Donation funds support university innovations

Oh, we have an invention on our hands! What kind of commercial potential does it have? Who could make use of it? Should we establish a startup around it?

The emergence of new innovations within the university is not uncommon. For example, last year, the University of Oulu filed a record number of new patent applications – 15 in total.

"Even researchers may not always recognize when a discovery is actually an invention. A commercially valuable invention must, of course, be protected and patented immediately, and the university supports this process," says Jouko Uusitalo, Director of the Innovation Centre at the University of Oulu.

In the academic world, an invention belongs to the researcher, but it is usually transferred to their employer – the university – which also covers the costs of the patent application. These costs can range from €10,000 to €15,000, with annual fees on top.

"The inventor – that is, the researcher –also receives a reward according to a multi-level compensation system."

The next step is to consider whether the invention could be commercially utilised. Who would benefit from it? Could it be offered to existing companies, or should a new company be established around it?

"From the perspective of our national economy, it’s important to identify and support research that may have commercial potential. The university not only creates the technological foundation but also the understanding of how these technologies can be used," Uusitalo emphasizes.

If the invention has commercialisation potential, the university applies for Business Finland’s Research to Business (R2B) funding.

"R2B funding is research funding, which allows continued research and preparation for commercialisation. At this stage, the project must include not only researchers but also a so-called business champion –someone who understands business and is willing to drive the invention toward commercial application," Uusitalo explains.

In the front row as a donor

Inventions from the University of Oulu receive funding through several channels, one of which is the Riitta and Jorma J. Takanen Foundation, which supports university projects with €120,000 annually. Established in 2005, the foundation aims to support projects particularly connected to the technology industry in Central and Northern Finland.

"The projects we support are specifically those that have received R2B funding. We also award grants for student internationalisation and doctoral research, and we’re actively thinking about how to increase our impact on the business side as well. Each year, the Innovation Centre proposes projects for funding consideration, and the foundation's board makes the final decisions based on these proposals," says Jarmo Rankinen, CEO of the foundation.

The foundation has now completed five annual funding rounds. This means Rankinen has had a front-row seat in recent years to follow the journey of the university's inventions into commercial innovations.

"Our foundation’s board doesn’t have the expertise to deeply evaluate the projects ourselves. That’s why collaborating with the Innovation Centre is the right way for us to contribute to the creation of commercially significant innovations in Oulu. One year after a donation, we invite the researchers to present the current status of their projects at a board meeting. We’ve seen some truly world-class developments—even on a global scale," Rankinen says.

Both Uusitalo and Rankinen see the University of Oulu’s interdisciplinary approach as a key strength.

"The humanities in particular will play a key role in future interdisciplinary projects," Uusitalo predicts.

Donation funds enable innovations in 6G applications

The University of Oulu has also allocated donation funds received through its fundraising campaigns toward supporting innovation activities in the field of technology. In early 2024, the university launched a New Innovation Initiatives call, allowing researchers to apply for funding to develop and commercialise energy and health applications based on 6G technology. Total sum of allocated donation funds was 300 000 €.

This new funding opportunity doubled the university’s innovation funding. The impact of donated funds is significant, as they help accelerate the creation of new innovations and the startups that grow from them.

Onnikka – A journey toward healthier lifestyles

One of the startups initiated at the University of Oulu is Onnikka Health. It’s a joint project between internal medicine and information systems science, and its development began over ten years ago. Behind the project are professors and researchers Markku Savolainen (internal medicine) and Harri Oinas-Kukkonen (information systems science).

"Onnikka is a lifestyle coaching application that helps people change their habits for the better," summarizes Teppo Virkkula, CEO of Onnikka.

Virkkula is the business champion who joined Onnikka during the R2B funding phase. The collaboration began when he spotted a short newspaper article about the Oulu-based invention.

Onnikka has also been one of the projects supported by the Riitta and Jorma J. Takanen Foundation.

Where does the name Onnikka come from? In the Oulu dialect, onnikka is a word for a bus – a metaphor for the journey toward healthier habits.

"The app primarily influences the user’s mindset and thinking patterns. It’s based on a method in which a computer program is used to drive changes in behavior and attitudes. Onnikka is a one-year journey aimed at creating lasting lifestyle changes," Virkkula explains.

The app has already had thousands of users, and clinical studies show that it truly works: users lost weight, and long-term follow-up has shown health benefits such as reduced need for blood pressure medication and lower diabetes risk.

Onnikka’s customers are healthcare service providers.

"In practice, these are the wellbeing services counties, but also private medical clinics. They offer the service to their own patients and clients. We now also have our first customer in Norway, and we aim to expand into Sweden as well," says Virkkula.

According to him, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. One challenge, however, is funding for preventive care.

"A quarter of our adult population is overweight, and about ten percent of healthcare costs are related to obesity and its associated diseases. If we could influence this proactively, the economic benefits to society would be clear," Virkkula concludes.