Vaasa EnergyWeek, held from 16–19 March 2026 in Vaasa, Finland, once again highlighted the region’s strong position as a leading hub for energy technology. Organized annually by the Energy Cluster in Vaasa, the event brought together more than 9,000 participants from over 50 countries for seminars, exhibitions, and networking opportunities focused on the future of energy and innovation.
One of the new additions to this year’s program was the NextGen event, organized at the Espen shopping center in Vaasa. Designed especially for children and young people, the event aimed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Throughout the week, school groups ranging from preschool to lower secondary students visited the interactive science exhibition, where they explored, tested, and played with games and puzzle activities created by Science Center Kaboom. The exhibition combined learning with hands-on experiences, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills among children aged 6–15.
Open from Monday to Thursday, the event primarily welcomed school groups, while also giving families the opportunity to participate and enjoy the activities together on Saturday. Teachers were offered inspiring educational content and ideas for bringing science and technology into the classroom in engaging ways.
The NextGen event served as a sister event to EnergyWeek and focused on inspiring future generations to explore careers and studies connected to science and energy technology. Vamia Vocational College participated in both organizing and running the event in cooperation with several regional partners, including the City of Vaasa and the Green Leaf Year 2026 initiative, Espen, Green Skills Vaasa / VASEK, Kaboom rf, LUMA Center Ostrobothnia / University of Vaasa, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Skolresurs / Åbo Akademi, and Vaasa 4H.
One of the highlights was the hydrogen station arranged jointly by Vamia Vocational College and Novia University of Applied Sciences. The station attracted significant interest from both young people and adults, offering visitors a practical introduction to future energy solutions and the skills needed in tomorrow’s working life.
The event proved to be a great success, attracting more than 300 visitors, and there are already plans to continue and expand the concept during future EnergyWeeks in Vaasa.
For Vamia, the event demonstrated how vocational education can work together with universities, companies, and regional organizations to inspire children and young people. By connecting STEM activities with real-life technologies and future careers, vocational education and training (VET) becomes a visible, modern, and attractive educational pathway for the next generation.
EnergyWeek NextGen is arranged as a cooperation between:
