Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers practised presenting innovations at the closing event of the UEF Innovator pilot programme.
The UEF Innovator pilot programme, which began in the spring, concluded with a joint seminar on 10 June 2026. The programme, aimed at doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, strengthens the university’s innovation culture and develops researchers’ capabilities to assess the innovation and impact potential of their research. The programme is inspired by Aalto University’s Inventors programme.
The overarching theme of the first UEF Innovator pilot was health innovations, and 22 researchers from the Kuopio Campus participated. The programme was implemented by the university’s innovation experts, the UEF Centre for Continuous Learning and a wide range of key stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem, including representatives of companies and funding organisations.
“The UEF Innovator pilot strengthened our understanding that our researchers have both the interest and the ability to develop their research ideas into solutions with significant societal and commercial impact. The programme provided participants with concrete skills for developing innovations and valuable networks with actors in the innovation ecosystem.”
“Based on the experiences gained, we are already preparing the next implementation of the programme. Our goal is to establish UEF Innovator as part of our university’s entrepreneurship and innovation education and to expand it to new disciplines,” says Director of Impact Minna Hendolin.
Researchers who completed the programme were satisfied with it. One of them was Fahimeh Malekisheikhabadi from the Department of Technical Physics.
“The programme helped me view my research through a broader innovation perspective and better understanding of its potential beyond academia, as well as how research can be translated into real-world impact. I would highly recommend the programme to researchers interested in innovation, entrepreneurship and maximising the societal value of their work,” Malekisheikhabadi describes.
Doctoral Researcher Catherine Syuubi Kayonga from the Department of Social Sciences was also pleased with the programme.
“As a social scientist, I had often been reluctant to think of research in terms of innovation or invention, especially since social projects do not always directly lead to tangible monetary outcomes. Now I know better. By collaborating across disciplines, social scientists can play a key role as experts in innovations, since all innovations ultimately serve people. As long as the idea is meaningful, creates value and impacts people’s lives, it is worth pursuing and qualifies as an innovation, even if it does not bring immediate financial rewards,” Kayonga summarises.
Expert feedback on pitching exercises
The culmination of the UEF Innovator pilot training was the researchers’ pitching exercises, where they presented innovation concepts developed in group work. Some of the presented innovations were real, while others were fictional, based on theoretical applications of real research. After the presentations, participants received certificates from the university as well as Startup Handbooks donated by Olvi Foundation.
The presented innovations addressed, e.g., challenges in drug capsule production, an AI application for assessing the need for brain surgery, early detection of dementia through the eye, prevention of liver diseases with a novel probiotic product, personalised cancer treatment using nanoparticles, AI-based prevention of medication errors, and a wearable device and application for allergy treatment.
Feedback and valuable advice on the pitches were provided by Noora Tuikka, CEO and Partner at Nostetta Ventures Oy; Patrick Halford, AI Business Leader at Gaoithe Advisory, Matti Laitinen, RDI Specialist at Savonia University of Applied Sciences, and Parastoo Jalili, Business Advisor at Business Kuopio. Noora Tuikka was impressed by the professional quality of the presentations.
“The groundwork has been done well, and the presentations already included elements of storytelling. I understood what the innovations were about and their potential. The UEF Innovator programme has clearly fulfilled its purpose,” Tuikka evaluates.
“Your success is everyone’s success”
Graduates of the UEF Innovator programme were congratulated by Siamäk Naghian, Chair of the Board of the University of Eastern Finland and CEO of Genelec Oy. He emphasised the importance of networks in commercialising innovations.
“You cannot do things alone without networks; they are absolutely essential. The key question is how everyone in your network benefits from your innovation. Your success is everyone’s success.”
Siamäk Naghian outlined the fundamental pillars of the university’s innovation culture and the academic entrepreneurship pathway through collaboration between the university, industry, public administration and civil society. All these elements are needed to build a functioning innovation ecosystem that generates innovations strengthening growth and vitality.
“This health-focused UEF Innovator training was a very successful and inspiring opening to support researchers on the path toward innovation and business world. A similar implementation in other fields at our multidisciplinary university will surely attract great interest,” summarises Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Jussi Pihlajamäki.
The goal is to organise the next application round for the UEF Innovator programme by early 2027 at the latest. The theme of the next call is still open, but there has been interest in natural sciences and engineering. The training is currently planned to be held on the Joensuu Campus and targeted similarly at doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
