Carbon Age/Chip Zero – Joint Veturi Event brings together leading experts, researchers, and policy-makers to explore how advanced nanomaterials and next-generation chips are shaping the next tech era.
Event details
Date: Wednesday, 4 February, 2026
Time: 8:30 – 18:00
Place: Dipoli
Co-hosted by the leading companies Canatu and Applied Materials, this joint event will showcase how two ecosystems – Carbon Age and Chip Zero – propel dynamic innovation, accelerating the transformation of semiconductor industry and beyond. The event will mark the launch of the Carbon Age Veturi program, and present the latest insights from Chip Zero, an already established Veturi program.
At this Joint Veturi Event, participants will gain insights into:
- How nano carbon will take us to the next tech era
- The latest progress toward chips with zero lifetime emissions
- Success stories from leading companies programs
- Practical ways to engage into co-innovation projects and ecosystems
The event will be held at Dipoli building located on the Aalto University’s Otaniemi campus in Espoo. Please note that this is an in-person event; online participation is not available.
The seating is limited. We encourage early registration.
Program
| Time | Session |
| 8:30 – 9:00 | Doors open; coffee and networking |
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Opening: Welcoming words from Canatu and Applied Materials Juha Kokkonen, CEO, Canatu Jussi Rautee, VP and Head of Strategic Partnerships, Country President, Applied Materials |
| 9:15 – 9:45 | Keynote: New technologies for electric vehicle energy management Matteo Biglia, CTO, DENSO International Europe (DIEU) |
| 9:45 – 10:15 | Keynote: Sustainable energy abundance for AI Sundeep Bajikar, Corporate Vice President, Applied Materials |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Building Finland’s industrial future: government expectations and the role of ecosystems and partnerships Juhapekka Ristola, Director General, Innovations and Enterprise Financing, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee break |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Panel discussion: How collaborative ecosystems can accelerate innovation and technology development The panel will be led and facilitated by Hele Savin, Professor at Aalto University, with the following participants: Jarkko Pellikka, Director, Industrial Collaboration, Nokia Simo Säynevirta, Head of H2 Springboard & Green Electrification mission ecosystems, ABB Jani Kivioja, Technical Director, Applied Materials Erja Turunen, Executive Vice President, VTT |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Lunch |
| Carbon Age track | Chip Zero track | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.30 – 12.45 12:45 – 14:15 | The Carbon Age: transformation with nano carbon • Entering a new era of higher performing products • Carbon nanotubes as the platform for progress • Collaboration accelerates the Carbon Age Markus Huuhtanen, Director, Carbon Age program and Business Development, Canatu Workshops – generating co-innovation project ideas across three themes: • Microsystems • Electrochemical sensing • Emerging frontiers Workshop leaders: Ilkka Varjos, CTO, Canatu Markus Huuhtanen, Director, Carbon Age program and Business Development, Canatu Ahmed Soliman, Senior Chemist, Canatu | 12:30 – 14:15 | Chip Zero co-innovation project updates • CHEMI-SEMI – New chemistries for resource efficient semiconductor manufacturing Philip Anish, Research Fellow, Aalto University • ZeroChip – Circularity in semiconductor fabrication Mona Arnold, Principal Scientist, VTT • Time Zero – Next Generation MEMS Timing For Advanced & Efficient Communication Systems Tuomas Pensala, Principal Scientist, VTT • CIRCELEC – Advancing circular economy of electronics – Recognizing challenges and providing solutions Laura Sokka, Leading Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) • UltraGreen HESS Edris Pouresmaeil, Associate Professor, Aalto University • EPheS – Efficient Photonics for Sustainable Imaging and Sensing Aapo Varpula, Research Team Leader, D.Sc. (Tech.), VTT • WIBASE – Wide band-gap semiconductor power electronics Sami Suihkonen, Senior Scientist, D.Sc.(Tech), VTT |
| 14:15 – 14:45 | Coffee break | ||
| 14:45 – 15:00 15:00 – 15:30 | Summary of the workshop sessions Group leads Closing the day with a vision for the onset of the Carbon Age Ilkka Varjos, CTO, Canatu | 14:45 – 15:45 | Chip Zero powering semiconductor future & next phase in semiconductor manufacturing in Finland • SmartFab: Next-gen platforms for the ICAPS era • StackSense: From molecules to market-ready reliability • NextLab Finland: Where talent, tools, and ideas converge • ICAPS: Demonstrating impact where it matters most • Ignition: Driving adoption, partnerships, and global scale Research Challenges • Reinventing Chip Coating: Ultra-Fast Precision Layers • Next-Gen Chip Chemistry: Building a Green Precursor Foundry • Reimagining Chip Education: Immersive Learning for Future Experts • High Efficiency and Reliable Power Modules for EVs and 6G |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Canatu meet & greet (informal discussions) | 15:45 – 16:00 | Closing the day Jani Kivioja, Technical Director, Applied Materials |
| 16:00 – 18:00 | Cocktails and networking |
Featured speakers
Matteo Biglia
CTO, DENSO International Europe (DIEU)
Matteo Biglia graduated in Aeronautical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino in 1995. He had been working with DENSO since then, always in the area of Thermal Systems for Passenger and Commercial Vehicles. He spent the first part of his career in the field of Powertrain Thermal Management, focusing on the development of compact heat exchangers for Engine Cooling applications. He then shifted his focus to the Thermal Systems R&D area, which he managed from 2012 to 2022. In this period his scope started to include the subject of HVAC development and cabin comfort. From 2025 he had under his responsibility all Engineering activities of DENSO Thermal Business Group in Europe and from 2026 he serves as CTO of DENSO Internation Europe (DIEU). He spends his time between technical centers in Munich, Germany and Turin, Italy.
Sundeep Bajikar
Corporate Vice President, Applied Materials
Sundeep Bajikar is Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Marketing at Applied Materials, Inc., where he is responsible for shaping Applied’s strategies, including business and financial models related to the future of computing and Net Zero. He is responsible for incubating strategic initiatives, tracking and analyzing Applied’s core business performance and for developing Applied’s strategy and marketing community. Sundeep joined Applied in 2017 after spending ten years as a Senior Equity Research Analyst covering global technology stocks including Apple and Samsung Electronics, for Morgan Stanley and Jefferies. Previously, he worked for a decade as researcher, ASIC Design Engineer, System Architect and Strategic Planning Manager at Intel Corporation. Sundeep holds an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He holds 13 U.S. and international patents with more than 30 additional patents pending. Sundeep is also author of a book titled, “Equity Research for the Technology Investor – Value Investing in Technology Stocks.”
Juhapekka Ristola
Director General, Innovations and Enterprise Financing, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Juhapekka Ristola is head of Innovation and Enterprise Financing Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland. In this capacity, he is responsible for Finland’s national innovation and industry policy and its implementation and oversees key public organizations including the innovation funding agency Business Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, export financing company Finnvera, Finnish Industry Investment TESI, the Geological Survey of Finland, and the Finnish Center for Pharmaceutical Development. Mr. Ristola holds over 20 years of leadership experience across Finnish ministries, national innovation and growth ecosystems, and regulated sectors. Prior to this role, he served as Senior Advisor for the Data Economy at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, where he led strategic initiatives on industrial policy and emerging technologies such as quantum computing and high-performance computing. From 2010 to 2022, Mr. Ristola held Director General roles at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, overseeing communications policy, ministerial guidance, and major structural reforms in the transport sector. Juhapekka Ristola holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Turku.
Jarkko Pellikka
Director, Industrial Collaboration, Nokia
Jarkko Pellikka holds Ph.D (Econ. and Business Admin.) and he is currently leading major R&D and ecosystem initiatives in Nokia. Dr. Pellikka has worked several years as senior leader in the global multi-national companies as well as with the startups and SMEs and he has been responsible for leading and developing numerous strategic business operations and major initiatives in high-technology industries. His experiences and thoughts on R&D management, ecosystems, and commercialization have been published in several scientific journals and books.
Simo Säynevirta
Head of H2 Springboard & Green Electrification mission ecosystems, ABB
Erja Turunen
Executive Vice President, VTT
Dr. Erja Turunen is the executive vice president of one of VTT’s three business units: Digital technologies. As the leader of the unit, Erja’s work involves strategic planning, engaging stakeholders and representing VTT in different organisations. Erja is also a member of VTT’s executive committee. Erja’s current responsibility area is Digital technologies covering microelectronics, quantum, flexible electronics, sensing solutions, connectivity and cyber security. Prior to her current role, she used to work as vice president in two different excellence area at VTT. Turunen is also a respected researcher herself. She began her career at the Tampere University of Technology following by Aalto and has done her PhD from material science. Erja has been at VTT 25 years and having various management positions more than 20 years. Erja has been member for multiple European initiatives and networks. Currently she is active in BoD’s for Kvanttinova Oy, Tamlink Oy and Enter Espoo Oy.
Jani Kivioja
Technical Director, Applied Materials
Markus Huuhtanen
Director of Carbon Age program and Business Development, Canatu
Markus leads the Carbon Age Veturi program and drives new business development at Canatu. He joined Canatu’s team in September 2025, bringing over 10 years of experience in sensor technology, business development and strategy.
Location
Dipoli Conference Centre, Otakaari 24, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Arrival information:
The Joint Veturi Event will take place at the Dipoli Conference Centre, in Espoo, Finland.
Dipoli is located in the Otaniemi area, close to Aalto University’s facilities and the metro station. The venue is easily accessible by public transportation and less than 30 minute drive from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. It takes 13 minutes by metro from Helsinki Central Railway Station to Otaniemi.
The registration has been closed. If there are any cancellations, we will assign you the place.
Cancellation policy
This event is free of charge, but a 100€ no-show fee will be applied to participants who do not attend without prior cancellation. If your plans change, please inform us as soon as possible by email. For more information or cancellations, please contact:
info@veturievent.com
Register to the waiting list
Event co-hosts
