Etusivu » Startup Summit Eastern Finland and Falling Walls Lab brought Eastern Finland’s innovation, entrepreneurship and research into the spotlight in Kuopio.

Startup Summit Eastern Finland and Falling Walls Lab brought Eastern Finland’s innovation, entrepreneurship and research into the spotlight in Kuopio.

25.9.2025

On September 19th 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 pitch. The event was organized as part of the global Falling Walls Foundation 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.

”It was a great experience for me. 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.”
– Arash Mirhashemi

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.

”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.”
– Falling Walls Judge Minna Hendolin

Keynote speakers in the morning:

Jarmo Lumpus, serial entrepreneur – “How AI is Rewriting the Startup Playbook”

”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.”
– Jarmo Lumpus

Milla Koistinaho, Innovestor Life Science Fund, Associate Professor at UEF – “Commercialising Research Results – What Are Investors Looking For?”

”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.”
– Milla Koistinaho

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 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.

Keynote speakers in the afternoon:

Janne Juhola, Angel CoFund / Innovestor

Saara Rissanen, Adamant Health Oy

Maija Lindeman, Finnish Startup Community

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.

Powered by the Community

The events were a 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 from NSES, 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 the support of: 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.

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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

Read more:

• Business Center Pohjois-Savo (bcpohjois-savo.fi)
• Startup Summit Eastern Finland & Falling Walls Lab (bcpohjois-savo.fi)
•  Hub Panostamo (hubpanostamo.fi)