The first ever virtual Summer Celebration with Otaniemi startups, creatives and sustainability professionals was a refreshing dive into Espoo innovation ecosystem scene.
The event was arranged on June 11 in Zoom and broadcasted from Urban Mill, in the heart of Espoo Innovation Garden at Aalto University campus. It attracted 170 participants to learn and discuss about collaboration in the Otaniemi innovation ecosystem. The recording can be watched on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTlAD5KCmaM&t=1s
The celebration began with a musical performance by Retuperän WBK, the legendary Fire Brigade Band of technology students from Aalto University.
This was followed by breakout sessions and discussions by the leaders of the City of Espoo, Aalto University, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK. These are the key institutional players shaping the success of Espoo Innovation Garden, already the biggest Innovation hub in the Northern Europe.
In 2018 the City of Espoo was nominated the most intelligent city in the world. Mayor Jukka Mäkelä emphasized that the point is not to be the most intelligent city but to be the most intelligent community.
“That means that we have to do it together with our citizens, but also it is very important for to the city of Espoo to collaborate with Aalto University, research centers like VTT and with the companies. Collaboration is the key word” he continued.
Keynote speakers were Jyri Engeström, Partner & Co-Founder at Yes VC and Patrick Shulist, Assistant Professor of Sustainability in Business in Aalto University.
Watch Jyri Engeströms presentation from here (pdf).
The celebration ended with artistic performances by aerial artist Ilona Jäntti and RWBK student orchestra.
The whole event was streamed on Start North’s Youtube channel for everybody to experience. You can watch the recording of the event from here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTlAD5KCmaM
Watch, listen and enjoy the artistic performances recorded in the event:
Virtual networking platform Deal Room was offered 11.-12.6.2020 for all participants to make virtual 1-1 meetings with other participants before and after the celebrations in Zoom. Over 200 persons registered to this platform, which was also the place where to register to the celebrations and for startups and innovation enablers to set up their virtual booths.
The event was organized by Urban Mill, the City of Espoo, Business Espoo, 6Aika Ecosystems of Growth project, EDU programme, Aalto Startup Center, VTT and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK in collaboration with Start North, Innovation House Finland, Crazy Town and Otaniemi startup communities.
See the whole programme See program flyer
Credits:
Urban Mill – Building IntenCity! 