SPIN
OUT

From Finnish breakthroughs
to global businesses.

FROM THE LAB · LABRASTAJYVÄSKYLÄ · FINLAND

THE LAB ISN'T
THE FINISH LINE.

COMMERCIALISING
IT IS.

SPIN OUT

Think you could sell a lab invention to investors? Prove it. Your team works on one of three real research cases and pitches a business concept. The top three teams tackle a new fourth case in the final.

27 COMPETITORS SELECTED · AUDIENCE APPLICATIONS OPEN
Join as audience — applications open ↓Meet our guests ↗
RESEARCH→REAL TEAMS→9–10 DEC 2026→MARKET
AUDIENCE APPLICATIONS OPEN / 9–10 DECEMBER 2026

Join as audience

Team decisions are made. We received so many great applications that choosing the 27 participants was not easy. If you weren’t selected this time, you can still be part of Spinout as audience.

  • Open to everyone, including external participants. Places are limited.
  • Hear talks from investors and guests, grow your network, meet students and researchers, gain valuable experience and cheer on the teams as they pitch.
  • At least one more guest is still to be announced.
  • Lunch, tea and coffee are provided for everyone on both days.
  • Audience: 2–3 study credits. Competing participants: 4–5 study credits.
  • External participants arrive at 9:00 on both days.

Applied to compete? Please fill in the audience form as well. Your seat in the audience is guaranteed once you do. Applying takes only a couple of minutes.

Apply to join the audience ↗
APPLICATIONS OPEN / RESEARCHERS ONLY

Research idea pitching competition

Pitch your own research or an early-stage research project you are part of.

  • Researchers only. Eight spots. Enter solo, with no teams.
  • A 3-minute pitch followed by 2 minutes of questions from the judging panel.
  • €1,000 prize for the winner.
  • Thursday 10 December 2026, 11:15–12:15 (Finnish time).
  • University of Jyväskylä, Historica, hall H320, 3rd floor.
Apply for the research idea pitching competition ↗
SPINOUT 2026 / UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ

Programme · 9–10 December

All times are Finnish local time (EET). External participants: 9:00–17:00 on both days. Competing teams arrive earlier, as shown below.

Download the programme (PDF, English) ↗
Day 1 programme poster. The schedule is also provided as text below.

View Day 1 programme (PDF, English) ↗

Day 2 programme poster. The schedule is also provided as text below.

View Day 2 programme (PDF, English) ↗

Day 1 · Wednesday 9 December

Main campus, Building C, Auditorium C4 (Hall C311), 3rd floor

  1. 08:00–08:30

    Teams arrive

  2. 08:30–09:00

    Teams meet their lead researchers

  3. 09:00–09:45

    Tea and coffee break and networking

    Registration for external participants. Teams move to their working rooms and can work on their cases until 14:45.

  4. 09:50–10:15

    Introduction to SpinOut

  5. 10:15–11:30

    Founders Talk: Monika Liikamaa

    From Enfuce to Lignum Medical: Building Startups and the Lessons Behind the Journey

  6. 11:30–12:15

    Lunch

  7. 12:30–13:15

    Guest session: Pauli Laitinen

    The Next Decade of Deep-Tech Spinouts in Finland

  8. 13:20–13:50

    Host presentation: Tinkers Garage, Turku

    Prashani, our host and mentor for Day 1.

  9. 14:00–14:45

    Guest session: Dr. Mari Suoranta

    Teaching the Entrepreneurial Mindset: How Can Academics Bridge Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship?

  10. 14:45–15:05

    Tea and coffee break and networking

  11. 15:10–16:30

    Team pitches

    All 9 teams pitch to the judges.

  12. 16:30–17:10

    Judges deliberate

  13. 17:10–17:30

    Day 1 winners announced

    The top 3 teams advance to the final.

Teams are free to join the sessions or stay focused on their pitch. It’s their choice.

Day 2 · Thursday 10 December

Historica, hall H320, 3rd floor

  1. 08:15–08:30

    Finalist teams arrive

  2. 08:30–09:00

    Finalists meet researchers for the new case

  3. 09:00–09:30

    Tea and coffee break and networking

    Registration for external participants. Teams move to their working rooms and can work on their cases until 14:30.

  4. 09:35–09:55

    Host presentation: Tinkers Garage, Turku

    Urooj, our host and mentor for Day 2. Vishaka joins as a mentor.

  5. 10:00–11:00

    Fireside chat: Veera Pietikäinen, Cloudberry VC

    Financing Europe’s Semiconductor Ambition: From Breakthrough Research to Globally Competitive Companies

  6. 11:15–12:15

    Research idea pitching competition

    8 researchers pitch their own research to investors and industry experts. €1,000 prize for the winner.

  7. 12:15–13:00

    Lunch

  8. 13:00–14:15

    Guest session: Matti Rönkkö, Kiilto Ventures

    What Can Corporates Learn from Startups? Lessons from Investing in Industrial Innovation

  9. 14:30–14:50

    Tea and coffee break and networking

  10. 14:50–15:45

    Final pitches

    The top 3 teams pitch their new research case.

  11. 15:45–16:45

    Judges deliberate and winner announced

    €2,500 team prize and a €1,000 study travel grant.

  12. 16:45–17:00

    Networking

Teams are free to join the sessions or stay focused on their pitch. It’s their choice.

PARTICIPANT APPLICATIONS CLOSED / SPINOUT 2026

FOUR CASES. ONE WINNING DEEPTECH PITCH.

A deeptech pitching competition and research commercialisation programme for students and alumni, organised by Jyväskylä Entrepreneurship Society (JES), in collaboration with the University of Jyväskylä (JYU).

PARTICIPANT APPLICATION DEADLINE

Participant applications are closed. Audience applications are open!

27 places. 9 teams of 3. Participant applications closed on 1 November 2026. All 27 participants have been selected.

SPIN OUT
3+1REAL RESEARCH CASES
27TOTAL CAPACITY
09TEAMS
03PEOPLE PER TEAM

WHAT YOU GET

3 + 1 RESEARCH CASES

Three research cases on day one. A new fourth case for the three finalist teams.

PITCH & NETWORKING

Build your pitch, meet investors and make new connections.

CASH PRIZE

€2,500 for the overall winning team, plus a €1,000 study travel grant.

STUDY CREDITS

4–5 credits for competing students at JYU or JAMK, regardless of winning.

REAL EXPERIENCE

Turn unfamiliar research into a business idea and a pitch you can show.

NO PREREQUISITES

No previous experience needed. Bring curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Spotted us around Jyväskylä? Look for the Spinout posters on JYU campuses, at JAMK, in the library and other spaces around the city.

SPINOUT 2026 / JYVÄSKYLÄ

We’re waiting for you!

See you on 9 December 2026 at the University of Jyväskylä.

Countdown to the date in Finland. External participants arrive at 9:00 on both days. The full programme is available on this page.
—Days
—Hours
—Minutes
—Seconds
WHEN & WHERE

9 December 2026

Onsite at the University of Jyväskylä. A full day of teamwork with researchers, mentors and experts, ending in presentations to a judging panel. Day 1: Main campus, Building C, Auditorium C4 (Hall C311), 3rd floor. External participants arrive at 9:00.

Final: 10 December — Day 2: Historica, hall H320, 3rd floor. External participants arrive at 9:00. The top three teams must also attend onsite on 10 December. All finalists receive the same new, fourth research case and develop a new concept for the final pitch.

PARTICIPANTS

Students & alumni

For JYU and JAMK students and alumni, across disciplines. Participant applications are closed; audience applications are open. You do not need to be a scientist, entrepreneur or business student. Bring curiosity, creativity and a willingness to learn with others.

THE TEAM

Multidisciplinary teams of three.

We form multidisciplinary teams of three based on backgrounds, skills, interests and experience. All 27 participants have been selected.

PRIZES & LEARNING

€2,500+ €1,000

The overall winning team receives a €2,500 team prize and a €1,000 study travel grant to visit a startup/deep-tech ecosystem and bring new knowledge back to Jyväskylä.

4–5 study credits for competing participants — Competing students receive credits towards their studies at JAMK or JYU, regardless of winning.

Participation information

Teams explore real JYU research from different faculties: what problems a technology solves, who could use and pay for it, potential applications and markets, and how it could become a business with real-world impact. Researchers introduce the cases and explain the technology.

  • Teams must sign an NDA/confidentiality agreement before receiving confidential research, inventions or results.
  • Event photos and videos may be used in Spinout/JES communications, social media, websites and promotional materials.
  • Active students will be contacted via their JYU or JAMK email. Alumni and non-active students will be contacted via the personal email provided in the application.
  • AI use & confidentiality. AI is allowed for general brainstorming, background research, and exploring similar cases or market strategies using public, non-confidential information. Do not upload, paste or otherwise share your assigned case or any confidential research details with AI tools. Doing so would violate the NDA.
SPIN OUT / PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES

AI use & confidentiality

AllowedUse AI for general brainstorming, background research, and exploring similar cases or market strategies using public, non-confidential information.

Never share confidential materialDo not upload, paste or otherwise share your actual assigned case or any confidential research details with AI tools. Doing so would violate the NDA.

SPINOUT 2026 / MEET OUR GUESTS

INVESTORS. BUILDERS. IN THE ROOM.

Meet Veera, Monika, Pauli, Matti, Mari and Joni. Our guests bring perspectives from Cloudberry VC, entrepreneurship, VTT, Kiilto Ventures, JYU and Unifund Jyväskylä on turning research into business.

Guest #1: Veera Pietikäinen, Founding Partner at Cloudberry VC, joining Spinout 2026 in Jyväskylä.
Spinout guest #2: Monika Liikamaa, Executive Chair at Lignum Medical and co-founder of Enfuce. Spinout 2026, 9–10 December, Jyväskylä.
GUEST #2 / ENTREPRENEUR PERSPECTIVE

Monika
Liikamaa

Executive Chair, Lignum Medical · Co-founder, Enfuce

9 December · 10:15–11:30 EETFrom Enfuce to Lignum Medical: Building Startups and the Lessons Behind the Journey

From fintech to research-based medtech.

Monika helped build payments company Enfuce from the ground up. Today she is Executive Chair of Lignum Medical, which develops medical devices made from birch nanocellulose, and Executive in Residence at Aalto University School of Business.

She knows what it takes to turn an idea into a company. That is the journey Spinout participants begin: exploring how real research from the University of Jyväskylä could become a business.

FintechMedtechVenture building
Lignum Medical ↗Aalto profile ↗
Read Monika’s guest announcementPDF ↗
Spinout guest #3: Pauli Laitinen, Manager, In-kind Investments at VTT. Spinout 2026, 9–10 December, Jyväskylä.
GUEST #3 / RESEARCH TO BUSINESS

Pauli
Laitinen

Manager, In-kind Investments / VTT

9 December · 12:30–13:15 EETThe Next Decade of Deep-Tech Spinouts in Finland

Turning research into companies.

Pauli evaluates and executes IP investments at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and supports VTT LaunchPad teams as they turn VTT technology into new spin-off companies. VTT LaunchPad, VTT’s startup incubator, is behind companies such as Onego Bio, Steady Energy and SemiQon.

Turning research into companies is exactly what Spinout is about. Students work with real research from the University of Jyväskylä and explore how it could become a business. Pauli brings first-hand insight into how that journey works in practice.

IP investmentsVTT LaunchPadSpin-offs
Read Pauli’s guest announcementPDF ↗
Spinout guest #4: Matti Rönkkö, Managing Director of Kiilto Ventures. Spinout 2026, 9–10 December, Jyväskylä.
GUEST #4 / SPECIALISED VENTURE CAPITAL

Matti
Rönkkö

Managing Director / Kiilto Ventures

10 December · 13:00–14:15 EETWhat Can Corporates Learn from Startups? Lessons from Investing in Industrial Innovation

Industry know-how. Startup pace.

Matti is the Managing Director of Kiilto Ventures, the venture arm of Kiilto, a Finnish family-owned company with more than 100 years of history. Founded in 2019, Kiilto Ventures builds and invests in early-stage startups with a focus on a more sustainable built world.

Early-stage specialised venture capital is one of the routes research-based ideas can take to market. Matti brings an investor’s perspective that combines industry know-how with startup pace, exactly what our teams need as they explore how real research from the University of Jyväskylä could become a business.

Early-stage startupsVenture capitalSustainable built world
Read Matti’s guest announcementPDF ↗
Guest #5: Dr. Mari Suoranta, Senior University Lecturer, JYU School of Business and Economics.
GUEST #5 / RESEARCH MEETS BUSINESS

Dr. Mari
Suoranta

Senior University Lecturer · JYU School of Business and Economics

9 December · 14:00–14:45 EETTeaching the Entrepreneurial Mindset: How Can Academics Bridge Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship?

She studies what you’ll do.

Mari researches commercialisation, startups and business model innovation: how university research turns into business. She brings that perspective to Spinout as our home-team expert from JYU.

She is part of the team behind Kasvu Open and Jyväskylän Yritystehdas, and has more than ten years of experience in academia in Finland, the US and the UK. Meet her at Spinout 2026.

Research commercialisationBusiness model innovationStartups & ecosystems
Read Mari’s guest announcementPDF ↗
Guest #6: Joni Borgström, CEO of Unifund Jyväskylä, judge and mentor at SpinOut 2026.
GUEST #6 / JUDGE & MENTOR

Joni
Borgström

CEO of Unifund Jyväskylä

Unifund is the investment company established by the University of Jyväskylä. It invests in early-stage companies built on research and expertise from JYU, which is exactly what SpinOut teams will be working with.

Joni is a serial entrepreneur from Jyväskylä and an expert in knowledge management. He joins us as a judge and mentor at Spinout 2026.

Research-based companiesEarly-stage investingKnowledge management
Read Joni’s guest announcementPDF ↗
27 student places9 December + final on 10 December 2026 · University of Jyväskylä

Participant applications are closed. Audience applications are open!

01WHY
SPIN OUT?

Universities produce

KNOWLEDGE.
INVENTIONS.
POSSIBILITY.

Markets need

PRODUCTS.
CUSTOMERS.
MOMENTUM.

THE SPACE BETWEEN?THAT'S WHERE
WE WORK.SPIN OUT
02 / HOW SPINOUT WORKS

THREE CASES.
ONE NEW FINAL.

A two-day deeptech commercialisation challenge. Real university research, new business concepts and pitches to experts and investors.

3 + 1

RESEARCH CASES

Three cases on day one. The three finalist teams all receive the same, completely new fourth case on day two.

9 TEAMS · 3 STUDENTS PER TEAM · 27 PLACES
DAY 1 / 9 DECEMBER

Build it. Pitch it.

  • 3 cases. 9 teams.

    Three teams work on each of the three JYU research cases. Each team has three students.

  • Work + mentoring

    Each team has its own meeting room and mentor support during ideation. Explore markets and applications and build a business concept.

  • Lunch included

    Lunch is served between the working session and the day’s pitch session.

  • Pitch at C4

    All nine teams pitch at C4 on the University of Jyväskylä Main Campus. The top three teams advance to the final.

DAY 2 / 10 DECEMBER

New case. One winner.

  • A completely new case

    The three finalist teams receive the same new, fourth research case for the final.

  • New solution + mentors

    Finalists work in their own meeting rooms with mentor support, build a new concept and prepare their final pitch.

  • Lunch included

    Lunch is served between the working session and the final pitch.

  • Final at Historica

    In Historica, hall H320, 3rd floor, the finalists pitch to a high-level expert and investor jury. One team wins Spinout 2026.

AI for ideas. Protect the research.

AI is allowed for general brainstorming, background research, and exploring similar cases or market strategies using public, non-confidential information. Do not upload, paste or otherwise share your assigned case or any confidential research details with AI tools. Doing so would violate the NDA. Mentors are available to support your team.

The competition teams

Participant applications closed on 1 November 2026. All 27 participants have been selected. We form multidisciplinary teams of three. No previous startup, research or business experience is required.

Participant applications are closed. Audience applications are open!

See the event information above for venues and confirmed times. External participants arrive at 9:00 on both days. Finalist teams must attend both days onsite.

WHAT IS SPIN OUT?

REAL RESEARCH.
REAL TEAMS.
9–10 DEC 2026
TO TAKE IT
TO MARKET.

Real JYU research. Multidisciplinary teams of three. Onsite in Jyväskylä on 9 December, with the final for winning teams on 10 December 2026.

03 / THE PEOPLE BEHIND EVERY SPIN OUT

NOT AN ORG CHART.
A WORKING SYSTEM.

Select a name. Find the person who can move your idea forward.

MEET THE TEAM

GOOD COMPANY.
SHARED AMBITION.

The people behind SPIN OUT, spending time together beyond the work.

SPIN OUT team spending time together
01 / THE PEOPLE. THE CONNECTIONS.
Another moment together with the SPIN OUT team
02 / MORE THAN A WORKING SYSTEM.
SPIN OUT / LINKEDIN

Follow our LinkedIn

Stay connected with the team, guest announcements and the latest from Spinout.

Visit LinkedIn ↗
Preview of the SPIN OUT LinkedIn company page
FROM THE LAB / INSIGHTS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

TWO LANGUAGES.
ONE ROUTE OUT.

Researchers bring discoveries, papers and data. Companies need products, prices and customers. Meet the people who translate between the two — and explore how research finds its way into the world.

Explore technology transfer ↗Read the PDF ↗
DISCOVERY · PAPERS · DATA↓
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
↓PRODUCT · PRICE · CUSTOMER
FROM THE LAB / INSIGHTS
PATENTS & PUBLISHING

FILE FIRST.
PUBLISH NEXT.

Sharing research and protecting an invention can work together. Explore why timing matters, how European and US rules differ, and why intellectual property can be a core asset in deep tech.

Explore patents & publishing ↗Read the PDF ↗
ASK YOUR INNOVATION TEAM EARLYASSESS → FILE → PUBLISHTHE ORDER MATTERS
ECOSYSTEM / COLLABORATION
COMMUNITY UPDATE

NEW CONNECTIONS.
MORE POSSIBILITIES.

Exploring future collaboration with the JAMK Talent Boost team.

We met with JAMK University of Applied Sciences to discuss future collaboration opportunities for Spinout. A big thank you to the JAMK Talent Boost team for meeting with us, sharing ideas and exploring what we could build together.

Exciting things ahead. We look forward to continuing the conversation.

Meet JAMK on LinkedIn ↗
04 / FIND YOUR PERSON

WHAT BRINGS
YOU HERE?

No generic contact maze. Start with your reason, and we'll point you towards the right person.

@spin_out_jes

FOLLOW THE PEOPLE. CATCH THE MOMENT.

Guest announcements, team stories and moments behind the scenes. Follow Spinout on Instagram and get to know the people bringing research into the real world.

Follow us on Instagram ↗
Preview of the Spinout Instagram page with guest announcements, team stories and event postsTHE PEOPLE BEHIND SPINOUT ↗
FROM FINNISH BREAKTHROUGHS TO GLOBAL BUSINESSES

BRING US
THE RESEARCH.

We'll bring the questions, the people and the route forward.

SPIN OUT / LET’S TALK

START A CONVERSATION

Have an idea, a question or a collaboration in mind? Connect with the SPIN OUT team on our social channels.

LinkedIn ↗SPIN OUT LABFor ideas, partnerships and general questions Instagram ↗@spin_out_jesFollow the team, get updates or send us a message

These links open SPIN OUT’s LinkedIn and Instagram pages. To participate, use the application form on the page.

SPIN OUT / FAQ

Questions & answers

The AI assistant is temporarily paused. Browse these ready-made answers, or contact our team for more help. No messages are sent to an AI service.

When and where is Spinout?

9 December 2026 at the University of Jyväskylä. The top three teams also attend the final onsite on 10 December. Day 1: Main campus, Building C, Auditorium C4 (Hall C311), 3rd floor. Day 2: Historica, hall H320, 3rd floor. External participants arrive at 9:00 on both days.

Who is the event for?

The audience is open to everyone, with limited spots. The team competition is for JYU and JAMK students and alumni from all disciplines. No previous science, business or entrepreneurship experience is required. There are 27 places in nine teams of three.

Are applications still open?

Participant applications closed on 1 November 2026. Audience applications and research idea pitching competition applications are open. All 27 participants have been selected.

Do I need a team?

Participant applications are closed. We form multidisciplinary teams of three based on backgrounds, skills, interests and experience.

What are the prizes and study credits?

The winning team receives a €2,500 team prize and a €1,000 study travel grant. Competing students receive 4–5 study credits at JAMK or JYU, regardless of winning. Audience members can earn 2–3 study credits.

What will we work on?

Teams develop a business concept from real JYU research, supported by researchers and mentors. The top three teams tackle a new fourth research case in the final. Confidential cases require an NDA. See the AI use guidelines below.

Can we use AI tools?

AI is allowed for general brainstorming, background research, and exploring similar cases or market strategies using public, non-confidential information. Do not upload, paste or otherwise share your assigned case or any confidential research details with AI tools. Doing so would violate the NDA.

Participant applications are closed. Audience applications are open!

Join as audience ↗Research idea pitching competition ↗Contact the team ↗
SPIN OUT / YOUR TEAM GUIDE

We’re waiting for you!

Hi! Meet the people behind Spinout. Choose a name below to see how they help make it happen.

SEE YOU ON 9 DECEMBER 2026

—DAYS
—HOURS
—MIN
—SEC
University of Jyväskylä · Countdown to the date in Finland. External participants arrive at 9:00 on both days. The full programme is available on this page.
Saad SaqibFounder & Team Lead

Sets the vision and brings the whole SPIN OUT ecosystem together.

Ehsan (Sani) MohajerPartnerships Coordinator

Connects SPIN OUT with the people and organisations that move ideas forward.

ErikaPartnerships Coordinator

Builds collaborations across entrepreneurship, industry and innovation.

Arda ArslanbakanResearch & Cases Coordinator

Finds promising research and shapes it into commercialisation cases.

JuhoResearch & Cases Coordinator

Develops the evidence and story behind new commercialisation opportunities.

Rachit RevaliaExperience Coordinator

Designs a clear, human journey from research insight to product thinking.

Jola ModupeoluwaStudent Outreach Coordinator

Connects ambitious students with meaningful ways to participate.

VeeraMarketing Coordinator

Makes SPIN OUT's work visible, clear and relevant.

RinaMarketing Coordinator

Turns emerging ideas and technology into stories people want to follow.

Explore all profiles ↗Application update ↗ @spin_out_jes ↗