Pasi Vainikka

Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder at Neo-Carbon Energy

Speaker

Before becoming CEO he led a strategic initiative with the name Neo-Carbon Energy. It was
the single-largest renewable energy research in Finland so far. Spin-off projects from that
initiative include Soletair pilot plant producing fuel from air, Neo-Carbon-Food concept for
producing healthy protein from air - now commercialised by Solar Foods - as well as the
wold’s first simulation for global 100% renewable electricity system named the “Internet of
Energy”.
Dr Vainikka is the Mission innovation Champion for Finland. Mission Innovation (MI) is a
global initiative of 24 countries and the European Commission working to accelerate global
clean energy innovation. The Champions are individuals with a track record of progressing
creative new ideas that can drive the pace and scale of the clean energy revolution.
Dr Vainikka has held positions as a principal scientist in the strategic research management
at VTT Technical research centre of Finland as well as in the management of VTT’s contract
research in energy. Previously he held a position as the deputy technology manager of
VTT’s bioenergy knowledge centre, research team leader and a researcher. Dr Vainikka
holds MSc in energy systems form Cranfield University UK, MSc in energy economics from
LUT Finland, and DSc in process chemistry from Åbo Akademi, Finland. Dr Vainikka is
adjunct professor at Lappeenranta university of technology (LUT).