Could dementia be detected from the skin? Nsrein Ali’s discovery led to an invention that could make diagnosis easier and more reliable
Researcher Nsrein Ali and her team are developing a new type of diagnostic platform for dementia in their DermaEXO project.
Open Source Licences – What every developer and researcher should know
Open source software is now so commonplace that we often do not even notice when we are using it. It accelerates development because work can begin on top of existing libraries and tools instead of building everything from scratch. Alongside these benefits come rules that are essential to understand.
Innovation activities at the University of Oulu were highly active in 2025!
The year has turned, and it is time to review the results of innovation activities at the University of Oulu. Innovation efforts by the University and its researchers remained active across all areas. This strong level of activity bodes well for the commercialization of research results in the coming years.
Sustainable Casting – Alpo Keinänen and his team develop a biodegradable cast that can be applied in minutes
Have you ever had a broken limb put in a cast? Then you know it’s neither a quick nor an easy process. Entrepreneur, designer and Bio‑Design Innovation Fellow Alpo Keinänen noticed the same thing, and from his hands‑on observations came a solution that benefits healthcare staff, patients, and hospitals alike.
Sweetening the future: Why Europe needs Sweeprot now
University of Oulu is currently preparing commercialization of a zero-calorie, plant-derived protein sweetener designed for the needs of the food and beverage industry.
Kidbond – Journey to digital well-being for families
Tam Le Hong and her team developed Kidbond – a research-based ecosystem designed to help families thrive in the digital age.
IELTS struggles turned into AI innovation: Sameera Gamage helps others learn
Doctoral researcher Sameera Gamage has independently built an AI-powered tool to help prepare for the IELTS test.
Domain name — More than just a web address
Did you know that it’s crucial to choose and protect your domain name carefully — before your business takes off.
Is there arsenic in your drinking water? ACRA-project in Kajaani is developing a fast and affordable solution for arsenic measurement
ACRA-team aims to develop a compact, fast, and cost-effective tool for measuring arsenic concentrations in water.
Towards more impactful research – Business Finland’s new funding instruments and calls encourage company collaboration
What kind of projects received funding from Business Finland in 2024? What opportunities do the renewed BF funding instruments offer to the University of Oulu and our researchers? We dived into these topics at Business Finland Champions Award.
Meet Ville Saarenpää: "The best part is seeing the spark of excitement ignite in a student’s eyes"
To make our experts more accessible to you, we are introducing them in this blog series. First up is Ville Saarenpää, our business expert.
PoC funding – From idea to innovation for 10 Years!
Have a business idea you’d like to develop? Want to test its feasibility without taking on major financial risk? That’s exactly what Proof of Concept (PoC) funding is for – and it has been available at the University of Oulu for ten years now!
You’ve Got a (work)Friend in Me
These entrepreneurs from Oulu prove that work friends can help you reach goals you’d never achieve alone! They share how their friendship and business ventures began, and how they continue to strengthen each other.
Ville Kaikkonen’s innovation could revolutionize drone flight – “In the future, icing will no longer be a problem!”
Researcher Ville Kaikkonen and his team are developing a new technology specifically designed to prevent icing on drones.
10 Megatrends shaping our future: Part 2
In the first part of this series, we delved into the megatrends envisioned by Frost & Sullivan's experts, painting a picture of the world in 2040. Previously, we explored the first five megatrends; now, we turn our attention to the remaining five.
What will the world look like in 2040? 10 megatrends shaping our future
What will society look like in 2040? What megatrends can we identify today that will shape the future? Guided by the insights of Frost & Sullivan’s experts, we delved into these questions and explored their report highlighting 10 pivotal trends set to redefine industries, society, and the way we operate.
Could vitamin D be the key to joint inflammation relief? Research shows promising results with fewer side effects than cortisone
Rheumatologist and researcher Johanna Huhtakangas, along with her team, is developing an innovative treatment for inflammatory joint diseases. Their aim is a solution that would work as effectively as cortisone — but without the side effects. In the future, the treatment might center on a compound of vitamin D.
Leveling up learning: LessonLab brings education into the modern era
Miska Visuri’s company, LessonLab, is on a mission to infuse education with a contemporary twist and fresh perspective. They offer customized, gamified learning solutions designed to train employees in an engaging and interactive way.
AI assists in the future X-ray imaging
Researcher Timo Liimatainen and his team are developing new technology for hospitals where artificial intelligence helps patients position themselves for X-rays. The project has received Business Finland’s Research to Business funding.
Success from hydrogen transition — for businesses and society
Hydrogen is one of the cornerstones of the future energy economy. So, how can hydrogen be produced now and in the future? How can we move towards fossil-free hydrogen production as smoothly as possible?

