Responsible entrepreneurship in action: INNOVA Europe Summit brings 11 startup teams to Aalto University

Aalto University hosted the INNOVA Europe Summit 2026 on 4-5 June at its Otaniemi campus in Espoo, bringing the INNOVA Europe community to Finland for the first time after previous editions in Milan, Paris and Berlin.

The two-day Summit brought together representatives from 11 INNOVA Europe partner institutions, 11 student startup teams and entrepreneurship ecosystem experts from across Europe. At the centre of the programme was the INNOVA Europe Startup Competition Grand Final, where teams pitched early-stage ideas aligned with three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Climate Action (SDG 13), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).

INNOVA Europe is a pan-European university coalition that connects universities, business schools, students and entrepreneurship ecosystems to advance responsible entrepreneurship. For participating startup teams, the Summit offered an opportunity to test ideas internationally, receive feedback from an expert jury and build connections across Europe.

At the time of the 2026 Summit, the INNOVA Europe partner institutions were Aalto University (Finland), EDHEC Business School (France), Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands), ESMT Berlin (Germany), ETH Zürich (Switzerland), IE Business School (Spain), KSE Graduate Business School (Ukraine), London Business School (UK), POLIMI Graduate School of Management (Italy),UCD Michael Smurfit Business School (Ireland), and Universität Wien (Austria).

'The INNOVA Europe coalition brings top universities and business schools across Europe together to work on those challenges that are most pressing. It forces us to think about how we can create a connected European ecosystem that nurtures, supports, and grows the next generation of impactful entrepreneurs. London Business School is proud to be able to collaborate with the INNOVA Europe partners and the Aalto Summit was really effective and inspiring!' said Luisa Alemany (Associate Professor and Academic Director, London Business School).

Student ideas for responsible entrepreneurship

At the centre of the Summit was the INNOVA Europe Startup Competition Grand Final, held at Marsio on Aalto University’s campus on 5 June. Hosted by Caitie Santo and Karla Still (Aalto University), the Grand Final brought 11 startup teams from INNOVA Europe partner institutions to pitch their ideas to an international jury composed of Jarna Hyvönen (CEO & Co-founder, Volare), Niklas Kaskeala (Founding Partner, The Activist Agency) and Wilson Tukiainen (Investment Manager, Maki.vc).

First place went to LatentLoop from London Business School, represented by Lavanya Saberwal and Viknesh Vijeyanandaraja. The team is developing a passive retrofit solution that captures wasted heat from hot wastewater in communal buildings and reuses it to preheat incoming water, helping building operators reduce energy demand, costs and carbon emissions.

In addition to the 15,000 euro first prize, LatentLoop also received the 2,500 euro Most Innovative Idea prize, selected through peer voting by participants in the live audience.

'INNOVA was a masterclass in pressure. Pitching twice to the same judges was nerve-wracking! The panels and brilliant teams taught us so much. LatentLoop has been our brainchild for nearly a year. Both prizes made every late night worth it. Energy savings to buildings around Europe soon!' said Viknesh Vijeyanandaraja from Team LatentLoop.

Second place and 5,000 euros went to Aronno from UCD Michael Smurfit Business School, represented by Nusrat Nahar Islam and Rossa Bellew. Aronno is developing a modular floating farming solution designed to help communities continue growing crops during floods, starting from Bangladesh and with potential applications in other flood-affected regions.

Third place and 2,500 euros went to Rebox from Universität Wien, represented by Antonia Brixle. Rebox offers a reusable packaging system for rental businesses, supporting the shift from disposable shipping materials towards circular logistics.

Aalto opens its campus and innovation ecosystem

For Aalto University School of Business and its Entrepreneurship Unit (ENTU), hosting the Summit was an opportunity to show how entrepreneurial ideas can be supported through education, research, student-led communities and the wider Finnish innovation ecosystem.

The programme opened with a fireside chat with Risto Siilasmaa (Founder and Chairman, WithSecure), moderated by Tiia Mäkinen (Aalto University). Participants then explored Aalto’s entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem through visits and discussions at Startup Sauna, Aalto Design Factory and Aalto Startup Center. They also visited research environments including the Low Temperature Laboratory, InstituteQ, and AaltoQ20.

The first day also included a panel discussion with Annu Nieminen (Founder & CEO, The Upright Project), Juha Vartiainen (Co-founder & Chief Global Affairs Officer, IQM Quantum Computers), Jaan Praks (Associate Professor, Aalto University), Jonne Kuittinen (Deputy Chief Executive, Finnish Venture Capital Association) and Mikko Möttönen (Academy Professor, Aalto University), moderated by Vu Trang (Aalto University). The discussion connected responsible business with deep tech, quantum technologies, space, venture capital and sustainability.

On the second day, the public Summit programme opened with welcoming words by Kristiina Mäkelä (Provost, Aalto University). A fireside chat with Finnish entrepreneurial ecosystem experts brought together Noora Saksa (CEO, Slush), Sarita Runeberg (CEO, Maria 01), Matti Paavonen (Chief Economist, Sitra), Riikka Loisamo (CEO, The Shortcut) and Kia Kanninen (Operational Lead, Founders House Helsinki). The discussion was moderated by Lauri Torvinen (Aalto University).

Building a European community for impactful entrepreneurship

Founded in 2022, INNOVA Europe has developed into a European collaboration connecting universities, business schools, students and entrepreneurship ecosystems around shared societal challenges. The annual Summit brings this work into one place, combining student pitches, expert feedback, peer learning and exchange between partner institutions.

'From three founding schools to a growing group of partners across Europe in just four years, INNOVA Europe is becoming a real force for responsible and impactful entrepreneurship. The students’ energy and talent on display at the Aalto Summit showed exactly why this coalition matters,' said Ludovic Cailluet (Professor and Associate Dean, EDHEC Business School).

The Summit also highlighted the importance of connecting different European contexts, including countries where entrepreneurship and innovation are closely linked to resilience, recovery and long-term societal development.

'For KSE Graduate Business School, INNOVA Europe is a bridge between Ukraine’s entrepreneurial resilience and the wider European innovation ecosystem. The INNOVA Summit at Aalto showed how shared values can turn into real opportunities for founders,' said Ivanna Krepets (Startup Ecosystem Project Manager, KSE Graduate Business School).

By hosting the INNOVA Europe Summit 2026, Aalto University and its School of Business helped connect European partner institutions with Finland’s entrepreneurship, research and innovation ecosystem. For ENTU, the Summit reflected its work at the intersection of entrepreneurship research, education, student initiative and ecosystem collaboration, supporting responsible business ideas with the potential for wider societal impact.