Aalto University Innovation Services
Aalto Innovation Services manages the commercialization of inventions at Aalto University.
From ideas to impact
Aalto University was founded as an innovation university to build a sustainable future. We create growth by generating new startups and renewing existing industries. We are matching Finland’s entrepreneurial ambition with the services, facilities and tools needed for building successful startups around new innovations ─ from inventions to scaleups, from ideas to impact.
Altogether over
2500
invention disclosures
Nearly
400
technology transfers
Aalto places
5th
in patent applications
Alumni company valuation
over 30 B€
More than
15000
jobs created
Career as a founder?
80%
Aalto-students agree
The inspiring ecosystem metrics are tracked continuously.
From Ideas to Impact
Good research ideas turn into tangible societal impact in Aalto's incubators and accelerators. With the help of Aalto Startup Center and Innovation Services, the university provides a wide range of support services for researchers interested in exploring the commercial potential of their results.
Aalto Startup Center (external link)
Aalto Startup Center is a hybrid accelerator participating and leading international incubator and accelerator programs.
From Ideas to Impact
Aalto University has an internationally unique innovation ecosystem.
Welcome to our vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem
Aalto University's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem has given birth to many new communities and openings over the past decade. There are a variety of incubator and accelerator services for startups. Similar services are also available for students for early-stage teams with a preliminary idea for their growth company.
Meet the players and come change the world with us.
Startup ecosystem
Interested in enterpreneurship, startups and innovations? Welcome to join our community.
Founder School
Aalto Founder School brings entrepreneurship closer to all students at Aalto through monthly Founder Talks, a new minor studies programme, and a tailor-made Founder Sprint for the most driven founders.
Innovation portfolio
Aalto University's innovation ecosystem generates tens of new companies annually, founded by our students and alumni. In this portfolio are presented all our current Research to business -teams (prebusiness) and selected spinouts, startups and alumni companies.
A Grid – Founders Factory
The new home for ambitious startups A Grid is the creative community of ambitious startups, companies and entrepreneurs in Aalto Campus.
Tools for creating an entrepreneurial mindset
Eager to learn more? There are free, open access online courses covering the fundamentals of startup entrepreneurship, radical creativity and economics.
Starting Up online course
The open access online course covers the fundamentals of startup entrepreneurship
Learn radical creativity
Radical creativity is continuous learning: experiments, imagination, and agency.
How to live a good life? Art of Living MOOC by Frank Martela
This massive open online course on how to live a good life is lectured by Ph.D., assistant professor Frank Martela. The course is produced by the Oasis of Radical Wellbeing project and it is part of Aalto’s lifewide learning portfolio. The course was launched on May 30th, 2023
Founder Minor
Minor for all Aalto students
Innovation ecosystem news
The World Planning Schools Congress 2026 brought together more than 1500 participants in Espoo and Helsinki
The sixth World Planning Schools Conference took place in July 2026 hosted jointly by Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and Tampere University.
Prototyping and Validation Grant: Deployable
Four Aalto master's students built a physical AI startup on a borrowed GPU, beat PhD teams at a hackathon, and received Aalto's prototyping and validation grant.
Applications open: Aalto Creatives pre-incubator autumn 2026
The next Aalto Creatives pre-incubator starts in September. Applications close on 7 September. Join the info event on 27 August to hear from alumni and meet the Aalto Creatives team.