BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:Europe/Helsinki X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/Helsinki BEGIN:VEVENT UID:469@inflames.utu.fi DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260527T113000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260527T180000 DTSTAMP:20260513T073517Z URL:https://inflames.utu.fi/events/inflames-corporate-corner-goes-shift/ SUMMARY:InFLAMES Corporate Corner goes SHIFT - Immunology bioclusters drivi ng economic growth DESCRIPTION:InFLAMES Corporate Corner goes SHIFT – Immunology bioclusters driving economic growth!\nThe 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. InFL AMES Corporate Corner goes SHIFT – Immunology bioclusters driving econom ic growth is an official SHIFT side event held the day before the main fes tival.\n\nAt the upcoming InFLAMES Corporate Corner\, we will explore how immunology drives economic growth in Finland\, France\, Spain\, and throug hout Europe.\n\nA normally functioning immune system is vital for our heal th\, and immune dysfunction is linked to many diseases. Understanding how the immune system works is crucial for developing new medicines\, new diag nostic tools\, and novel health technology innovations.\n\nResearch carrie d out at universities forms the basis for new discoveries. Most successful growth companies have strong ties to academia and the basic and applied r esearch conducted there. Join us and learn from our national and internati onal speakers about how immunology research drives growth and economic suc cess.\n\nThe 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 e vent will start with lunch at 11:30\, followed by the seminar programme un til 16:00\, culminating in a networking after-party until 18:00.\n\nThe ev ent is designed to foster inspiring dialogue and collaboration between aca demia and industry. The InFLAMES Corporate Corner offers a welcoming\, low -threshold space where researchers and business professionals can meet\, s hare insights\, and learn from one another.\n\nSpeakers:\nChief Economist Mauri Kotamäki\, Finnvera\nVice-President of the A*Midex Foundation\, Dir ector Denis Bertin\, Marseille Immunology Biocluster\,\nFrance\nDirector of Innovation Lidia Aguilera\, CaixaResearch Institute\, Spain\nPD Dr. Epa meinondas Gousopoulos MD PhD\, Plastic &\; Reconstructive &\; Aesthe tic Surgeon &\; Co\n-Founder IRÄYE AG\, Switzerland\nPartner Pekka Sim ula\, Innovestor\nDirector of BioCity Turku\, Professor Klaus Elenius\, Un iversity of Turku\nProfessor of Practice Timo Veromaa\, University of Turk u\n\nRegister by May 20!\nRegistration link: https://eve.utu.fi/e/cc2\n(Pl ease note that the event has a limited number of places. If you register a nd later realise that you cannot attend\,\nplease cancel your registration as soon as possible using the confirmation email you received after regis tering.)\nProgramme (changes possible):\n11:30-12:15   Lunch\n\n12:15– 13:10\nChair: Professor of Practice Juha Laine\, University of Turku and Roche\n\nOpening words\nBioCity Turku Director\, Professor Klaus Elenius\, University of Turku\n\nSocietal and economic impact of Nobel Prize -winni ng discoveries in immunology\nProfessor of Practice Timo Veromaa\, Univers ity of Turku\n\nEconomists are predicting a growth leap for Finland - How could it happen?\nChief Economist Mauri Kotamäki\, Finnvera\n\n13:10–13 :30   Coffee Break\n\n13:30–15:00\nChair: Academician Sirpa Jalkanen\, University of Turku\n\nMarseille Immunology Biocluster: from a territoria l project to a European ambition\nVice-President of the A*Midex Foundation \, Director of MIB Denis Bertin\, Marseille Immunology\nBiocluster\, Franc e\n\nShaping the future of immunology: The role of the CaixaResearch Insti tute\nDirector of Innovation Lidia Aguilera\, CaixaResearch Institute\, Sp ain\n\nHarnessing Lymphatic Science for Skincare Innovation\nPD Dr. Epamei nondas Gousopoulos MD PhD\, Plastic &\; Reconstructive &\; Aesthetic Surgeon &\;\nCo-Founder IRÄYE AG\, Switzerland\n\n15:00–15:15   B reak\n\n15:15-16:00\n\nChair: Head of Business Development Anne Marjamäki \, University of Turku\n\nFour years of investing in Finnish life science startups - what next?\nPartner Pekka Simula\, Innovestor\n\nFrom research to innovation: An experience-based perspective of different funding opport unities\nBioCity Turku Director\, Professor Klaus Elenius\, University of Turku\n\nConclusion and final remarks\n\n16:00–18:00  Networking over d rinks and food (Café Wisio)\n\n \;\n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\nDenis Ber tin\nVice-President of the A*Midex Foundation\, Director of MIB\nMarseille Immunology Biocluster\, France\nAfter completing a PhD in polymer science s in 1997 at the University of Montpellier\, Denis Bertin joined the petro chemical company TOTAL as a research and development engineer in Materials Sciences where he stayed until 2000. He then joined Aix-Marseille Univers ity to develop a mixed academic/industrial research group on material scie nces at the Faculty of Science of AMU. He became a university professor in 2002. He has worked on nanostructured organic materials with various appl ications (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 t he leadership of D. Bertin to expand projects focusing on research involvi ng 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 A dvanced Studies from 2018.\nThe Marseille Immunology Biocluster (MIB) proj ect 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 i n France. The result of close collaboration between academia\, industry an d public authorities\, the MIB is part of a strategic vision that has alre ady elevated research and innovation to an international level. This colla boration between universities\, public research institutions\, biotech fir ms\, industry\, local authorities and public bodies – supported by Aix-M arseille 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 s cale.\nThis alliance between academic knowledge and entrepreneurial dynami sm lies at the heart of the MIB's philosophy and positions it as a one-sto p shop in the field of immunology\, offering an integrated platform for re search\, innovation and commercial development.\nThe creation of the MIB m arks a crucial step in strengthening immunological research in France\, by concentrating expertise\, innovation\, resources and collaboration in Mar seille\, positioning the city and France as one of the centers of excellen ce in the patient-centered fight against infectious\, autoimmune\, oncolog ical and inflammatory diseases.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Lídia Aguilera Martín ez\nDirector of Innovation\nCaixaResearch Institute\, Spain\nDr. Lídia Ag uilera Martínez is Director of Innovation at the newly established CaixaR esearch Institute\, where she leads strategy and activities related to kno wledge transfer\, competitive funding\, entrepreneurship\, partnerships\, and the societal impact of research. With extensive international experien ce in innovation management and knowledge transfer\, she and her team work closely with researchers to translate scientific discoveries into real‑ world solutions that benefit health systems and society.\nThe CaixaResearc h Institute is a newly established research centre and the first in Spain dedicated exclusively to immunology. Its mission is to understand how the immune system functions and how it contributes to major diseases such as c ancer\, neurological disorders\, and infections\, while also considering t he impact of environmental factors. Research is structured around three co re scientific axes—exposomic sciences\, immunology and disease\, and sys tems immunology and engineering—supported by transversal programmes that promote interdisciplinarity\, technological innovation\, and agile respon ses to emerging health challenges. In parallel\, the Institute is developi ng an Innovation Hub that works closely with six other research centres to accelerate knowledge transfer\, foster collaboration\, and ensure that sc ientific advances translate into tangible benefits for society.\n\n\n\n\n\ n\n\nPD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos MD PhD\nPlastic &\; Reconstructive &\; Aesthetic Surgeon &\; Co-Founder IRÄYE AG\nSwitzerland\nPD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos is a physician-scientist and EBOPRAS-certified p lastic and reconstructive surgeon based at the University Hospital Zurich\ , where he combines clinical practice with translational research in lymph atic and adipose tissue biology. His work focuses on the role of the lymph atic vascular system in human health and disease\, particularly in conditi ons such as lymphedema\, lipedema\, tissue regeneration\, and skin ageing. \nDr. 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\, contribut ing to pioneering work demonstrating how immune responses influence lympha tic dysfunction and chronic tissue swelling. His research integrates micro surgery\, vascular biology\, and translational medicine with the aim of de veloping novel therapies targeting lymphatic function.\nBeyond academia\, he actively bridges biomedical research and innovation. He is co-founder o f the ETH spin-off IRÄYE\, which develops science-driven skincare technol ogies designed to activate the lymphatic system and support metabolic wast e 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\, re generative medicine\, and next-generation skincare technologies.\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\nMauri Kotamäki\nChief Economist\nFinnvera\, Finland\nDr. Mauri Kota mäki is the chief economist of Finnvera. Finnvera is a specialised financ ing company owned by the State of Finland and it is the official Export Cr edit Agency (ECA) of Finland. Mauri's previous work history includes\, for example\, Ministry of Finance and Bank of Finland. Currently he's ponderi ng matters of economic growth\, investments and exporting within the Finni sh corporate financing framework.\nMotto: All models are wrong\, but some are useful.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPekka Simula\nEntrepreneur &\; Mentor\, Heal th &\; Life Sciences\nPekka Simula has spent over 25 years with innovat ive startups in health and life sciences\, including digitalization of dat a capture in clinical trials\, cancer radiotherapy\, and as founder and CE O in oncology and CNS drug development companies. Pekka has actively suppo rted health &\; life science teams as mentor and board member and IPO'd two companies. He loves working with passionate founders who want to chan ge the world for the better.\n \;\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTimo Veromaa\nMD PhD\ , Professor of Practice in Drug Development\nUniversity of Turku\, Finland \nTimo Veromaa is an accomplished MD PhD biopharma executive with 30 years of industry experience across both large and small cap companies in the U S and Europe. He is Professor of Practice in Drug Development (part-time) at his alma mater\, the University of Turku\, Finland.\nHis passion lies i n developing new medicines and fostering innovation through industry–aca demia partnerships. He is dedicated to helping scientists build and develo p business skills\, and he is particularly excited about the significant o pportunities for groundbreaking medical innovation by combining health reg istry\, biobank\, and genome data. As the first chairman of Finnish Bioban ks FINBB\, he was instrumental in supporting the development of the FINGEN IOUS portal as a one-stop access point to nationwide biobank data and elec tronic health records.\nCurrently\, Timo Veromaa serves as the Chairman of Herantis Pharma Plc\, a public\, innovative drug development company focu sing on Parkinson's disease. He is also the Chairman of Tenboron Ltd\, a p rivate clinical-stage company developing novel boron carriers for Boron Ne utron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Additionally\, he is a board member of Abomi cs Ltd\, a private company offering pharmacogenomic services to healthcare organizations. Previously\, he served as the Chairman of Finnish Bioindus tries\, an industry association\, for nine years. He also held the positio n of Executive Chairman at Domainex Ltd\, a fast-growing private drug disc overy service company in Cambridge\, UK\, for two years.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPr ofessor Klaus Elenius\nProfessor of Medical Biochemistry &\; Scientific Director of BioCity Turku\nUniversity of Turku\, Finland\nProfessor Klaus Elenius earned both an MD and a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at the U niversity of Turku. He completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and\, since 1998\, has led a research laboratory at the University of Turku. He is currently Professor of Medical Biochemistry at the Univers ity of Turku and serves as Scientific Director of BioCity Turku.\nThe rese arch of Elenius lab has focused on the role of growth factor signaling in cancer for over 30 years. This has included identification of novel signal ing molecules and development of new predictive and therapeutic tools for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The translational resea rch has been complemented by participation in clinical trials.\nProf. Elen ius has experience in application of technology solutions for medical prac tice as a co-founder of Abomics Ltd. He has also frequently served as a co nsultant for and has had research agreements with major pharmaceutical com panies developing targeted cancer therapies. He served as a Board Member o f Research Council of Finland\, Cancer Foundation Finland\, Finnish Medica l Foundation\, and Biocenter Finland. Prof. Elenius is currently a Disting uished Innovator of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative.\n\n\n\n \; \n\nOrganising Committee\nInFLAMES Impact Director\, Academician Sirpa Jal kanen\,\nUniversity of Turku\nProfessor of Practice Juha Laine\, Universit y of Turku and Roche\nProfessor of Practice Timo Veromaa\, University of T urku\nProfessor of Practice Timo Lappalainen\, University of Turku\nInFLAM ES Research Manager Jarkko Koivunen\, University of Turku\nInFLAMES Projec t Manager Kaisa Hakkila\, University of Turku\nInFLAMES Research Manager J oe Hettinger\, University of Turku\nInFLAMES Communication Specialist Liis a Koivula\, University of Turku\n\nDesign by Henok Karvonen\, University o f Turku\n\n\n\nThe SHIFT Business Festival\nThe SHIFT Business Festival fo llows on May 28 at Turku Science Park\, featuring keynotes\, workshops\, a nd networking\nopportunities to inspire creativity and growth. This year S HIFT focuses on "success" through leadership\, community\, and\ninternatio nal connections.\nRead more: SHIFT Business Festival ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://inflames.utu.fi/wp-content/uploads/ICC-0 52025-Thumb@300x.png CATEGORIES:Corporate Corner,Events in English,Tapahtumat LOCATION:Cave Theatre\, Visitor and Innovation Centre Joki\, Lemminkäisenk atu 12 B\, Turku\, Finland X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Lemminkäisenkatu 12 B\, Tu rku\, Finland;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Cave Theatre\, Visitor and Innova tion Centre Joki:geo:0,0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Helsinki X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/Helsinki BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260329T040000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR