Innovation Centre team introduction: Part 5
New experts have joined the Innovation Centre team, and it’s time to introduce them! This time, we are introducing Business Development Specialist Ville Saarenpää and Business Development Manager Marika Koivuniemi.
Ville Saarenpää – Business Development Specialist
ville.saarenpaa@oulu.fi
Ville’s role at the Innovation Centre:
I am responsible for student entrepreneurship matters at the University of Oulu. In practice, this means sparring and guiding students interested in entrepreneurship and the development of their business ideas. I am also responsible for matters related to students’ Proof of Concept funding. In addition, my area includes coordinating student communication at the Innovation Centre and diverse stakeholder activities with actors in Oulu’s entrepreneurship field.
Ville’s background:
I started my studies at the University of Oulu in Mechanical Engineering and ended up expanding my expertise with master’s studies in International Business Management when I graduated as an M.Sc. (Tech.) in Machine Desing. I was actively involved in various projects and organizational activities during my studies.
When I did my exchange in Germany, I got interested in entrepreneurship. When I returned to Oulu, I joined the activities of OuluES. Over a few years filled with networking and learning, the startup world became familiar, and towards the end, I became particularly interested in commercializing research. At this point, I ended up getting to know the activities of the Innovation Centre better, and through a couple of Research to Business projects, I became part of the Innovation Centre team in spring 2023.
Highlights of Ville's work and opportunities for new learning:
It’s the best feeling when you see a new flame of enthusiasm ignite and when students seriously get down to business. You feel successful when you are able to help them move forward on their path. It’s also great to bring suitable parties together and watch what follows.
One of the best aspects of the job is the constant learning and application of new things, as well as growth as an expert. Colleagues from diverse and interesting backgrounds constantly provide new perspectives and share their experiences.
The Innovation Centre operates at the interface of potentially world-changing research and business, so there is always something new and interesting coming up. If the research results of the University of Oulu are to be brought into the real world, this practically always happens through the Innovation Centre.
On what issues can you contact Ville?
Especially students who are interested in entrepreneurship, seeking funding or support for the development of their business idea, or for example, want to be part of the local entrepreneurship network, can contact me with a low threshold! You can also get in touch if I am a familiar face from before or just seem easily approachable. I will guide you forward to the right people.
Ville’s favorite innovation:
What a challenging question, as the world is filled with interesting innovations. On the other hand, simple and practical innovations are close to my heart, but this time the victory goes to a rather revolutionary innovation called laser, based on Einstein’s theories. From a scientific perspective, it’s interesting and has enabled a lot of things, from various reading devices and measuring devices to cutting and marking different materials, welding metals and 3D printing, as well as fast rust removal, for example. In addition, when innovations go down to the atomic level, we’re usually in for something exciting!
For the coming year, Ville is looking forward to:
Balance, progress in matters, new challenges and opportunities, and development compared to previous years. It’s exciting because you never fully know what the new year will bring!
Marika Koivuniemi – Business Development Manager
marika.koivuniemi@oulu.fi
Marika’s role at the Innovation Centre:
My task is to promote the educational cooperation carried out by the University of Oulu between companies and other stakeholders. I coordinate, among other things, the continuing education business targeted at companies and communicate the training needs of companies to faculties. In addition, I am involved in the development of the university’s continuing education services. I also act as a KAM person in customer relationships with the City of Oulu and the City of Kuusamo.
Marika’s background:
I am a graduate of the University of Oulu, and I initially studied educational sciences and later defended my doctorate in educational sciences with a study about learning sciences. I started working at the University of Oulu in 2011 and since then I have held various positions, each of which has in one way or another been related to learning, learning research, teaching, and education.
Highlights of Marika's work and opportunities for new learning:
In my job, I get to know a wide range of experts and organizations, so I get to learn something new every week.
The best part of the job is definitely the interdisciplinary cooperation, where we get to create something new together to support the development of expertise in different sectors of companies and organizations. Continuous skill development is a prerequisite for competitiveness, and the training opportunities offered by the university are therefore an important part of forming the competitiveness of companies and organizations in different sectors. The continuous learning offering we produce is therefore very meaningful, and hopefully, we will be able to produce an even more diverse and extensive range of training in the future for companies as well.
On what issues can you contact Marika?
I am happy to help with issues related to educational cooperation with companies and the development of continuous learning. If you need information on how to sell training to companies, how to prepare an offer, what to consider in pricing, what kind of training needs companies may have, and what factors to consider in customized training targeted at companies, you can contact me.
For the coming year, Marika is looking forward to:
Many interesting discussions and collaboration openings with various companies, stakeholders, and experts.
You can read the other introductions of the Innovation Centre team from InnoBlog: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.