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From the state of democracy to the power of trust and meaningful innovation, TEDxVaasa 2026 brought together ideas that challenge both thinking and action. Speakers highlighted how individual choices shape society—and why standing still is no longer an option.
An engaged team of volunteers, led this year by Johanna Kauppinen, once again brought a TEDx event to Vaasa. On Friday (17.4.2026), ten speakers gathered at Wasa Innovation Center under the theme “CHOOSE TO ACT,” sharing ideas aimed at inspiring meaningful change.
“Each of our speakers has chosen a topic that is close to their hearts,” says Johanna Kauppinen.
Democracy under pressure
One of the speakers, Tuomas Pöysti, a recognized expert in law, addressed the state of democracy—something he believes we should all be concerned about. He described how democracy is gradually eroded through the way we behave online.
For example, he pointed to technology companies that know it is more profitable to make people angry than to keep them well informed. He also highlighted the echo chambers of social media, where users are either surrounded by like-minded opinions or confronted with completely opposing views.
Pöysti emphasized that research shows collaborative ties between people who are different from one another form the foundation of trust and well-functioning democracies. Despite the seriousness of the topic, his message was ultimately hopeful: democracy can still be strengthened. Broadening one’s perspectives and using personal judgment before sharing content are important steps forward.
Resilience requires trust
Hanna Smith from the University of Vaasa also explored the concept of trust, approaching it through the lens of resilience and what creates it. She discussed the paradox of uncertain times, when people tend to call for strong leaders and a return to a perceived “better past”—while questioning whether that past was ever as ideal as we remember.
“Our human nature is that we want to resist change,” she noted.
Smith argued that a functioning society does not require people to like each other, but it does require a certain level of trust, along with the ability to collaborate and think creatively.
Innovation must create value
Eleonor Hedström, who has extensive experience in innovation work, also touched on creativity in her talk, titled “Small Steps Turn Innovation from a Buzzword into Real Business Impact.” She pointed out that people often have very different definitions of what innovation actually means and shared a personal story from her childhood to illustrate her perspective.
One of her key takeaways was that innovation needs to be something new, something that is completed and something that creates value.
A strong lineup of speakers
In addition to the speakers already mentioned, the program featured Anna Caldén, Khaula Zeeshan, Anssi Mikola, Tanja Piha, Sara Nyyssölä, Maria Östergård Käld, and Ataur Rahman.
All talks will be recorded and released globally on YouTube in June 2026.
The TEDxVaasa event is organized entirely on a volunteer basis, with all ticket revenue used solely to cover production costs. The main partners of TEDxVaasa 2026 are the University of Vaasa, VAMK, LähiTapiola Pohjanmaa – LokalTapiola Österbotten, Wasa Innovation Center, and Vaasa Insider.
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