News

Aalto Inventors is launching six new cohorts next academic year

Published: 4.6.2026

Join to meet industry and academic thought-leaders, and gain widely applicable skills in communication, intellectual property, and business thinking for your future career.

Choose a field-specific cohort in AI, biotechnology, water management, energy, or medtech — or pick our new multidisciplinary track open to researchers from any discipline.

Person talking in a bright classroom while two seated people

We are thrilled to announce the opening of the Aalto Inventors innovation training program for new fields in the coming academic year!

Aalto Inventors is an innovation program for researchers to discover the potential of their work and to turn scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. The program is designed as a first experience in innovation, so no prior knowledge is needed.

During the program, you will meet industry experts, entrepreneurs and fellow researchers from your field to hear their stories and build your professional network. Along the way, you’ll gain widely applicable skills in communication, funding, intellectual property, idea validation and business thinking that will benefit your future career.

In the coming academic year the following programs have been planned:

Fall 2026: AI • Biotechnology • Multidisciplinary cohort
Spring 2027: Water management • Energy systems • Medtech

The program has been running for a full year now with excellent participant feedback: a 4,3/5 overall rating and NPS score 49 "Great". You can read more about the first pilot in the news here and overall program review on the Inventors page here.

I learned to reflect on my own strengths and see how my ideas and research could contribute to something bigger. The insights that are going to be helpful and motivate me also in my research work, because I can now see better the real-world motivation behind it.

Participant feedback

Why join?

Enhance Your Skills for Your Future Career: Learn how to build impact, secure funding, and protect your ideas
Expert Guidance: Receive mentorship from academia, industry, and law professionals to navigate the innovation ecosystem
Expand Your Network: Connect with fellow researchers, industry experts, and entrepreneurs in your field
Official Recognition: Receive a certificate upon program completion + possibility of earning 3 ECTS credit
Ongoing Support: Join the diverse Inventors alumni network for continued support and collaboration

Who can join?

Aalto Inventors is for early-career researchers — doctoral, postdocs, and other faculty — who are curious about the societal and commercial opportunities of their work.

We want to encourage every curious mind to join: This program is designed as a first experience in innovation, so no prior knowledge or ready inventions are needed to participate.

The program consists of 8 training sessions organized on the Aalto campus in Espoo. Detailed info on the sessions, participation and schedule will be published once registrations open.

How do I join?

Mark your calendars as open registrations for all fall programs begins in early August 2026 and spring programs in November 2026. If you're interested in joining a program and want to be notified when registrations open, join our waitlist now here!

Five people sit around a café table with laptops, working together in a bright room with plants and chandeliers.

The first step on your innovation journey: Field-specific innovation training designed for researchers to discover the impact potential of your work and build relevant networks.

Advancing entrepreneurship and innovations