The new year has begun, and it’s time to review the results of innovation activities at the University of Oulu! The university and its researchers have remained highly active across nearly all areas of innovation. In fact, we set a couple of new records in inventions and patents, promising great potential for commercialization in the coming years.

Do you sew clothing from Marimekko fabrics or knit socks adorned with familiar designs like Unikko, Karhu, or Pätkis? It’s essential to understand when you need permission and when you’re free to use patterns and instructions, as these may be protected by intellectual property rights.

In the first part of this series, we delved into the megatrends envisioned by Frost & Sullivan's experts, painting a picture of the world in 2040. Previously, we explored the first five megatrends; now, we turn our attention to the remaining five. 

What will society look like in 2040? What megatrends can we identify today that will shape the future? Guided by the insights of Frost & Sullivan’s experts, we delved into these questions and explored their report highlighting 10 pivotal trends set to redefine industries, society, and the way we operate.

Mikael Pentikäinen, CEO of Entrepreneurs of Finland, joined us to discuss how universities and businesses can combine forces to discover even more avenues for collaboration.

The University Business Forum 2024 brought together over 200 participants to explore how collaboration and digitalization can pave the way to a more sustainable future.

Rheumatologist and researcher Johanna Huhtakangas, along with her team, is developing an innovative treatment for inflammatory joint diseases. Their aim is a solution that would work as effectively as cortisone — but without the side effects. In the future, the treatment might center on a compound of vitamin D.

"This job ties directly into my studies. I got hands-on experience in exactly what I'm studying", says Aleksi Korpela, a third-year civil engineering student at the University of Oulu.

Anna Pesonen has joined us to streamline the contract signing process and ensure smooth integration into the document management system.

Miska Visuri’s company, LessonLab, is on a mission to infuse education with a contemporary twist and fresh perspective. They offer customized, gamified learning solutions designed to train employees in an engaging and interactive way.

Researcher Timo Liimatainen and his team are developing new technology for hospitals where artificial intelligence helps patients position themselves for X-rays. The project has received Business Finland’s Research to Business funding.

The collaboration between Metsä Group and the University of Oulu generates new knowledge, fosters innovation, and addresses the challenges of sustainable development — all of which are crucial for Finland's international competitiveness. 

Hydrogen is one of the cornerstones of the future energy economy. So, how can hydrogen be produced now and in the future? How can we move towards fossil-free hydrogen production as smoothly as possible?

Some of the most innovative solutions in technology and design are inspired by summer nature. After all, plants and animals have qualities that beat even the most inventive minds of engineers.

The CAAMA process offers a cheaper, more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for cleaning mine wastewater than what is currently available on the market.

What if you need someone else's content for your teaching or research? Kirsi Salmela, Head of Legal at Kopiosto and Maarit Jokela, IPR expert at the Innovation Centre, gave us some good tips on this, which we summarise in the blog.

Northern Industry 2024 highlighted solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of industry.

Researcher, teacher, student: do you know how to use different materials in your teaching and research? When do you need permission and what does a Kopiosto’s copy licence allow you to do? And who owns IPR in universities?

At the University of Oulu, we celebrated inventors and inventions on University Inventor Day. At the event, we revealed our researchers with the most invention disclosures in 2023 and heard inspiring talks.

The Measurement Technology Unit's Smart Feed project has been shortlisted as one of the nominees for the European Innovation Award for EIP (European Innovation Partnership) projects.