InFLAMES Corporate Corner goes SHIFT – Leadership in Innovation!

The InFLAMES Corporate Corner – Leadership in Innovation will be held on 21 May 2025 in collaboration with the SHIFT Business Festival. The event will take place 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 program until 16:00 and culminating in a networking after-party until 18:00.

The InFLAMES Corporate Corner builds on this year’s SHIFT Business Festival theme, Success, which explores the perspectives of leadership, innovation, and risk management. Our theme, Leadership in Innovation, focuses on leadership at different stages of innovation, from scientific discovery to company-driven innovation in the field of life sciences. Leaders require different skills, attitudes, and even personalities depending on their role—whether they are scientists at the forefront of a ground-breaking discovery, startup founder, or CEO of a new or growing company—not to mention leaders of large corporations. The invited InFLAMES Corporate Corner speakers will take us into their world to share what it takes to succeed as a leader in this field.

The event has an enthusiastic SHIFT setup and atmosphere, which limits participation to 100 people.

Registration is open. Please register by 14 May 2025.
NOTE! The event is full, but you can register for the waiting list.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
If you have already registered, make sure to cancel your registration if you cannot attend as the places to the event are limited!

Confirmed speakers:

Vice Rector Piia Seppänen, University of Turku
Professor Johanna Ivaska, University of Turku
Professor Pekka Vallittu, University of Turku
Executive Vice President, Head of Innovative Medicines Business and R&D Outi Vaarala, Orion
Member of the Board Markku Jalkanen, Faron Pharmaceuticals
CEO Carl-Åke Carlsson, DelsiTech
Founder and Chief Technology Officer Niklas Sandler, CurifyLabs
Founder and CEO Maria Jensen, Antler Bio

Programme

11:30–12:00
Lunch (can also be enjoyed during presentations)

12:00–13:30
Chair: Research Manager Jarkko Koivunen, University of Turku

Opening words, Vice Rector Piia Seppänen, University of Turku

Bridging Academia and Industry: Leadership Lessons in Innovation, Team Building, and Commercialization
Professor Johanna Ivaska, University of Turku
https://theshift.fi/persons/johanna-ivaska/

How to work at the academia and transfer results to business
Professor Pekka Vallittu, University of Turku
https://theshift.fi/persons/pekka-vallittu/

TBA
Founder and CEO Maria Jensen, Antler Bio

13:30–14:00    Coffee Break

14:00–16:00
Chair: Professor of Practice Timo Veromaa, University of Turku

From Research to Real-World Impact: Leading Innovation in Healthtech
Founder and Chief Technology Officer Niklas Sandler Topelius, CurifyLab
https://theshift.fi/persons/niklas-sandler/

From money spend to money making in biotech
Member of the Board Markku Jalkanen, Faron Pharmaceuticals
https://theshift.fi/persons/markku-jalkanen/

Leadership and transformation in pharma and biotech companies
CEO Carl-Åke Carlsson, DelsiTech
https://theshift.fi/persons/carl-ake-carlsson/

What makes a successful R&D Leader
Executive Vice President, Head of Innovative Medicines Business and R&D Outi Vaarala, Orion
https://theshift.fi/persons/outi-vaarala/

16:00–18:00    Networking over drinks and food (Café Wisio)

The SHIFT Business Festival

The SHIFT Business Festival follows on May 22 at Turku Science Park, featuring keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities to inspire creativity and growth. SHIFT’s theme, Succeed, will address essential topics in leadership, innovation, and risk management. Attendees will explore what it takes to lead effectively, foster innovation, and navigate the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing environment.

Read more: SHIFT Business Festival