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Nordic Innovation Summit 2025

October 21-22, 2025

Seattle, WA


Dates:

October 21-22, 2025

Location:

Seattle, WA

Register Now

In the midst of a shifting international landscape, the Nordic Innovation Summit asks: what new opportunities might there be to learn from innovation in the Nordic countries?

The Nordic Innovation Summit follows the collaborative Nordic model, integrating private industry, academia, non-profits/NGOs and government policy makers. The Summit brings together leaders in innovation and technology to exchange ideas, discuss issues, and explore opportunities of mutual concern; the goal is to accelerate innovation as well as economic and cultural exchange.

The Nordic nations and the Pacific Northwest are home to some of the most innovative companies, researchers, and policymakers anywhere in the world. The Nordic Innovation Summit, which attracts high-level presenters and participants, was launched in 2018 by the National Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington State’s only National Museum.


This Year's Theme: Resilience

Resilience is a typical Nordic trait exemplified by the Finnish concept of “sisu”. Author Joanna Nylund introduces sisu as “stoic determination, hardiness, courage, bravery, willpower, tenacity and resilience.” Whether it is in hearing stories from early immigrants struggling to make a new life in America, Sámi people in the Nordics fighting for indigenous rights, shipwreck survivors, or modern-day astronauts orbiting the poles, sisu is always on display at the museum. We look forward to hearing inspiring new examples at the Nordic Innovation Summit. 

Reserve your ticket

General: $100
Museum Members: $75
Student: $35

Register now
Please reach out to marketing@nordicmuseum.org for the student code

Newly Announced: Our Headline Speakers!

The Nordic Innovation Summit welcomes Jannicke Mikkelsen, Dr. David Baker, and Mathias Sundin to the 2025 Summit! 

Spotlights

  • Jannicke Mikkelsen via SpaceX (3x2)

    Jannicke Mikkelsen

    Astronaut, Filmmaker, Trailblazer

    The future of space exploration

  • David-Baker

    Dr. David Baker

    Head of the Institute for Protein Design, 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

  • Mathias Sundin - Photo cropped 3x2

    Mathias Sundin

    Founder & Chairman Warp Institute Foundation

    What we can learn from the Nordics to accelerate AI adoption

Keep up with the Summit

To stay informed with this year's Nordic Innovation Summit, sign up for the NIS newsletter to get the latest news straight to your inbox.

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Agenda

Schedule

Tuesday, Oct. 21

Opening Session

    Wednesday, Oct. 22

      The 2025 Summit is focused around innovation in four industries: Energy, Security, Transportation, and Health. 


      Health

      Speakers include:


      Energy

      Speakers include:


      Security

      Speakers include:


      Transportation

      Speakers include:


      Thursday, Oct. 23

        Various Once Ocean Week events

        • One Ocean Week Seattle is a region-wide, international gathering of ocean leaders, innovators, researchers, startups, policymakers, artists, educators, and communities to accelerate solutions for a sustainable, inclusive maritime future. Explore the full calendar of events online.
        • More to come - stay tuned!

        Testimonials

        NIS_Webimage_1440x7202

        The Nordic Museum is not only about the past, it's also about the future. The facilities here are fantastic.

        - Casper von Koskull, CEO, Nordea Bank AB

        I was so proud to just be part of it and really reflect on the Nordic countries and what we have in common with the Pacific Northwest.

        - Tuula Rytilä, Formerly Corporate VP, Microsoft Digital Stores

        I just knew that this was going to be a place to find ideas, find inspiration - also encouragement to know that there are people around the world struggling with the same challenges we're struggling with and coming up with creative answers.

        - Marko Liias, Washington State Senator

        "Thank you for a well-executed event with world class speakers and agenda."

            —Rob Balconi, Ericsson

        "The Nordic Innovation Summit is really my favourite event in the US – professional, interesting, innovative, friendly and fun! I had three amazing days!"

            —Cecilia Lif, Embassy of Sweden

        Whether it's Finland, Sweden, Norway, you have so much innovation coming out of these small countries that's actually a fuel empowering the whole world on technology.

        - Elaine Weidman Grunewald, Co-Founder, AI Sustainability Center

        Seeing what's happening up here in Seattle with the ecosystem whether the university, with large corporations, with a startup scene, and that scale ups, and the venture funds, and great talents, I think we can really learn something.

        - Hilde Tonne, Chief Innovation Officer, Ramboll Group

        There's so much innovation and so much creation and new exciting things happening in the Nordic countries.

        - Petra Hilleberg, Honorary Consul, Sweden

        I think we can really learn from each other. We obviously have a number of enormous problems that need to be solved and I think looking two examples of success in other countries is very valuable.

        - Tom Alberg, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Madrona Venture Group

        The beauty of this summit is that you have a melting pot of startup, innovators, big corporations, people who are living in Scandinavia, the ones who are living here, sharing ideas, their experiences, best practices, learning from failures.

        - Vahé Torossian, President, Microsoft Western Europe

        Spotlights

        • Sponsorship Opportunities

          We partner with companies that share our vision of innovating for the greater good. If that’s you, let’s chat!

          Learn More
        • Media Inquiries

          Need more information about the Nordic Innovation Summits or other events at the National Nordic Museum?

          Contact Us
        • Location & Parking

          Plan your visit to the National Nordic Museum in Ballard!

          Location & Parking