IDBM Capstone: Industry Project
Each spring, selected partners collaborate with IDBM students in a 5-6 month project that combines the strengths of the programme, our faculty and the wider Aalto University ecosystem’s expertise to address real-life business case. Rather than delivering predefined solutions, the projects focus on exploring emerging opportunities, reframing challenges, and developing practical, forward-looking concepts in close collaboration with partners.
For inquiries about partnerships, feel free to contact IDBM Programme Director, Sara Lindeman (sara.lindeman@aalto.fi)
What is the IDBM Capstone?
The Capstone is built on challenge-based and inquiry-driven learning fostering deeper engagement, curiosity, critical thinking and collaboration. Students work in international, transdisciplinary teams across business, design, and technology to engage with complex, open-ended challenges provided by partner organizations.
IDBM projects typically involve:
- Framing and reframing the challenges organization face
- Conducting qualitative and contextual research
- Exploring future possibilities and alternative directions
- Developing and testing concepts, prototypes, or interventions to drive transformative change
The emphasis is not only on outcomes, but on the process of sensemaking, collaboration, experimentation, and embracing uncertainties.
Students apply theoretical knowledge and skills learned in IDBM program’s core courses in the project work, and each team integrates perspectives from all three IDBM fields, supporting the development of transdisciplinary capabilities. To support this process, faculty and field experts provide mentoring throughout the project, helping teams connect theory with practice and navigate complexity in a structured way.
Collaboration with Partners
In the Capstone, partners are not only clients but collaborators in ahsared explaration. Projects offer a space to step outside day-to-day operations and engage with questions that may not yet have clear answers.
Typical collaboration includes:
- Ongoing dialogue with the student team throughout the process
- Access torelevantcontexts,stakeholders,and data
- Joint reflectiononemerging insights anddirections
This approach allows projects to evolve as understanding deepens, often leading to outcomes that go beyond initial expectations.
Explore previous industry project stories and collaboration experiences shared by our students on our blog here: https://www.idbm.aalto.fi/blog/categories/industry-project
What Partners Gain?
Fresh perspectives on complex challenges
Fresh ways of understanding your context, informed by interdisciplinary thinking and external viewpoints.
Insight into emerging phenomena
Extensive qualitative research and contextual analysis that gives your organizations key market insights and data about your industry and focus areas.
Explored and tested solutions
Concepts, prototypes, or strategic directions that have been iterated through research and experimentation.
Access to talent and networks
Engagement with IDBM students, faculty, and the broader Aalto University community.
Visibility in our social media channels
We showcase our collaborations across our channels, sharing project stories and strengthening your employer brand among top transdisciplinary talent.
Events:
We organize multiple partner events and workshops to our partners over the course of the project. The aim of these sessions is to support our partners, so they can provide the best possible guidance to students and run project smoothly. At the end of the course, students present their projects at the Impact Gala and celebrate the outcomes of their work with faculty, industry partners, peers, and the wider Aalto ecosystem
Course details
Contact: Programme Director Sara Lindeman (sara.lindeman@aalto.fi), +358 504485040
Duration of the industrial project: 5 months (the course runs from January to May), 15 ECTS
Number of students per project: Our transdisciplinary teams usually consist of 5–7 students
Project fee for the company: 20 000€ + VAT, with pricing subject to adjustment depending on project type, scope and requirements.
Project topics: We are open to a wide range of topics and are happy to co-create and shape the project focus together with our partner organisations.
Application period for companies: Partnership inquiries are accepted year-round, however, participation in the upcoming project cycle should be agreed upon by the end of November.
Find more information about our projects and partnering with us here: https://www.idbm.aalto.fi/collaboration
Case Examples
Previous IDBM industry projects have resulted in new product and service concepts, business model innovations, research & development opportunities, strategic and organizational design transformation, and brand development opportunities.
Some of previous years’ partners are: Nordea, Otava, Espoo, Harvia, Kemira, KONE, Onego Bio Nokia, City of Porvoo, Sanoma, Brillian, Aseman Lapset, Port 6 (Doublepoint), Sanoma, If Insurance, Huhtamäki, Futurice, Invalidisäätiö, ABB, Wärtsilä, VTT, Iittala…
At the moment elevator journeys are safe and efficient, but could they be developed further?
This kicked off the project of a lift-time to utilize the high-end smart design methodologies to identify the underlying constraints and opportunities to leverage the user experience of an elevator experience to record heights. In IDBM projects, the process starts from discovering the real problems often hidden in plain sight to create meaningful value for both the clients and their customers. This project created in collaboration with one of the global leaders in the elevator industry is a true embodiment of that ideology.
As a result of data collection, innovative ideation, and critical design thinking, the main challenges and values were combined to intertwine in the final solution. The developed elevator concept MoodLift offers a new service which raises the experience to a new level.