Keynote-puhujien ja panelistien esittelyt

Atte Jääskeläinen

President, Sitra

Who are you? 
I am Atte Jääskeläinen, President of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. For over 25 years, I have worked at the intersection of change and innovation across media, education, and public policy. 

What makes you curious? 
I am inspired by change, by collaborating with ambitious people, and by the possibilities that are already within our reach. I believe we all share a responsibility to shape a better tomorrow.

Your tip for thriving together with LUT University 
Education and knowledge are powerful enablers. They help you define bold ambitions for the future — and, most importantly, give you the tools to turn those ambitions into reality.

Photo by Topias Dean.

Jari Ojala

Rector, University of Jyväskylä

Who are you?
Jari Ojala, rector and president, University of Jyväskylä. Economic and business historian.

What makes you curious?
How things work and human behavior, and how these change over time (past, present, future).

Your tip for thriving together with LUT University
Collaboration is the key.

Niko Kyynäräinen

Mayor, Lahti

Who are you?
I’m Niko Kyynäräinen, the Mayor of Lahti since the beginning of 2024. Previously, I served as Director of Economic Development in Turku and before that as CEO of Turku Science Park Oy, which gives me a strong background in urban development and vitality.

What makes you curious?
I’m curious about how cities can grow in ways that don’t just expand economically but also strengthen nature and support sustainability. In Lahti, we aim to be nature-positive by 2030, which means our actions must help nature recover and thrive. Many things need to be rethought, but I’m confident that innovative solutions will be found.

Your tip for thriving together with LUT University?
I deeply value the role of LUT University’s Lahti campus and its global perspective. Thriving together means staying open-minded, collaborative, and driven by real-world solutions. The Lahti campus already reflects this spirit. It is a modern hub for learning, research, innovation, business, and sustainability at the heart of our city.

Photo by Lassi Häkkinen / City of Lahti

Siamäk Naghian 

CEO, Genelec 

Julkaistaan pian

Janne Laine

Vice-president for Innovation, Aalto University

Who are you?
Janne Laine, Vice-president for Innovation. Laine has diverse leadership experience at Aalto University; Dean of School of Chemical Engineering, Head of Forest Products Technology and Professor of Forest Products Chemistry. Laine holds a number of national and international positions of trust, he has built several research and innovation ecosystems and various corporate partnerships. 

What makes you curious?
Working with talented people that think out of the box .

Your tip for thriving together with LUT University?
Utilize the wide spectrum of experts from LUT.   

Mikko Veikkolainen

Vice President, Research and Innovation, Kempower Oyj

Who are you?
My name is Mikko Veikkolainen, and I am Vice President, Research and Innovation at Kempower Oyj. I am a research, innovation and product development professional who is always interested in everything new and innovative. I have watched Kempower's story closely and partly wrote the script when I started as the first employee in 2018.

What makes you curious?
I am most curious about understanding customers and markets. I find it inspiring to start product development from that understanding, because it often leads to the most meaningful and impactful solutions.

Your tip for thriving together with LUT University?
Collaboration and an approach based on rapid experimentation without fear of mistakes leads to the best outcome.

Teemu Heikkilä

Senior Director of portfolio and Engineering and Managing Director, Danfoss Editron

Who are you?
My name is Teemu Heikkilä. I am Senior Director of portfolio and Engineering at Danfoss Editron and Managing Director of Danfoss Editron Oy. I have master degree in power electronics from Helsinki university of technology (nowadays Aalto university). I have worked my career in electrification, especially with high power drives, in international companies.  

What makes you curious?
Climate change is in very center in my curiosity. I am curious how to improve sustainability with electrification. I believe that technology and business can drive things to the same direction.

Your tip for thriving together with LUT University?
Building better future is all about co-operation. Challenging existing technologies and creating new ones with solid commercialization. LUT is key partner for us in Lappeenranta in technology research but also growing next generation of curious professionals.  

Panu Kurronen

Chief Technology Officer, The Switch

Who are you?
My name is Panu Kurronen and I am Chief Technology Officer at The Switch in Lappeenranta, Finland. Prior to joining the company at its very start, I have worked as a technical manager at Rotatek Finland Oy, one of the three companies that initially merged to form The Switch in 2006. I have graduated as a Doctor of Science (El.eng.) from Lappeenranta University of Technology in 2003. Over the years, I have worked as a researcher, laboratory manager and associate professor at Lappeenranta University of Technology. From 1995 to 2000, I have worked as project manager at Kone Elevators. My focus has always been on the application of permanent magnet technology.

What makes you curious?
Climate change and undiscovered technical solutions.

Your tip for thriving together with LUT University?
The Switch and LUT have had several common projects of different levels throughout the last quarter century. We know each other well and the target for open issues is easy to find.

Julkaistaan pian