Innovation entrepreneur and education investor Pekka Koponen starts as professor of practice at the University of Vaasa specialising in industrial transformation

Koponen has extensive experience in innovation development and innovation financing in inter-organisational ecosystems. Spinverse, the largest innovation consultancy in the Nordic countries, which he founded in 2004, has applied for more than €2 billion in EU funding for its clients and managed large national and international ecosystems. Koponen has also held positions of trust in industry, including chairing innovation and competitiveness working group of Technology Industries of Finland, served in the Council of Representatives of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) and chairing the European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC). Prior to that, Koponen had a long international career at Nokia, where he held a variety of planning and management positions between 1990 and 2004. 

Koponen also chairs the board of four companies, including the education company Professio Group and HigherEd Hub Finland Oy, which is developing a joint www.opin.fi learning platform for higher education institutions.

Koponen graduated from the University of Oulu in 1991 with a degree in computer science. He studied economics at the University of Vaasa from 1988 to 1989. He also holds an MBA from the IMD Business School in Switzerland.

At the University of Vaasa, his tasks in the early stages of the professorship will focus on supporting the university in developing cooperation models with the surrounding society. He will also contribute to the university's innovation research, focusing on the development of technological competences both in Finland and globally in cooperation with companies. 

The professor of practice is excited about his new role. 

– After selling the majority of Spinverse, I am determined to focus on developing education as an active investor and board professional. Working as a professor of practice will now complement this role and I will also be able to give back to my important study place. The University of Vaasa has been successful in the core duty of universities, social interaction, and has integrated strongly into the surrounding business world. I am delighted to be able to continue to develop this work further.

Rector Minna Martikainen welcomes Pekka Koponen to the dynamic community of the University of Vaasa. 

– Koponen has a broad range of expertise in innovation and business development. He will be active in promoting cooperation between the university's ecosystem and research activities. The aim is to strongly promote the technology industry in the digital transformation and green transition by developing the R&D competences of companies to support strategic change. It also aims to create new methodologies to identify and respond to skills gaps in enterprises through research, training and other learning methods.

For more information

Pekka Koponen, 040 545 0008