Innovate at the speed of light

The problem:

Many innovative companies have R&D needs but lack access to the specialized lab environments, testing facilities, and domain expertise required to move ideas forward. At the same time, UEF Joensuu Campus sits on a wide range of underutilized RDI capabilities (from photonics and sustainable chemistry to immersive XR technologies and natural resource research) that could accelerate company innovation. The gap between business ambition and research capacity remains untapped.

What you'll build:

A compelling pilot or proof-of-concept proposal that identifies a specific business or customer problem, maps it to one or more UEF Joensuu labs, and outlines how a joint RDI project, contract research engagement, or co-funded research partnership could be structured. The strongest submissions will articulate clear novelty, a path to business value, and a realistic collaboration model with UEF.

Prizes:

• €1000
• €700 in intellectual property consultation from Genip Oy
• Future collaboration opportunity

The problem:

Companies that define what skills each role requires still rarely have a clear picture of where individual employees actually stand against that list. Learning gets assigned by role, not by need. Gaps go undetected until they surface somewhere costly.

What you'll build:

A system that identifies genuine skill gaps at the individual level and maps them to existing content. The hard part isn't recommending content once a gap is found. It's the identification itself. Job titles, training history, and self-assessment all fall short. Your solution needs a better signal. Format is open: a web app, a Slack bot, a browser extension, or an ambient layer inside an existing tool.

Prizes:

• €1000

The problem:

Multilingual students often face barriers in largely monolingual education systems, even as higher education becomes increasingly internationalized and requires instruction in multiple languages. Multilingualism is widely recognized as a key cultural and societal asset in Europe, yet practical tools for planning and delivering multilingual learning are still lacking. Teachers need solutions that support multilingual instruction, make key terminology accessible, and help students engage in multilingual learning environments.

What you'll build:

Design a Language Station tool or service that supports multilingual teaching and learning in University of Eastern Finland's degree programmes. The solution could process teaching materials and institutional resources, identify key terminology, adapt content for diverse language skills, produce multilingual glossaries, and raise awareness about translanguaging practices. The goal is to make teachers better prepared for multilingual teaching, save time on planning and preparation, and improve students' experience in multilingual learning environments.

Prizes:

• €1000