The theme of the conference was Baltic Sea Region Setting Sails for co-creative multilevel governance. The conference was organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture and took place in Turku, Finland. Nearly 200 guests met to discuss and hear topical themes of multilevel governance and EU 2020 Strategy. The conference took place on a unique site: the culture centre in Logomo, a recently renovated engine shed.
The conference utilized the open space working method. UNICREDS hosted one pre-arranged session with another Finnish project, under the combined name "Distinctive mark of success – Triple Helix". Representatives of the University Consortium of Seinäjoki and Frami Ltd planned the programme and material for the session. Participants had a free schedule to attend sessions and even to arrange a new session. The ultimate aim was to produce action plans on selected topics.
Among the conclusions drawn during the conference were that for co-creative multilevel governance we need social capital: trust between people, to organizations and between organizations, informal interactions, feeling of belonging/sense of togetherness. We need head, heart and feet for actual cooperation. Also new culture for cooperation is important. It includes adequate, but simple and flexible structures and also leadership.
One practical experience was encouraging. In open session conferences people may wander between different sessions. Visual roll-ups help to stop participants to hear the key message, also if they arrive with different schedules.
Professor Juha Alarinta at the Baltic Sea Region Setting Sails conference
