Currently, I work as a project researcher at MicroENTRE. Most of my professional journey has been spent at Nokia, where I contributed to different product development departments, both in Nokia Networks and Mobile Phones. The work was inherently international, as R&D units and subcontractors were spread across the globe. I even spent a couple of years in Boston, supporting the local R&D team in technology and subcontractor selections.
In the latter half of my career, I transitioned into various roles within startups, gaining hands-on experience in marketing, sales, and collaborative networks. Additionally, I have co-founded various types of organizations, ranging from associations and cooperatives to limited companies.
Continuous learning has been a cornerstone of my professional journey. I have completed professional qualifications in business management and business advising. Following my engineering studies, I also began pursuing a Master's in Engineering, though I had to put it on hold due to work and family commitments. However, my enthusiasm for further education rekindled, leading me to earn an International Master's Degree (YAMK) in Education Entrepreneurship at Oulu University of Applied Sciences last year.
In my thesis, I explored general business incubation through practical projects, which naturally led me to delve deeper into health and life science incubators at the University of Oulu.
My next goal is to embark on doctoral studies, where I plan to expand my research to include other entrepreneurship support organizations alongside business incubators. Through the OYSTER project, I am involved in mentoring health and life science product development. These processes, from idea to marketable product or service, are relatively long, which is why it is beneficial to study product development on a broader scale.
Coming from the rural village of Kaakamo in Tornio, nature has always been an integral part of my life. In my childhood, the main livelihoods in the area were agriculture and fishing. Nowadays, my hobbies include various outdoor activities, skiing on the slopes of Ruka during winter, and other outdoor pursuits in summer. I also hunt in the Tornio region during the autumn, which provides a great balance to my work life.
Author:
Heikki Ailinpieti, B.Sc (1988), Master’s Degree (YAMK), Project Researcher, University of Oulu, Kerttu Saalasti Institute, MicroENTRE
Photo: Minna Kilpeläinen
In Kerttu Saalasti Institute's blog we write about the topics of the Institute's research groups, micro entrepreneurship education and the Institute's general topics. The authors are researchers, experts and members of networks.
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