How to create impact out of research? How to turn your research into action? Could I, should I, commercialize my research? Do I have to leave academia, can I ever return? What does science-based entrepreneurship or academic entrepreneurship mean?
These questions among many others related to the area of science to impact are being pondered by many researchers and academics.
Join us to discover three different stories from scientists turned entrepreneurs themselves! Exchange thoughts over a cup of coffee on how to create impact from research, how to communicate about it and how to build it to the next level — or just to network across disciplines and organizations.
Meet our speakers:
Pasi Vainikka
Co-Founder, CEO, Solar Foods
Before becoming CEO of Solar Foods, a deep tech company producing single-cell protein out of thin air, Pasi led a strategic initiative called Neo-Carbon Energy, the single-largest renewable energy research in Finland. Spin-off projects from that initiative include Soletair pilot plant producing fuel from air, Neo-Carbon-Food concept for producing healthy protein from the air - now commercialised by Solar Foods - as well as the world’s first simulation for global 100% renewable electricity system, the “Internet of Energy”.
Pasi Vainikka has held positions as a principal scientist in the strategic research management at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland as well as in the management of VTT’s contract research in energy. Dr Vainikka is an adjunct professor at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT).
Windi Muziasari
Founder, CEO, Resistomap
As a postdoc at the University of Helsinki, Dr Windi Muziasari has gained years of experience and the know-how to monitor antibiotic resistance from environmental samples such as wastewater, rivers and lakes, soils and manure using a high throughput gene profiling. She wants other researchers and healthcare professionals to get easy access to this technology and that's why in 2018 she moved from academia to entrepreneurship by founding Resistomap, which has now served over 50 projects globally.
Resistomap is the first company in the world to commercialize antibiotic resistance monitoring service in the environment. Headquartered in Helsinki, Resistomap's mission is to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance by providing robust tools for monitoring it. Resistomap combines the molecular genetics method and data science to provide a service for antibiotic resistance monitoring comprehensively and fast.
Jarkko Antila
Founder, Ex-CEO, Spectral Engines & Founder, CEO, Leaping Boulder
Jarkko Antila is the founder and former CEO of Spectral Engines, a VTT spin-off from 2014, within which Jarkko directed the company's international business in the field of measurement technology, increasing the team to 30 people and raising more than € 15 million in funding.
Jarkko and other founders sold their holdings in Spectral Engines in the spring of 2020, after which he has worked as a consultant for early-stage technology companies in his new company Leaping Boulder Oy. Prior to Spectral Engines, Jarkko worked as a team leader and product manager for 5 years at VTT (optical sensors), for 3 years as a product development manager at Inficon and earlier as a researcher at VTT.
The From Lab to Market event series is organized by Aalto Ventures Program, VTT Launchpad, Aalto Startup Center and Aalto Innovation Services together with other ecosystem organizations.
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