The event is organized by the Venture Science Center at SAMK and aims to strengthen cooperation between education, business and public decision-makers in the region.
– Founders & Innovators Day brings together students, entrepreneurs, researchers, and decision-makers to strengthen Satakunta’s innovation culture. Through the Venture Science Center and the DIVERSE European University Alliance, SAMK is connecting regional ambition with new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities across Europe, says event organizer Ali Tavakoli.
A highlight of the event will be a panel discussion on the future of innovation and entrepreneurship across the society, featuring Lauri Inna ( Mayor of Pori) Kari Varis (CEO of Satakunnan Yrittäjät) and Youssef Zad (Chief Economist of the Finnish startup ecosystem).
The discussion will address how regions outside Finland’s largest cities and Finland in general can compete for investment, talent and new businesses by fostering innovative mindset.
– An innovative and entrepreneurial mindset helps people see opportunities, solve real problems, and create new paths to employment, impact and growth. Regions that encourage this way of thinking are better positioned to attract talent, investment, and new businesses, Tavakoli says.
The event showcases the Venture Science Center
The program also includes keynote talks and workshops on topics such as entrepreneurial thinking, startup financing, intellectual property and pitching skills. Throughout the day, student teams can participate in innovation challenge and to pitch their own ideas to experts and compete for prizes.
The event also showcases the Venture Science Center, a new multidisciplinary innovation hub at SAMK that opened in late 2025. The center encourages students from different fields to collaborate, experiment and develop new ideas together with companies.
– GT4T and the Venture Science Center provide a platform where ideas can grow into real solutions. They bring together students, researchers and partners to collaborate across disciplines, build international connections, and develop innovations that support entrepreneurship, sustainability and regional development, Tavakoli summarises the importance of the projects.
Founders & Innovators Day is organized as part of the GreenTech4Transformation (GT4T) project, which promotes entrepreneurship, green transition solutions and digital skills across European higher education institutions.
