Fourteen young students and researchers took part in the pitching competition, which was held for the second time.
Saku Reunanen, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, won the Falling Walls Lab Eastern Finland 2026 pitching competition. His research-based idea focused on a new type of treatment for Parkinson’s disease, based on a molecule that affects the disease more effectively.
Second prize in the competition was awarded to Teddy Tran from Aalto University, whose innovation aims to improve the analysis of bridge conditions using an analysis device installed in a vehicle. Third prize was awarded to Fahimeh Maleki, a Doctoral Researcher at the Department of Technical Physics at the University of Eastern Finland, for her idea for monitoring cancer drugs.
The competition is intended for presenting science-based innovations by the students or early-career researchers. This time, 20 researchers from seven universities signed up for the competition. Of these, 14 participants were selected for the actual competition.
The innovations were evaluated by a jury consisting of representatives from academia, investors, public organisations and the business sector. The winner of the competition will receive a free journey and participation in the final of the Falling Walls competition in Berlin in November 2026.
The Falling Walls Lab Eastern Finland competition was held for the second time. Last year, the competition was won by a Postdoctoral Researcher Arash Mirhashemi from the Department of Technical Physics at the University of Eastern Finland. His commercialisation idea was about a musculoskeletal analysis tool that uses spectral imaging and artificial intelligence. Both Mirhashemi and Postdoctoral Researcher Nithin Sadesh who placed second in the local competition represented Finland in the global Falling Walls final in Berlin in November 2025.
Courage for academic entrepreneurship
In addition to the pitching competition, the programme included speeches and keynotes by Timo Antikainen, Director of Economic Development at the City of Kuopio, Samu Lehtonen, CEO of Marginum Ltd, and Anssi Uimonen, Founding Partner of Nordic Science Investments.
Antikainen noted that Kuopio, one of Finland’s most attractive cities, offers not only safety and quality of life but also a central location, strong research expertise and higher education, all of which support entrepreneurship and innovation.
Marginum Oy, which develops technology for cancer surgery, represented the successful commercialisation of a research-based innovation at the event. CEO Samu Lehtonen emphasised that innovation begins with identifying meaningful, real-world problems. He encouraged researchers to become entrepreneurs.
“Based on five–six years of experience as a CEO, I can say that if you can succeed in science, the business side should also be manageable. There is no need to be afraid of it.”
Uimonen notes that in Finland, the focus is often on the scientific quality of innovation, but the greater challenge in commercialisation lies in putting together a functional team.
The Falling Walls Lab Eastern Finland event was organized by Business Kuopio and University of Eastern Finland in cooperation with Business Joensuu, Kaute Foundation and Novapolis with supporting partners Nostetta Ventures, FiBAN, Business Center North Savo and Hub Panostamo.
For further information, please contact:
Parastoo Jalili, Business Kuopio, [email protected], tel. +35844 718 2034
Tomi Tuovinen, Business Collaboration and Innovation Services, University of Eastern Finland, [email protected], tel. +35850 571 5046