InFLAMES Corporate Corner goes SHIFT – Immunology bioclusters driving economic growth
InFLAMES Corporate Corner goes SHIFT – Immunology bioclusters driving economic growth!
The InFLAMES Corporate Corner will be organised for the 11th time on May 27 this year. This is the second time the event is being organised in collaboration with the SHIFT Business Festival. InFLAMES Corporate Corner goes SHIFT – Immunology bioclusters driving economic growth is an official SHIFT side event held the day before the main festival.
At the upcoming InFLAMES Corporate Corner, we will explore how immunology drives economic growth in Finland, France, Spain, and throughout Europe.
A normally functioning immune system is vital for our health, and immune dysfunction is linked to many diseases. Understanding how the immune system works is crucial for developing new medicines, new diagnostic tools, and novel health technology innovations.
Research carried out at universities forms the basis for new discoveries. Most successful growth companies have strong ties to academia and the basic and applied research conducted there. Join us and learn from our national and international speakers about how immunology research drives growth and economic success.
The InFLAMES Corporate Corner – Immunology bioclusters driving economic growth will take place on 27 May 2026 in the Cave Theater of the Visitor and Innovation Centre Joki, Lemminkäisenkatu 12 B, Turku. The event will start with lunch at 11:30, followed by the seminar programme until 16:00, culminating in a networking after-party until 18:00.
The event is designed to foster inspiring dialogue and collaboration between academia and industry. The InFLAMES Corporate Corner offers a welcoming, low-threshold space where researchers and business professionals can meet, share insights, and learn from one another.
Speakers:
Chief Economist Mauri Kotamäki, Finnvera
Vice-President of the A*Midex Foundation, Director Denis Bertin, Marseille Immunology Biocluster, France
Director of Innovation Lidia Aguilera, CaixaResearch Institute, Spain
PD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos MD PhD, Plastic & Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon & Co -Founder IRÄYE AG, Switzerland
Partner Pekka Simula, Innovestor
Director of BioCity Turku, Professor Klaus Elenius, University of Turku
Professor of Practice Timo Veromaa, University of Turku
Register by May 20!
Registration link: https://eve.utu.fi/e/cc2
Programme (changes possible):
11:30-12:15 Lunch
12:15–13:10
Opening words
BioCity Turku Director, Professor Klaus Elenius, University of Turku
Societal and economic impact of Nobel Prize -winning discoveries in immunology
Professor of Practice Timo Veromaa, University of Turku
Economists are predicting a growth leap for Finland – How could it happen?
Chief Economist Mauri Kotamäki, Finnvera
13:10–13:30
Coffee Break
13:30–15:00
Marseille Immunology Biocluster: from a territorial project to a European ambition
Vice-President of the A*Midex Foundation, Director of MIB Denis Bertin, Marseille Immunology Biocluster, France
CaixaResearch Institute: The first research centre specialising in immunology in Spain
(a more detailed title will be announced later)
Director of Innovation Lidia Aguilera, CaixaResearch Institute, Spain
Harnessing Lymphatic Science for Skincare Innovation
PD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos MD PhD, Plastic & Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon & Co-Founder IRÄYE AG, Switzerland
15:00–15:15
Break
15:15-16:00
Four years of investing in Finnish life science startups – what next?
Partner Pekka Simula, Innovestor
From research to innovation: An experience-based perspective of different funding opportunities
BioCity Turku Director, Professor Klaus Elenius, University of Turku
Conclusion and final remarks
16:00–18:00 Networking over drinks and food (Café Wisio)
Speakers
Denis Bertin
Vice-President of the A*Midex Foundation, Director of MIB
Marseille Immunology Biocluster, France
After completing a PhD in polymer sciences in 1997 at the University of Montpellier, Denis Bertin joined the petrochemical company TOTAL as a research and development engineer in Materials Sciences where he stayed until 2000. He then joined Aix-Marseille University to develop a mixed academic/industrial research group on material sciences at the Faculty of Science of AMU. He became a university professor in 2002. He has worked on nanostructured organic materials with various applications (health, environment, energy, sport, etc.). After 14 years at the Faculty of Science, after retraining in sports sciences, he joined the Faculty of Sports Science (2014) and the Institute of Movement Science. In 2023, a new research unit, Hipe Human Lab, was established under the leadership of D. Bertin to expand projects focusing on research involving human body. On the political aspects, D. Bertin was vice president for research from 2006 to 2015. In 2016, he became Vice President in charge of the Amidex fondation. He is also President of the Imera Institute for Advanced Studies from 2018.
The Marseille Immunology Biocluster (MIB) project is firmly rooted in the dynamic South region and metropolitan area. It is now one of the most promising initiatives in the field of immunology in France. The result of close collaboration between academia, industry and public authorities, the MIB is part of a strategic vision that has already elevated research and innovation to an international level. This collaboration between universities, public research institutions, biotech firms, industry, local authorities and public bodies – supported by Aix-Marseille University and its partners – means that the MIB benefits from a rich and diverse academic environment of excellence, fostering synergy between fundamental research and practical applications on an industrial scale.
This alliance between academic knowledge and entrepreneurial dynamism lies at the heart of the MIB’s philosophy and positions it as a one-stop shop in the field of immunology, offering an integrated platform for research, innovation and commercial development.
The creation of the MIB marks a crucial step in strengthening immunological research in France, by concentrating expertise, innovation, resources and collaboration in Marseille, positioning the city and France as one of the centers of excellence in the patient-centered fight against infectious, autoimmune, oncological and inflammatory diseases.
PD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos MD PhD
Plastic & Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon & Co-Founder IRÄYE AG
Switzerland
PD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos is a physician-scientist and EBOPRAS-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon based at the University Hospital Zurich, where he combines clinical practice with translational research in lymphatic and adipose tissue biology. His work focuses on the role of the lymphatic vascular system in human health and disease, particularly in conditions such as lymphedema, lipedema, tissue regeneration, and skin ageing.
Dr. Gousopoulos conducted his medical studies in Greece, followed by a Master`s degree at the University of Zurich and his doctoral research (PhD) at ETH Zurich on lymphatic vascular biology and inflammation, contributing to pioneering work demonstrating how immune responses influence lymphatic dysfunction and chronic tissue swelling. His research integrates microsurgery, vascular biology, and translational medicine with the aim of developing novel therapies targeting lymphatic function.
Beyond academia, he actively bridges biomedical research and innovation. He is co-founder of the ETH spin-off IRÄYE, which develops science-driven skincare technologies designed to activate the lymphatic system and support metabolic waste clearance in the skin. Dr. Gousopoulos has authored numerous scientific publications and collaborates internationally across clinical, academic, and industry networks. His work highlights the emerging importance of the lymphatic system not only in disease treatment but also in longevity, regenerative medicine, and next-generation skincare technologies.
Mauri Kotamäki
Chief Economist
Finnvera, Finland
Dr. Mauri Kotamäki is the chief economist of Finnvera. Finnvera is a specialised financing company owned by the State of Finland and it is the official Export Credit Agency (ECA) of Finland. Mauri’s previous work history includes, for example, Ministry of Finance and Bank of Finland. Currently he’s pondering matters of economic growth, investments and exporting within the Finnish corporate financing framework.
Motto: All models are wrong, but some are useful.
Pekka Simula
Entrepreneur & Mentor, Health & Life Sciences
Pekka Simula has spent over 25 years with innovative startups in health and life sciences, including digitalization of data capture in clinical trials, cancer radiotherapy, and as founder and CEO in oncology and CNS drug development companies. Pekka has actively supported health & life science teams as mentor and board member and IPO’d two companies. He loves working with passionate founders who want to change the world for the better.
Timo Veromaa
MD PhD, Professor of Practice in Drug Development
University of Turku, Finland
Timo Veromaa is an accomplished MD PhD biopharma executive with 30 years of industry experience across both large and small cap companies in the US and Europe. He is Professor of Practice in Drug Development (part-time) at his alma mater, the University of Turku, Finland.
His passion lies in developing new medicines and fostering innovation through industry–academia partnerships. He is dedicated to helping scientists build and develop business skills, and he is particularly excited about the significant opportunities for groundbreaking medical innovation by combining health registry, biobank, and genome data. As the first chairman of Finnish Biobanks FINBB, he was instrumental in supporting the development of the FINGENIOUS portal as a one-stop access point to nationwide biobank data and electronic health records.
Currently, Timo Veromaa serves as the Chairman of Herantis Pharma Plc, a public, innovative drug development company focusing on Parkinson’s disease. He is also the Chairman of Tenboron Ltd, a private clinical-stage company developing novel boron carriers for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Additionally, he is a board member of Abomics Ltd, a private company offering pharmacogenomic services to healthcare organizations. Previously, he served as the Chairman of Finnish Bioindustries, an industry association, for nine years. He also held the position of Executive Chairman at Domainex Ltd, a fast-growing private drug discovery service company in Cambridge, UK, for two years.
Organising Committee
InFLAMES Impact Director, Academician Sirpa Jalkanen, University of Turku
Professor of Practice Juha Laine, University of Turku and Roche
Professor of Practice Timo Veromaa, University of Turku
Professor of Practice Timo Lappalainen, University of Turku
InFLAMES Research Manager Jarkko Koivunen, University of Turku
InFLAMES Project Manager Kaisa Hakkila, University of Turku
InFLAMES Research Manager Joe Hettinger, University of Turku
InFLAMES Communication Specialist Liisa Koivula, University of Turku
Design by Henok Karvonen, University of Turku
The SHIFT Business Festival
The SHIFT Business Festival follows on May 28 at Turku Science Park, featuring keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities to inspire creativity and growth. This year SHIFT focuses on “success” through leadership, community, and international connections.