Greenlab International Congress gathered experts in Helsinki – focus on skills and collaboration
On April 22, 2026, Helsinki Business College ltd. hosted the Greenlab International Congress, bringing together over 100 participants from across Europe. The event focused on the green transition—not as a distant goal, but as a concrete transformation requiring new skills, collaboration, and practical solutions.
As a partner in the Greenlab project, Helsinki Business College (HBC) plays an active role in bridging education and working life. The project focuses on developing future-orientedcompetences, micro-credentials, and strengthening cooperation between vocational education and SMEs.
The event was opened by HBC experts Jouni Hytönen and Helena Miettinen. The programmefeatured a keynote by Deputy Mayor of Helsinki, Maarit Vierunen, who highlighted the importantrole of cities in enabling sustainable development and building wellbeing through services and responsible decision-making.
Research, business and practice meet
The congress was moderated by Tina Karme, who guided discussions across research, business, and societal perspectives.
Expert contributions highlighted several key themes:
• Anna Sirkiä (nSight) emphasised the importance of aligning sustainability with business strategy and customer value
• Tarja Anunti (Vastuu Group) addressed the growing importance of ESG regulation, compliance, and transparency
• Perspectives from international actors such as INCOMA, ReadLab, Blueroom and other EU project partners on developing green skills, as well as on the 12 micro-credential learningunits developed within the Greenlab project.
Concrete examples from industry
Company case presentations demonstrated how sustainability is already implemented in practice.
Pasi Lakaniemi from Famifarm Oy showcased how environmental responsibility is integratedinto production through 100% renewable electricity, energy efficiency improvements, and circular economy solutions such as closed water cycles.
Miia Palovaara from Envor Group highlighted emission reduction targets and the increasing role of renewable fuels in operations.
Riikka Edmunds from ST-Koneistus provided an industrial perspective on quality, sustainability, and process development.
Innovations such as vertical farming and resource-efficient production models further illustratedhow sustainable solutions are already in use today.
Skills, networks, and the future of work
A key takeaway from the congress was the growing demand for new competences. Sustainability, digitalisation, and regulation are reshaping job roles across industries, increasing the need for continuous learning and flexible training solutions.
The event also served as a platform for networking and co-creation, bringing togetherrepresentatives from education, business, and research. HBC’s own experts and students wereactively involved, highlighting the importance of connecting learning with real-world challenges.
From inspiration to implementation
The GreenLAB International Congress made one thing clear: the green transition cannot be achieved alone. It requires collaboration across sectors, supported by practical skills and sharedknowledge.
For Helsinki Business College, the event reinforced its role as a facilitator of change—transformingsustainability ambitions into real competencies, and competencies into action.
“We can do no great things alone, only small things with great love.”
– Mother Teresa
