On September 19, 2025, Kuopio became the focal point of Eastern Finland’s startup and research scene, as the Falling Walls Lab Eastern Finland was organized for the first time at KPY Novapolis, followed by the Startup Summit Eastern Finland. The day brought together researchers, students, startup companies, investors, and friends of innovation. The event demonstrated the strong collaboration taking place in the region between research, businesses, and ecosystem actors.
Science Meets Commercialization: Falling Walls Lab Eastern Finland
The morning program featured the internationally recognized Falling Walls Lab pitch competition, which provides a stage for researchers and students to present their research-based breakthrough ideas in three-minute talks. The event was organized as part of the global Falling Walls network, and 11 competitors from four different locations came to Kuopio.
The winner of the competition was Arash Mirhashemi, a postdoctoral researcher in technical physics at UEF, whose presentation “Breaking the Wall of Non-Destructive Biomarker Imaging for Osteoarthritis Studies” impressed the jury. The analysis tool, based on spectral imaging and artificial intelligence, offers new possibilities for research on musculoskeletal diseases. Arash was awarded a ticket and a trip to the global Falling Walls Lab final, to be held in Berlin in November.
The Falling Walls Lab morning session attracted a wide audience: researchers and students from across Finland, investors in search of the next breakthroughs, as well as regional innovation and ecosystem actors building the future of Eastern Finland. The audience also had the opportunity to be inspired by new ideas and to network with representatives of universities, investment funds, and public organizations.
Keynote speakers in the morning:
Jarmo Lumpus, serial entrepreneur – “How AI is Rewriting the Startup Playbook”
Milla Koistinaho, Innovestor Life Science Fund, Associate Professor at UEF – “Commercialising Research Results – What Are Investors Looking For?”
Jury in the afternoon:
Minna Hendolin – University of Eastern Finland – Milla Koistinaho – Innovestor, Innovestor Life Science Fund – Tuomas Planman – Business Finland – Ilkka Fagerlund – University of Helsinki – Tuomo Kauranne – Arbonaut
Boost for Startups: Startup Summit Eastern Finland 2025
In the afternoon, the stage was handed over to startups, as nine promising teams from Eastern Finland pitched their solutions in the Startup Summit Eastern Finland competition. In addition to being a pitch competition, the event also served as a networking arena for early-stage startups seeking funding, visibility, and new contacts.
The evaluation criteria of the competition included, among others, the problem and solution, business model and scalability, team competence, market potential and competitive advantage, as well as financial feasibility.
The winner was VoimaX from LUT University. The company is developing magnet-free electric motor technology that has the potential to revolutionize sustainable transportation and industrial solutions. VoimaX received strong recognition from the jury for an innovation rooted in research with clear commercialization potential, as well as a ticket to Slush 2025 as a prize.
The Startup Summit attracted a wide audience of startup founders, investors, and ecosystem actors. The audience also had the opportunity to be inspired, learn, and network with the region’s growth companies and supporters.
Keynote speakers:
Janne Juhola, Angel CoFund / Innovestor, Saara Rissanen, Adamant Health Oy – Maija Lindeman, Finnish Startup Community
Jury:
Janne Juhola – Angel CoFund / Innovestor – Maija Lindeman – Finnish Startup Community – Jari Osmala – FiBAN
Powered by the Community
The events were the result of broad collaboration. The arrangements were carried out by the University of Eastern Finland, Business Kuopio, Business Joensuu / Startup Joensuu, Novapolis, Business Center Pohjois-Savo, Hub Panostamo, and several regional actors, such as Savonia University of Applied Sciences together with partners.
The value of ecosystem work was concretely visible in how different actors complemented each other: universities brought research-based ideas and talent, investors assessed the prerequisites for commercialization, and development companies as well as business services provided pathways for growth and internationalization. Student volunteers, in turn, ensured the smooth running of the event and contributed the youthful energy without which an entrepreneurial culture cannot thrive.
The events were also made possible by: Saastamoinen Foundation, Nostetta Ventures, FiBAN, North Savo Entrepreneurship Society (NSES), Kuopio Chamber of Commerce, Business Finland, Innovestor, and the Finnish Startup Community.
Showcasing Eastern Finland’s Strengths
Friday’s events demonstrated how research, entrepreneurship, and innovation intertwine in Eastern Finland. The ideas of both the morning and afternoon winning teams originated from research, highlighting the significant potential of research commercialization. Commercialization of research requires the support of basic research, since it cannot be known in advance which research will be commercializable and which will not. The stage also featured a diverse group of startups from various industries: from tourism and experiences to healthcare, life sciences, technology, services, and industrial solutions. This illustrates the region’s ability to generate new ideas from multiple directions.
Equally important was the broad collaboration: companies, investors, universities, universities of applied sciences, research organizations, and business services jointly built an event entity that provides startups and researchers with the opportunity to grow and gain visibility.
Such events not only highlight individual innovations and teams but also strengthen the entire innovation ecosystem of Eastern Finland. When research, entrepreneurs, investors, and development communities work together, the best conditions for new success stories are created.
Photos: Paula Turpeinen, Savonia Design Center
Authors and Event Organizers:
Matti Laitinen
+358 44 785 6333
matti.laitinen@savonia.fi
Parastoo Jalili
+358 44 718 2034
parastoo.jalili@kuopio.fi
Juha-Matti Huusko
+358 50 537 0525
juhamatti.huusko@navigatio.fi
https://bcpohjois-savo.fi/ – https://bcpohjois-savo.fi/startup-summit-eastern-finland-falling-walls-lab/ – https://www.hubpanostamo.fi/
Winner of the Falling Walls Arash’s Mirhashemi comments:
“It was a great experience for me. I’ve always presented my research in an academic environment, so having this chance to pitch in front of judges and participants was a real challenge. I believe it’s valuable to be part of a global stage and to represent our scientific research internationally. Eastern Finland, and Finland in general — needs more exposure to showcase the potential of its research and startups through events like this“.
Keynote speaker Jarmo Lumpus perspective regarding events like Falling Walls Lab:
“Events like Falling Walls Lab are vital in Finland because they connect founders, investors, and partners, spark collaboration, and speed up the journey from idea to market. They also showcase Finnish innovation to the world and inspire new entrepreneurs to start.”
Falling Walls Judge Milla Koistinaho perspective regarding events like Falling Walls Lab:
“The Falling Walls Lab Eastern Finland is a great platform for early-career innovators to showcase breakthrough ideas, connect with peers and stakeholders, and gain valuable visibility. It offers participants exposure to investors and other professionals, creating opportunities for feedback and network building. As an investor, I value the access to high-potential early-stage deal flow representing top research-driven inventions and the chance to strengthen regional networks.
Falling Walls Judge Minna Hendolin comments: “Today we heard amazing pitches from different fields (social science, deep science, clinical research, and more). Seeing how university-based knowledge and research can be transformed into real business ideas shows the true potential of researchers and students to change the world and break some walls. This is exactly what we need! Events like this are not only important for the region but also for Finland as a whole, to highlight the impact of university research as a key part of the bigger ecosystem.”