Programme

Nordic collaboration, access to essential services, mental resilience and evidence-based knowledge are more important than ever. In his recorded address, Sakari Puisto reflects on Finland’s approach to comprehensive security, a priority during its Nordic Council of Ministers Presidency. He will highlight how geopolitical tensions, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, and natural hazards demand stronger preparedness at every level of governance.

More information coming soon

In recent years, both practitioners and scholars have become increasingly aware of the impact that so-called creeping crises exert on modern society. These are crises that simmer under the radar to suddenly and unexpectedly explode in the societal domain. They can be of transboundary nature (think of Europe’s immigration crisis or the financial crisis) or entirely “home grown” (forest fires or a measles epidemic). Policy analysts and politicians typically try to imagine which issue may become politically relevant in the short run. But there are many issues to choose from. Climate change is an obvious candidate. Some will point to rising inequality. Or the loosening of financial regulations, weakening control over a complex sector. But how about intensive agriculture, creating breeding grounds for new diseases? How about the clogging of European airspace, which may give rise to air disasters? How about the growth of mega-cities or the Internet of Things?

Many slow-moving developments may contain the seeds for future crises – but these are also the developments that are tied to relentless modernization so typical of our time. In hindsight, these creeping crises often appear to be self-announcing, leaving a trail of signals of impending arrival. Practitioners are confronted not just with a complex crisis to manage, but also with immediate accusations that they ignored signals of emerging crises. Creeping crises are often hard to detect, however. They emerge and take shape in hidden corners of the social and technical spaces that make up modern society. The complexity of modern society and its subsystems makes these crises hard to detect, trace and contain. Practitioners need the knowledge to formulate evidence-based strategies in order to prepare our societies for these creeping crises.

This lecture explores key questions about the emergence, evolution and response to creeping crises.

This presentation explores how rural regions undergoing rapid green industrialization have demonstrated the capacity for socially rooted crisis resilience. Drawing on results from the European ESPON TERRES project and insights from another ongoing Nordregio study, it examines how governance systems respond under pressure and how resilience can be cultivated not only through institutional frameworks but also through relational dynamics.

The green transition in many regions has acted as a governance stress test and happened at a great pace, sometimes revealing gaps in planning capacity, coordination, and inclusive decision-making. Yet, the findings show that resilience is not solely dependent on formal systems. In rural Nordic contexts, short institutional distances – between municipalities, civil society, and industry – combined with high levels of social trust, enable informal networks to somewhat compensate for structural rigidity. These relational assets can allow for rapid adaptation and pragmatic problem-solving.

By highlighting the role of proximity and trust in fostering resilience, a hopeful and transferable model for other regions navigating transformation under pressure can be developed. Informal social infrastructure and collaborative capacity have shown to be most useful in times of crisis, and these lessons should be considered when developing formal governance structures to address and prepare for future shocks.

Nordic regions respond to different crises, from natural disasters to digital vulnerabilities. Join us for a dynamic conversation exploring how the Nordic region responds to slow-burning and sudden crises. This panel will take us on a tour through the challenges we face today, and tomorrow.

More information coming soon

Malva is a museum of visual arts in Lahti, Finland. Malva unites two museums from Lahti – the Art Museum and the Poster Museum – and brings together their thrilling content and exciting exhibitions under one roof.

The conference dinner will be served with a twist of dry wit and delightful absurdity, courtesy of Puolangan Pessimistit—Finland’s most proudly pessimistic comedy group. They will serve up satirical and self-deprecating humor centered around the small town of Puolanka, often described as “the fastest dying municipality in Finland.” Their work celebrates “mitättömyys” (meaning insignificance) with a unique blend of absurdity, irony, and theatrical flair.

Prepare for a performance that’s hilariously awkward, cleverly satirical, and surprisingly uplifting. Because in Puolanka, even failure is worth applauding.

Location: Malskin Bistro (located inside visual arts museum Malva)

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory on February 24, 2022, was a wake-up call that transformed civil preparedness from a theoretical concept into a vital practice of survival and resilience.

This study is devoted to the development of Ukraine’s civil preparedness system as a whole, with a focus on the regional example of Lviv. The city has become both a humanitarian hub and a testing ground for resilience during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. Located in the relatively safer west of the country, the Lviv region has served as a proving ground for new models of crisis management, community mobilization, and resilience building.

The research highlights the results of integrated efforts between national and regional authorities. Local governments, universities, businesses, and civil society have cooperated – and continue to cooperate – to sustain critical services (energy, healthcare, education, psychological and physical rehabilitation, etc.) and to protect civilians and internally displaced persons.

Key themes include multi-level governance, energy and healthcare resilience, digital tools such as the Diia platform for public alerts and shelter mapping, and the growing role of private business and volunteer networks in crisis management. The study also explores social and psychological resilience, including community-based practices such as Toloka, the use of social-communicative strategies involving opinion leaders, art therapy, and inclusive communication.

The experience of Ukraine particularly that of Lviv, demonstrates that effective civil preparedness relies on collaboration, adaptability, and trust. These insights offer valuable lessons for Nordic and other countries seeking to strengthen regional and community resilience in times of crisis.

This session focuses on the role of farmland ownership in shaping Europe´s food security and sustainable food production. Drawing on a European-wide study, the presentation explores how changes in land ownership affect the resilience of food systems and the ability of local actors to maintain control over food production. 

An uncontrolled farmland market can create a situation where the rights to the land are confused and distant from the local and regional actors, and where non-desired actors have the rights to a large share of the European territory. Investigations and monitoring of how the land for food production is owned and managed is therefore considered important. 

Considering recent global crises (including the war in Ukraine), understanding who owns the land has become more urgent than ever. Farmland ownership is not just a legal or economic issue, it’s central to food sovereignty, food security and sustainability. 

Every two years, State of the Nordic Region paints a picture of how our regions and municipalities are changing – who lives here, where people work, and how local economies are developing. The report offers an overview of regional development trends across the Nordics and highlights both shared challenges and regional differences. It combines statistics, maps, and analysis to show regional disparities in development across the Nordic Region.

The forthcoming report examines demographic change, labour market dynamics, and the Nordic economy, alongside the updated Regional Potential Index, a comparative tool showing where development opportunities are strongest. Together, these insights build a shared knowledge base for understanding how regions across the Nordics are developing and changing. At this year’s Forum, you will get a sneak peek at the 2026 edition before it is launched next spring and get a chance to reflect on what the findings mean for your region.