break
13:00 An issue of power
Roberts Abele, CEO, IONCOR
Charging through the seasons: a data-driven look at Nordic EV behaviour
Paula Savonen, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Kempower
Liquid hydrogen electrified power train – an enabler for zero-emission aviation
Dong Liu, Academy Research Fellow, LUT School of Energy Systems, Electrical Engineering
Panel Discussion: Summing Up the Day and Organizers' Future Perspectives
Closing words, a toast and networking
16:00 The event ends
Changes are possible.
For media representatives
Members of the media are welcome to attend the event. Registration and interview requests for speakers:
Ruusa Aalto
Event Coordinator
Lahden Seudun Kehitys LADEC Oy
ruusa.aalto@ladec.fi
The events and actions of the Lahti GEM have been implemented as a part of projects:
ZERO-TRAIL (Towards Zero-emission Urban Transport and Logistics) 2025-2026, which is part of the European Commission funded Enabling City Transformation programme. The City of Lahti is the main implementer. GEM Energizer 2025-2027, funded by the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme.
