Business development companies from Turku and Joensuu strengthen national and European cooperation in developing digital security, border security and dual-use technologies. Through the Borderland...
Millions have been invested in university equipment, and now the goal is to generate value by opening these laboratories to companies, says the organizer of the SOHJO Hackathon, which focuses on photonics and XR solutions.
Mikko Järvilehto, who has participated in around one hundred hackathons, reached one of his long-term goals at the SOHJO Hacks event in Joensuu. For the first time, the University of Eastern Finland opened its research laboratories to companies.
Hackathons are events where experts from different fields work in teams to develop solutions to given challenges within a limited time.
“I already dreamed about this when working with Aalto University and VTT. It’s great that we were finally able to take this step and open the labs for innovation connected to local strengths,” says Järvilehto, who works as a business advisor at Business Joensuu focusing on startups.
An invitation to co-develop with R&D
According to Järvilehto, the university’s laboratories in photonics, chemistry, natural resources, and XR/VR/AR have a lot to offer companies.
“In the chemistry lab, for example, it is possible to develop materials suitable for batteries and create new chemical compounds that can be patented. This can support the growth of a battery company.”
He emphasizes that investments must be put to use.
“Millions have been invested in equipment and systems. This is a way to increase the return on those investments.”
Opening the labs is like an invitation to a joint product development process between universities and companies.
“Now is an excellent opportunity to innovate. The laboratory staff are very interested in working together with companies to explore what can be done in these environments.”
University: “Collaboration can lead to new startups”
The initiative is also welcomed at the University of Eastern Finland.
New perspectives are valuable, says Anssi Kekkonen, who coordinated lab visits during the SOHJO Hackathon.
“If we want to create something new, we need to cross boundaries. The best way is to work together with companies. In addition to hackathons, we are looking for other ways to collaborate and solve challenges together.”
The utilization rate of the Joensuu photonics research centre is already high.
“At the same time, there is strong interest in collaboration in the forest sciences and sustainable technologies labs. This could lead to new startups in the future,” Kekkonen says.
Fast track for innovation – even for NATO partners
Hackathons are a fast and effective way to solve complex challenges, says Mikko Järvilehto, Business Specialist at Business Joensuu. Photo: Harri Säynevirta
A total of 60 students, researchers, and company representatives participated in SOHJO Hacks. Participants formed teams and worked on challenges over a 30-hour period.
From the previous year’s event, Järvilehto highlights concrete outcomes.
“One example is Kelluu, an airship company selected among the top 15 out of 2,000 applicants in a NATO innovation programme. They gained valuable external coding expertise through the hackathon.”
Another success story is the Hub Joensuu concept. Within a year, it has grown into a rapidly developing hub for creative industry startups and companies in the city centre.
“We hope to see similar results from this year’s event,” Järvilehto says.
“Not all expertise exists within one organisation”
The uniqueness of SOHJO Hacks is linked to the Innocity programme, where university cities develop their key strengths. In Joensuu, the focus areas are forest bioeconomy and photonics.
“Joensuu has a rare combination. Photonics, natural resources, chemistry, and XR technologies all come together in one city,” Järvilehto says.
He describes the atmosphere at the event as highly energetic and collaborative.
Participants came from across Finland.
“Complex challenges require creativity. All expertise cannot be found within one organisation. In hackathons, people from different backgrounds work together and exchange ideas. It is a fast and effective way to solve complex problems. The only sustainable way to build competitiveness is to adopt new knowledge.”
SOHJO Hacks was organized as part of the Innocity Joensuu 3 project, co-funded by the European Union and the Regional Council of North Karelia. The project is managed by Business Joensuu.
SOHJO Hacks 2026 – Winning teams
Rami Saarikorpi (toinen oikealta) voitti 3D-mallinnoksiin perustuvalla ideallaan haasteen, jossa haettiin ratkaisuja Itä-Suomen yliopiston laboratorioiden tehokkaampaan yrityskäyttöön. Kuvassa vasemmalta Anssi Kämäräinen, Andrei Potekhin, Mikko Järvilehto, Rami Saarikorpi ja Outi Virtaharju. Kuva: Harri Säynevirta
Challenge: University of Eastern Finland
Team: Rami Saarikorpi
Question: How can UEF laboratories be used more effectively by companies?
Solution: 3D models of research laboratories, allowing companies to explore them virtually and assess how they could use the equipment.
Comment: “Fun and challenging – working through the night. The more tired you get, the crazier the ideas become.”
Challenge: Valamis
Team: Lei Yang, Mojun Jiang, Haowei Zhao
Question: How can employers better assess whether employees’ skills match job requirements?
Solution: An AI-based tool that evaluates skills based on work performance, problem-solving, and peer feedback. It identifies gaps and suggests training.
Comment: “Fun, exciting, and challenging due to the time pressure. You learn from others under pressure. Stay positive and support each other. P.S. We are looking for jobs.”
Challenge: PLURI/KATEKO
Team: Joonas Luukkonen
Question: How can teaching be adapted for students with different language backgrounds?
Solution: A web service that uses UEF data resources to help create multilingual learning materials.
Comment: “I study English, culture, computer science, and data science. This topic suited me perfectly.”
Main photo caption: Groups of students, researchers, and company representatives explored the forest sciences laboratories at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus. Photo: Mikko Järvilehto
Further information:
Mikko Järvilehto
Senior Business Advisor, R&D and Startups
Business Joensuu
+358 50 346 9206
mikko.jarvilehto@businessjoensuu.fi
