Inspired by nature
A highlight of the meeting was the creative spirit on display, exemplified by the presentations from the “This is Bioeconomy!” International Design Award winners. The Felted Futures team from the University of Rovaniemi demonstrated how biodesign can revitalise traditional crafts with a modern twist, using wool as a sustainable, low-carbon material for soft architecture. Their multicultural, hands-on approach emphasised collaboration and support for rural economies in remote Arctic regions. LeväLinna (Algae Castle), developed by Aalto University students, explored Baltic Sea algae as a building material – tackling environmental challenges like eutrophication while drawing inspiration from Baltic ornaments, combining cultural and material resources from the region.
Both projects involved extensive experimentation and cross-industry collaboration, showing how art and science can work together to create sustainable solutions. “It’s not about the outcome, it’s about the journey,” summarised Lola Cervantes from the Felted Futures team.
Sustainable packaging – a value chain full of possibilities
In his keynote speech, Markus Joutsela, Senior University Lecturer at Aalto University, offered a creative perspective on packaging design. He emphasised the role of co-creation in building shared understanding to drive change – and, at times, to challenge long-held assumptions. The packaging value chain is a complex system made up of interconnected areas such as material development, logistics, and retail – each presenting multiple decision points where sustainability can be influenced.
Case examples like FOLD2 and Pack-age highlighted the importance of integrating both technological innovation and behavioural change, demonstrating how sustainability in packaging is shaped not only by materials and design, but also by the choices and habits of those who use, produce, and distribute them.
From lessons learned to long-lasting impact
The closing discussions emphasised the need to combine technological innovation with emotional engagement, co-creation, and support in scaling research into real-world applications. These elements are especially vital when bridging the gap between scientific advancement and public understanding – a challenge that Engage4BIO successfully tackled through creative and participatory approaches. As demonstrated by many of the project’s activities, art and design can play a distinctive role in translating complex scientific and technological concepts into accessible and engaging forms – sparking public awareness and encouraging behavioural change.
These exchanges underscored how art, culture, and creativity can enrich bioeconomy innovation and support the transition toward more sustainable regional economies. The conversations served not only to recognise the achievements of the award winners, but also as a forward-looking milestone, pointing to how Engage4BIO’s results can inspire future collaborations between science, society, and the creative sector.
Among the partners, the co-creation-driven method was seen as one of the project’s key success factors. This approach naturally fostered strong and novel connections with established regional networks and local actors, enhancing regional bioeconomy development while also supporting long-term continuity and broader adoption.
A closing chapter, a continuing journey
As a fitting conclusion, the consortium visited the Museum of Technology for a guided tour of the “TechLand” exhibition, which highlights the role of technology, industry, and innovation in the construction of 100-year-old Finland. Experiencing two stations of the interactive HOW Learning Environment added a memorable, hands-on dimension.
Co-developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder collaboration, the environment consists of 10 interactive learning stations hosting thousands of pupils annually. So far, the three most popular stations have been bioplastic, wood processing, and industrial management. At these stations, pupils explore making bioplastic from potato flour, crafting items from Woodcast to discover the versatility of wood, and building LEGO cars to see how modular design can significantly speed up manufacturing – leading to insights like, “now I understand how factories work.”
The packaging station was developed as part of Engage4BIO by CLIC Innovation, Metropolia UAS, the Finnish Martha Association, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and the Museum of Technology. Its learning objective is to help students understand which aspects need to be considered in packaging, and how packaging influences many areas of everyday life. With a second HOW learning environment already opened in Riihimäki, the educational impact is set to continue and expand in the future.
As the Engage4BIO project draws to a close, the final meeting in Helsinki served not only as a celebration of achievements but also as a springboard for future collaboration. The shared experiences, inspiring presentations, and hands-on activities reflected the strong team spirit and co-creative mindset that defined the project all along. With lasting connections and a legacy of cross-sector collaboration – where art, science, and industry come together to shape sustainable futures – the consortium leaves behind a vibrant foundation for advancing regional bioeconomy beyond the project’s formal end.