ProActS Conference 2026: Co-creating knowledge and innovation for a sustainable future
Welcome to the first ProActS conference – an international meeting place for researchers, practitioners, decision-makers and societal actors who want to participate in an international dialogue on resource efficiency, circularity, co-creation and innovation for sustainable transitions.
About the conference
The conference is organised by the interdisciplinary research programme ProActS at Halmstad University, and invites dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration across sectors, to promote collaboration between academia, municipalities, industry and civil society.
Practical information
- When: 10–12 March 2026
- Location: Halmstad University, Sweden
- Participation: Free of charge (limited number of places – pre-registration required)
- Languages: Swedish and English
- Publication: Approved papers published in an open access conference publication
Important dates
- Abstract deadline: 30 January 2026
- Admission Decision: 10 February 2026
- Registration closes: 28 February 2026
Programme and activities
Tuesday, 10 March
Activities for PhD-students
- Group or bilateral mentorship session between PhDs and postdoc or early-career scholars.
- Group session about academic writing and publishing
Wednesday, 11 March
8.30–9.00 Registration
9.00–9.30 Opening session, S1002
- Kristian Widén, Professor of Innovation Science and Deputy Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for collaboration and innovation
- Pia Ulvenblad, Professor of Business Administration
- Marie Mattsson, Professor of Environmental Science
- Anna Hansson, Institutional Lead for Sustainable Development
9.30–10.30 Keynote session, S1002
Region Halland: Knowledge co-creation – examples of ProActS research cooperation with Regional Industry
10.30–11.00 Coffeebreak and mingle session
11.00–12.30 Parallel sessions
Track 1 – Learning, Sensemaking and Sustainable Transformation, S1002
Title | Author(s) |
Thinking and acting: The case of entrepreneurial mindset and internal-external activities towards sustainability in small and medium-sized enterprises | Henrik Barth, Pia Ulvenblad, Hansi Hinic, Pontus Lindström, Senad Osmanovic |
Sustainability in business education fostering sustainable development? | Soledad Zamora |
Systems thinking competence as a driver of environmental collaboration and eco-innovation in firms | Sanna Joensuu-Salo, Emilia Kangas, Laura Könönen |
From whiteboards to wilderness: Reframing startup strategy through boundary objects and metaphors | Ludvig Lindlöf |
Track 2 – Bio-Monitoring and Circular Ecosystems, S1022
Title | Author(s) |
Genetic monitoring tools for sustainable fisheries management | Cintia Carvalho |
Aquality: Turning Challenge-Based Innovation into Real-World Water Solutions | Hadi Ali, Joakim Tell |
Insects as bioconverters: Potential in a circular economy through sustainable waste valorization | Geert R. Verheyen, Lotte Frooninckx, Sabine Van Miert |
Circularity after the end of life: Challenges with circular funerals and biodiversity | Pia Ulvenblad |
Track 3 – Decision-Making and Value Logics in Sustainability Transitions, S1080
Title | Author(s) |
Electrical and electronic equipment: Reliability before sustainability: Determinants for circular behavior | Hanne Vanmarsenille |
Co-creating a regional circular economy transition in a rural business context | Krista Mäki, Heli Hietala |
Now you don’t see it, now you do – The underestimation of cleanup costs among Canadian oil and gas firms | Savvas Papadopoulos |
Why agrivoltaics? The farmer’s value intention – the starting point for the sustainable business model | Per-Ola Ulvenblad |
12.30–13.45 Lunch
13.45–15.15 Parallel sessions – Workshops/Round table discussion
Track 1, S1078
Workshop: Halland Material Academy – Advancing Regional Innovation Through Material Collaboration
Track 2, S3052
Workshop: HyEfRe: Hydrogen integration for efficient renewable energy systems
Track 3, S1080
Round table discussion: Challenges and opportunities with Digital Product Passports: knowledge from practice and academia.
15.15–15.30 Coffee break
Group photo session at 15.20.
15.30–16.00 Closing session, S1002
18.00–19.00 City walk
You are invited to a guided walk through Halmstad’s city centre. The guides will take you on a journey through the city’s development, from fortified town to a city shaped by culture, its harbour, and opportunities for recreation.
Please indicate in your registration if you wish to take part. The city walk is free of charge, but the number of spots is limited to 50, so don’t wait to sign up!
19.00 Conference dinner
The day concludes with a three-course dinner at Restaurant Mårtensson in central Halmstad. The dinner includes two non-alcoholic beverages and a welcome drink beforehand, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available.
Please indicate in your registration if you wish to attend, as well as any dietary requirements. The dinner is at your own expense.
Thursday, 12 March
9.00–10.30 Parallel sessions
Track 4 – Nature-Based Solutions for Resource Efficiency and Climate Adaptation, S1080
Title | Author(s) |
Comparing nature-based solutions across scales: A multi criteria decision support system | Leon Hutschenreuther |
The role of landscape features in intensive agriculture: Illustration of initiatives in Sweden | Anna M. Hansson, Senad Osmanovic, Pia Ulvenblad |
Capturing the knowledge base in a scoping review: Landscape features in intensive agriculture | Senad Osmanovic, Anna Hansson, Pia Ulvenblad |
Based nature solution for the improvement of a river water quality | Teresa Borralho, Renata Ferreira, Adelaide Almeida, Anabela Durão |
Track 5 – Smart and Integrated Renewable Energy Systems, S1002
Title | Author(s) |
Sustainable bakery operations through demand forecasting: A comparative study of exponential smoothing and temporal convolutional networks | Hussein Al Deks, Zaid Bkira, Oscar Molina |
Evaluation of novel low temperature district heating system – Ranagård, Halmstad | Helge Averfalk |
Smart renewable energy systems co-creating digital and AI-enabled renewable energy systems for sustainable transitions in rural business context | Anna M. Hansson, Erik Möllerström, Niklas P.E. Karlsson, Oscar Molina, Fredric Ottermo |
Energy storage to increase benefit of photovoltaics in agricultural businesses | Fredric Ottermo |
Track 6 – Governing and Co-Creating Sustainable Transitions, S1020
Title | Author(s) |
HEROES alliance brings circular economy experts together with a joint research agenda | Kari Laasasenaho, Sanna Joensuu-Salo, Anne-Maria Mäkelä |
Working in an unsafe environment? The role of safety measures in the agricultural industry | Christa Amnell, Pia Ulvenblad |
Stakeholders engagement: the case study of a mining community at Alentejo region in Portugal | Anabela Durão, Albertina Raposo, Júnia Alves-Ferreira, Adriana Catarino, Mariana Custódio, Nadine Semedo, Patrícia Palma |
Track 7 – Operationalizing Circular Business Models, S1022
Title | Author(s) |
Shaping theory to understand practice – a case of client capability to adapt to fast-changing policy and pursue energy transition in construction | Charlotta Winkler, Robert Ågren |
Circular economy and business model innovation in construction: synthesizing emerging evidence | Svitlana Nardus, Rebecka Lundgren |
Reuse in renovation projects for energy efficiency | Ahmet Sezer, Heidi Norrström |
Co-creating market acceptance: Marketing challenges and opportunities for real estate built or renovated with reused materials and components | Svitlana Nardus, Olga Rauhut Kompaniets |
10.30–10.50 Coffee break
10.50–11.30 Keynote session, S1002
Tobias Jansson: Regenerative development – going beyond conventional sustainability
11.30–12.00 Panel discussion and concluding remarks, S1002
For members of the HEROES alliance
13.15–15.15 Workshop: HEROES Circular Economy Pod: Brainstorming Retreat, S1078
A poster exhibition will be on display throughout the conference, introducing the research programme ProActS, as well as projects included in the research programme.
Please note that the programme is subject to change.
Registration
For inquiries: proacts_conference@hh.se
Travelling options
When making travel arrangements you can choose to fly to any of the three different airports below.
Copenhagen Airport – Copenhagen (Denmark)
Approximately 2 hours to Halmstad C with direct trains and buses.
- Train: travel from Copenhagen Airport to Halmstad C
- Bus: Travel from Kastrup Terminal 2 to Halmstad Regionbussterminal
Landvetter Airport – Gothenburg (Sweden)
Approximately 2 hours from Halmstad with a few options of buses and trains.
- Train: Take the Airport Coach from Landvetter Airport to the Central Station, Nils Ericsson Terminal, downtown Gothenburg. Then you take the train from Gothenburg to Halmstad.
- Bus: Take the Airport Coach from Landvetter Airport to the Central Station, Nils Ericsson Terminal, downtown Gothenburg. Then you take the bus from Gothenburg, Nils Ericsson Terminal to Halmstad Regionbussterminal.
Arlanda Airport – Stockholm (Sweden)
Stockholm is a 4 to 5 hour train ride from Halmstad, but some students may still prefer to arrive in Stockholm.
- Train alternative 1: You can take the long distance train to Halmstad: travel from Arlanda C to Halmstad C. You will have to change trains somewhere along the route.
- Train alternative 2: Take the Arlanda Express Train or the Airport Shuttle to Stockholm Central Station. From there you can take a train to Halmstad C. Travel from Stockholm C to Halmstad C. You may have to change trains somewhere along the route.
- You can also travel by bus via Gothenburg. Travel from Stockholm City Terminal to Nils Ericson Terminal and then from there to Halmstad Regionbussterminal.
Accommodation
Halmstad University has deals with different hotels near the campus. Before the conference, you can book one of them at a good price. As a participant during the conference, you book and pay for hotel yourself.
Hotell Mårtensson
Booking code: 1823831
Last day for booking: 2026-02-27 (after this date, you can contact the hotel directly and ask for availability)
Price and room type
Single room: SEK 1193 per night
Double room: SEK 1482 per night
Booking and contact
Telephone: +46-35-17 75 75
Website: Elite Hotell Mårtenson External link.
Halmstad University – where different perspectives meet
Halmstad University prepares people for the future by creating values, driving innovation and developing society. Since the beginning in 1983, the University has been characterised as forward-thinking and cross-border. Halmstad University is known for its popular and reality-based programmes and small student groups. Today, the University has around 14,000 students and offers around 55 programmes and over 150 courses within several subject fields.
Research for innovation
The research at Halmstad University is internationally renowned and is pursued in interdisciplinary innovation and research environments. The University takes an active part in the development of society through extensive and recognised collaboration with both the private and public sector.
Experience Sweden and Halmstad
Eduroam?
If you have login credentials for Eduroam from your home institution, you can use these to connect to Halmstad University’s eduroam Wi-Fi network.
