12TH SYMPOSIUM ON CBRNE THREATS

YEAR 2025 THEME: RESILIENT SOCIETY


Understanding and countering CBRNE threats and the ability to recover from materialized threats are crucial for resilient societies.

Welcome to the NBC 2025 symposium on CBRNE threats at the Kokkola City Hall in Kokkola, Finland, on June 9 – 12, 2025.

The city of Kokkola is situated 500 km northwest of Helsinki with easy connections by train from Helsinki and the flight from Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

Welcome to the Symposium

This triennial symposium is organized by the Association for Protection, Rescue, Security and Safety (SPT Ry).
THE NBC 2025 SYMPOSIUM OFFERS A GREAT PLACE TO DEEP DIVE INTO CBRNE THREATS AND THEIR COUNTERING.
SYMPOSIUM IS AIMED AT DECISION MAKERS, AUTHORITIES, EXPERTS, SCIENTISTS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELDS OF CBRNE DEFENSE, SAFETY, SECURITY, CIVIL DEFENSE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, EMERGENCY SUPPLY, HEALTH SERVICES, POLICE, CUSTOMS, FRONTIER GUARD, MILITARY, RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NUCLEAR AND EXPLOSIVES MATTERS ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO RESILIENT SOCIETY.
A RESILIENT SOCIETY IS ABLE TO PREVENT THE THREATS FROM MATERIALIZING, PROTECT POPULATION WHEN A THREAT HAS MATERIALIZED AND RECOVER FROM THE CBRNE EFFECTS SOON AND AS COMPLETELY AS POSSIBLE.
The symposium also features an exhibition of CBRNE equipment.
The previous NBC 2022 Symposium gathered nearly 200 participants from over 20 countries ranging from decision makers, CBRNE scientists, professionals of civil defense, emergency supply agencies, customs to industry and company representatives.

TOPICS

1.Conventional and novel chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives threats including CBRNE-related disinformation, hybrid threats and aspects of climate change, related environmental aspects, and toxic industrial chemicals (TIC).
2. National and international strategies, legislation, treaties, prevention, countering CBRNE threats.
3. Resilience, organizational resilience, security of supply, industrial preparedness, civil defense, civil-military cooperation.
4. Detection, identification, monitoring, (dispersion) modelling.
5. Protection, decontamination, medical countermeasures, human factors, recovery.
6. Education, training, mixed reality methods.
7. Other.
8. Keynote.

DR. ÅSA SCOTT

Dr.  Åsa Scott since 2018 holds the position as Director of the CBRN Defence and Security Division at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). The division employs more than 160 researchers, analysts and engineers and the research is focused on assessing threats, developing new protection and state of the art analysis of CBRN as well as addressing non-proliferation and disarmament issues.  As Director Dr Scott leads and give guidance to the overall research of the division and is a representative in the top management group of FOI led by the Director General.

Read more about Åsa: Åsa Scott Bio NBC 2025

 

MR. PETTERI KORVALA

Mr. Petteri Korvala started as Secretary General of the Security Committee on September 1, 2023. His current position focuses on issues related to the comprehensive security of the Finnish society, which he promotes with the Secretariat of the Security Committee he leads.

Read more about Petteri: Petteri Korvala bio NBC 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DR. MIKA SALMINEN

Dr Mika Salminen Is The Director Of The Finnish Institute For Health And Welfare (THL). His Expertise Is As A Virologist And The Surveillance And Control Of Communicable Diseases, International Health Security, Contagion Preparedness, Microbiology And Public Health Policy.

Read more about Mika: Mika Salminen bio NBC 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

DR. HANNELE KORHONEN

Dr. Hannele Korhonen is the Director of the Climate Research Programme at the Finnish Meteorological Institute since 2018. As a research professor at the same institute since 2015, her scientific research has focused on climate change and its impacts, atmospheric aerosols, and weather and climate engineering. Additionally, Prof Korhonen has been an active member of the Finnish Climate Change Panel, appointed by the Finnish government. She is a delegate or member of numerous European and national bodies.

Read more about Hannele: Hannele Korhonen Bio NBC2025

 

DR. HELENE THORSEN RØNNING

Helene Thorsen Rønning is research manager for the Chemical Threats and Explosives program at the division of Total Defence, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). This also includes the national CBRE emergency preparedness laboratory, an important asset within the Norwegian total defence.

Read more about  Helene: Helene Thorsen Rønning Bio NBC 2025

 

 

 

 

MR. JOUNI MÖLSÄ

Mr. Jouni Mölsä, three decades of communications work in top government positions and in various editorial departments have given Jouni insight into both strategic and crisis communications. His work as Head of Communications for the President of the Republic of Finland and Director of Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs blends seamlessly with canal rock 'n' roll.

Read more about Jouni: Jouni Mölsä Bio NBC 2025 

 

MR. JANNE KÄNKÄNEN

Mr. Janne Känkänen was appointed Chief Executive Officer
for the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) on
September 1, 2020. Känkänen has occupied the position
as acting CEO since April 2020. In addition to long
leadership experience, Känkänen has experience in
demanding special government projects (bail-out of
distressed companies, financial restructuring, etc.) in the
field of industrial policy as well as EU affairs.

Read more about Janne: Janne Känkänen Bio NBC 2025

 

 

MR. OLA FOLKESSON

Mr. Ola Folkesson, Fire Protection Engineer and
Fire Officer, works with incident response
development at the Civil Protection Department.
He has a background from incident command,
development and training within the fire and
rescue service and the Swedish Civil
Contingencies Agency.

Read more about Robert: Ola Folkesson bio NBC 2025

 

 

 

PROF. PETER BLAIN CBE

Peter Blain is Emeritus Professor in the
Translational and Clinical Research
Institute at Newcastle University, United
Kingdom. He is a clinical expert advisor in
CBRN Medicine to UK Government and the
operational medical advisor to a specialist
military CBRN response unit. He is involved
in the investigation of suspected deliberate
poisonings and was directly involved in the
clinical care of the casualties in the
Salisbury Incident.

Read more about Peter: Peter Blain Bio NBC 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific Committee, The Association for Protection, Rescue, Security and Safety:

Dr. Markku Mesilaakso, chair; retired, last position: Professor, Head of Division, Energetic and CBRN Technology Division, Finnish Defence Research Agency (FDRA), Finland.
Dr. Jussi Paatero, Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Finland.
Professor Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Dr. Anna-Mari Heikkilä, VTT, Finland.
Dr. Antti Saastamoinen, Finnish Defence Research Agency (FDRA), Finland.
Dr. Paula Maatela, retired, last position: Principal Scientist, Energetic and CBRN Technology Division, Finnish Defence Research Agency (FDRA), Finland.
Dr. (Mil.Sc./ICT) Jaana Kuula, Finland.
Dr. Niklas Meinander, Finland.

Organizing Committee contact persons:

Mr. Timo Lukkarinen, Chair
Dr. Markku Mesilaakso, Vice Chair
Mrs. Jenna Järvenpää, Secretary
Mr. Juhani Juutilainen, Member

Symposium Venue

The symposium venue, Kokkola City Hall, also offers modern and comfortable meeting rooms to guarantee successful networking events.

Kokkola Industrial Park - KIP is the Northern Europe’s largest ecosystem of inorganic chemical industry.

 

Important Dates

Participants - Register

The one-day participation fee is €410 (doesn’t include evening events).

The whole event participation fee is €870.

Participants with presentation, register not later than  April 18, 2025.

Participants without presentation, register not later than May 26, 2025.

Abstracts - Submission

Deadline for abstracts is March 30, 2025.

Program finalised

April 27, 2025.

5 Page articles sent to Scientific Committee

April 27, 2025.

Keynote-presentation and presentation upload deadline

May 26, 2025.

Posters and Exhibitors One-Pagers Upload Deadline

May 26, 2025.

Articles read and accepted

May 30, 2025.

Final Symposium Proceedings

June 4, 2025.

NBC 2025 Symposium

June 9-12, 2025.

 

Want to be a sponsor?

The organiser welcomes all event sponsors who want to get extra exposure. If you book a booth at the exhibition, please, follow the guidance on page "Exhibition".
If you only want to be a sponsor, please, follow the guidance on page "Sponsors".

 

1. Gold sponsor, €6000

(for one company only)
Max. 10 min presentation at Symposium
Advertisement in printed Symposium Proceedings (spread and back cover)
Company logo printed on conference bag
Company logo with link on NBC 2025 website’s pages
One bag insert
Two complimentary participants

 

2. Silver sponsor, €3000

(for two companies)
Max. 8 min speech/company at Symposium
Company logo visibility at Symposium
Advertisement in printed Symposium Proceedings (spread)
Company logo with link on NBC 2025 website’s pages
One bag insert
One complimentary participant

 

3. Bronze sponsor, €2000

(for three companies)
Max. 5 min speech/company at Symposium
Company logo visibility at Symposium
Advertisement in printed Symposium Proceedings (one page, first part of book)
One bag insert
One participant/company with 50% discount of registration fee

 

4. One‐page advert in printed Symposium programme, €800

(organiser decides on advert placement)

 

5. Bag insert, €300

(others than sponsors, advertisers and exhibitors)

 

NBC 2022 Symposium Proceedings

(in English)