2026 Frontiers In Service Highlights

Frontiers 2026_Hanken
Reflections from the 2026 Frontiers in Service Conference, exploring the essence of sisu—the Finnish spirit of resilience, determination, courage, and perseverance—and how it resonated throughout the conference, its conversations, research, encounters, and shared experiences.

The journey began on Sunday at the Doctoral Consortium, where Sisu was reflected as the perseverance of the academic journey—not as an individual pursuit, but as a collective journey supported by peers, mentors, and co-authors.

2026 Frontiers in Service_DC
2026 Frontiers in Service_DC_Winners

The Monday pre-conference workshops further developed this perspective. Highlighting key themes shaping service research, including artificial intelligence, digital transformation, well-being, and resilience. These discussions reinforced that Sisu is also about adapting, persisting, and finding new ways to capture these experiences through meaningful theoretical development. 

Frontiers in Service Preworkshop_Kajsa
Frontiers_Pre_Conference_workshop

2026 Frontiers in Service Conference Opening

As the conference officially began on Tuesday, plenary and special sessions explored resilience, AI, circularity, and transformative service research. Together, these sessions demonstrated that Sisu is reflected in the courage to embrace complexity together.

Frontiers Plenary Session 1
Frontiers Plenary Session 2
Frontiers in Service Special Session 1
Frontiers in Service Special Session 2

The conversations—and even the snaps—during the gala dinner reflected that embracing challenges is often best done together. 😉 

2026 Frontiers in Service Gala Dinner

On Wednesday, the conversation deepened through the plenary and special sessions, which explored innovation, sustainability, care, and human-centred service. Together, these discussions highlighted how innovation, sustainability, and care are deeply interconnected. They reflected Sisu as the determination to create lasting impact through collaboration, compassion, and care.

Frontiers in Service Plenary 3
Frontiers in Service_Plenary Session 4

Frontiers in Service Special Session 3

As Frontiers in Service 2026 came to a close on Thursday, the closing plenary shifted the focus to well-being, generosity, and the positive impact that service research can have on society.  

2026 Frontiers in Service Plenary Session 5

Across the week, one message consistently emerged:

Sisu is more than perseverance. It is perseverance that is shared.

It is the collective courage to navigate complexity, embrace change, and create meaningful, long-lasting impact together.

Frontiers in Service Fazer
Frontiers in Service Partner