Young Leadership Programme 2026

Setting the Scene: A Systems View of Innovation and Futures

• Why to think about systems?
• How are the systems, in which futures and innovation take shape, changing?
• What can we learn from actors in the forest industries?

Inside and Beyond Regional Innovation Ecosystems

• What kinds of innovation support are available?
• How can innovation transcend localities?
• How to achieve innovation adoption readiness?

Excursion: Meet Innovators and Explore the Opportunities Held by the Forest

• What can we learn from successful local innovators – start-ups and self-disrupting companies?
• What can we learn from the local forest ecosystem?

Entrepreneurship, Foresight and Anticipatory Innovation

• How to foster entrepreneurship?
• What are futures, what is foresight and how does anticipatory innovation work?

Applying Power Skills for Effective Futures and Innovation Leadership

• Developing innovative solutions for relevant futures in the local context: applying lessons learnt, honing skills and creating real value.

We are seeking dynamic young professionals who meet the following criteria:

• Young professionals (e.g., practitioners, entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, scientists, artists, journalists, conservationists and environmentalists, government and NGO employees, and experts from investment and philanthropic networks) from diverse backgrounds interested in the forest-based bioeconomy.
• Up to 35 years old.
• Demonstrate a track record of leadership, whether through active roles in professional associations, community-led initiatives, or environmental advocacy.
• A keen interest in, or knowledge of, the Northern European forest sector, research, innovation, or futures thinking.
• A willingness to fully contribute to the group and engage in exploratory activities to overcome ambiguities of concepts, identify and challenge assumptions, and push the boundaries of what is thought to be possible.

Studying or working at an EFI member organisation or affiliated with the Business Joensuu Network is an asset.

Fluency in English is essential for full participation.

Available to attend the full programme in person from 24 to 28 August 2026.

All application materials must be submitted in English. Please prepare:

• A CV (max 2 pages).
• A letter of recommendation written by an employer, PhD advisor, or another person who can speak to your leadership potential. You may submit the letter with your application or later. If so, send the letter to ylp@efi.int.
• Link to your motivation video (max 2 minutes). In your video, please address any of the following:
  • an innovation challenge you have tackled / identified and developed ideas to address (professionally or in another context) with a short reflection on learnings from the process, or
  • a question about the future of the bioeconomy or forest sector that excites or concerns you, why it does and some exploratory ideas of how you think it might be approached.

Questions? Contact us at ylp@efi.int.

A registration fee of 250 EUR per participant will be charged upon acceptance and must be paid in advance. Scholarships may be made available to participants to cover the programme registration fee.

Please indicate in your application if you wish to be considered for a scholarship. Including a scholarship request in the registration application will not affect the selection process.

While participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements, we will provide dedicated support in sourcing local accommodation. Please note that accommodation costs remain the responsibility of the participant.

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Bluesky

• Landscape image
• Square image
• Vertical image