Administration
Marko Kuokkanen
Marko Kuokkanen is responsible for the development of Energyspin’s operations and sales & marketing of the GigaVaasa battery factory project. Kuokkanen has extensive experience in electricity distribution automation in international business as well as a strong technical background, broad experience of projects and sales and internationalization.
Hobbies: Versatile exercise, reading and world politics
Sabina Storbacka
Program Director Sabina Storbacka has long experience in various positions in the field of regional and business development. She has strong expertise in developing the operating conditions of companies and financing development projects of both companies and public actors. She is the project team’s supervisor, participating in Merinova’s energy technology projects and in the ideawork of the new projects.
Hobbies: dogs, horse riding, jogging & outdoor activities, yoga, pilates and drawing
Staff
Tommi Sykkö
Service Manager Tommi Sykkö has excellent business expertise and an equally as excellent network. He is also familiar with public sources of financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Hobbies: stocks, exercise, quality wines, summer cottage, decoration and design
Peter Hellström
Peter Hellström is working as Digitalization Manager and is responsible for digitalization projects. Hellström has solid experience in projects and the sale, marketing, purchasing, product development and consulting of products and services in industry and the private sector. The core competencies are training, networking and developing something new!
Hobbies: photography, music, electronic equipment, fitness, cars and motorcycles and recycling.
Mikaela Nykvist
Mikaela Nykvist is responsible for the Invest in Vaasa conceptualisation and development project. Nykvist has extensive work experience in leading projects and development in the technology industry with a focus on data-related development such as Product lifecycle management (PLM) and documentation.
Hobbies: Reading and writing historical fiction, exercise, outdoor activities and travelling
Matina Mitsobonou
Maternity leave
EU Affairs Manager Matina Mitsobonou promotes the active cooperation of universities and business world stakeholders in European and international research cooperation. She also acts as a contact point and mediator in the development of project ideas together with the actors of the Vaasa region’s energy ecosystem.
Mitsobonou has a strong background in the academic as well as the business world. Her core competencies are communication and management, and she has extensive experience in building partnerships and reporting.
Hobbies: hiking, yoga, painting and cooking
Kalle Hällfors
Project Manager Kalle Hällfors has years of experience in industry and entrepreneurship. His core competencies include good networks, brainstorming and creating new things, planning and consulting.
Hobbies: Versatile exercise, making music, playing guitar and fiddling with all kinds of techniques.
Tauno Kekäle
Tauno Kekäle has extensive academic work experience and a large network in EU countries, which comes in handy as he prepares various projects. Kekäle is responsible primarily for regional development projects and is well versed in higher education and research, as well as technology transfer and open innovation activities
Hobbies: vinyl records, reading, american cars, motorbikes from 1970s
Mathias Hasselblatt
Project Manager Mathias Hasselblatt has extensive experience in business development for SMEs, both as a consultant and an entrepreneur. He also has experience in the academic environment, building partnerships, startup ecosystems, and securing research and development funding in both the public and private sectors. In projects, Mathias fosters collaboration between energy cluster companies, research institutions, and the public sector.
Hobbies: Cottage life, woodworking, studying French, military history, and following international and domestic politics
Marko Koski
Marko Koski is responsible for the EnergySpin program and he has worked in several different positions, with a particular focus on business development and innovation. Koski is active in the international startup community and acts as a local angel in the Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN).
Hobbies: basketball and floorball, diving, travel, reading and also interested in politics
Sari Kola
Doctor of innovation Sari Kola is passionate about ecosystems as an enabler of growth. As the EnergySampo innovation ecosystem orchestrator, Sari works in close cooperation with partner companies ABB, Danfoss, Hitachi Energy, Wärtsilä, Vaasan Sähkö, VEO and VNT Management to achieve common goals of the ecosystem, development of systemic energy systems and promotion of their export. Ecosystems and collaboration are also the subject of Sari’s second doctoral thesis
Kaj Sandberg
Project manager Kaj Sandberg is an expert in process development, and is responsible for projects in quality, work safety, environment and service. Sandberg has extensive experience in developing ISO processes and of applying for CE labelling, as well as NQA competency.
Hobbies: Chilean red wines, reading, drawing with charcoal, making-up stories and drawing pictures to go with them
Kirsi Virtanen
Development engineer Kirsi Virtanen has strong experience in process development. Virtanen’s core expertise includes development tasks and projects related to environmental and quality functions in particular.
Hobbies: Reading and outdoor activities
Kari Valkama
Project Manager Kari Valkama has years of experience in working with business and general development related tasks in SME companies in metal and cleantech industries. Valkama’s core competence is international business. As a Project Manager Valkama is responsible for managing projects within energy and other industries.
Hobbies: gym, badminton, following the development of science and technology, travelling
Sari Rintakoski
Project engineer Sari Rintakoski is one of EnergyVaasa cluster developers, mostly involved in certification of the Gold Label cluster certificate. She is also working in several projects involving battery technology. Rintakoskis core competence is sales, marketing, and technical teaching, done in several languages. Rintakoski has a strong knowledge of international work, from several years working abroad.
Hobbies: swimming in the lake around the year, cars, foreign literature and couple dance
Johan Wasberg
Johan Wasberg has extensive international work experience in project management. He is primarily responsible for international projects and prepares projects related to renewable energy, both at national and EU level.
Hobbies: sports, languages, military history, wine cellars, old tools, forest and wood cutting