University Business Forum 2024: Shaping a sustainable future and driving innovation together
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.
Could vitamin D be the key to joint inflammation relief? Research shows promising results with fewer side effects than cortisone
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.
Anna Pesonen streamlines contract creation and findability at the Innovation Centre
Anna Pesonen has joined us to streamline the contract signing process and ensure smooth integration into the document management system.
Leveling up learning: LessonLab brings education into the modern era
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.
AI assists in the future X-ray imaging
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.
Water purification method developed by a University of Oulu researcher saves both the environment and money
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.
Researchers, inventors and innovation agents — University Inventor Day celebrated new insights
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.
How to create a good innovation project — even one of the best in Europe?
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.
From research to innovation — how do research results translate into practical solutions that change the world?
The Innovation Centre's UniOulu Science Day workshop challenged researchers to think about how research results can be turned into new inventions, services and practices.
Buutti Oy grew from an idea of four students to a growth company — "We saw potential in young people, and they turned out to be super talented"
Mikko Koistinen and Peetu Nuottajärvi, founders of software company Buutti Oy, visited our living room for an InnoVisitor event. The duo opened up to the audience about Buutti's journey from 2016 until today.
6G brings new solutions to health technology
The University of Oulu is running a 6G Flagship research program, which involves a wide range of research around 6G. Wearable wireless measurement devices enable early-stage diagnostics.
Innovation courses offer new career opportunities and skills for working life
When you search the University of Oulu study guide with the keyword innov*, you will find nearly 30 courses related to innovation. What is taught about innovation? Why is the topic so relevant that it is worth taking courses on?
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.
Christmas needs a touch of innovation
My Christmas is always very easy-going: the Christmas Eve follows the same pattern, if it’s up to me (yes, I’m one of those crazy Christmas enthusiasts). Now that I’ve worked a while as a Communications Intern at the Innovation Centre, I started thinking about my Christmas celebration from an innovative perspective. What inventions would make my Christmas even smoother?
In Finland, the fear of failure prevents from becoming an entrepreneur – Matti Muhos is doing research on why the situation is the opposite in other Nordic countries
Finns are afraid of failure. This is evident at least in the fact that we dare not become entrepreneurs. Where does this fear come from? In other Nordic countries, people become entrepreneurs more boldly, so why does the situation change when we are inside the borders of Finland?
CAAMA is a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option for water purification
One of the projects underway at the University of Oulu is CAAMA, which stands for column-casted alkali-activated material adsorbent. The project’s goal is to introduce new alternatives for industrial wastewater treatment.
The world needs new innovations to support the circular economy of textiles
The theme of this year's University Business Forum was "Future proofing and future boosting", around which the four thematic sessions of the event had been built. Session number two focused on how to make the future of the fashion industry truly greener.
Networking is one of the keys to successful innovation process – "Insights and inventions are often created by working together"
Marko Heikkinen, who is responsible for new business development at Pipelife, sees that cooperation is best achieved when ideas are processed and developed together. In addition, extensive networks between both small and large companies create new opportunities for collaboration.
The academic career path led to be an inventor
Lloyd Ruddock works as a professor at the Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of Oulu. For a long time, the commercialization of research and all that related to it appeared similar to the dark side of the force in Star Wars to him. Now, however, he has been working with things connected with commercialization and innovation for more than a decade. What made him change his mind?
From a researcher to an entrepreneur – practical need acted as a driver for producing more environmentally friendly construction materials
Juho Yliniemi, Assistant Professor at the University of Oulu, founded Keko Geopolymeerit Oy as a response to a practical need, and the business has grown steadily since the company was established. Yliniemi and Jouni Rissanen, the company's CEO, tell how the company was founded and how they ended up in the field.