Every year, 2–5 new start-up companies are founded based on research conducted at the University of Turku. One example is SisuSemi Oy, founded last year, whose pioneering semiconductor surface cleaning technology enables the manufacturing of longer-lasting and more efficient electronics.
Doctoral Researcher Mikko Miettinen from the Materials Research Laboratory at the Department of Physics and Astronomy remembers well the moment when his colleague, Project Researcher Zahra "Elmira" Jahanshah Rad, unexpectedly asked Miettinen if he would like to join a start-up company that was in the process of being founded.
“I immediately thought this is a good thing and I want to be part of it. Then the realist in me kicked in and I wondered how I would finish my doctoral dissertation if I worked in a company. But I joined the company and it has been a good decision," says Miettinen.
Miettinen and Jahanshah Rad are both working at SisuSemi Oy while conducting research at the University of Turku. The company is based on the researchers’ patented inventions that allow semiconductors used in electronics to be cleaned and smoothed at the atomic level. Such measures can extend the lifespan of electronic devices and battery durability.
“We make semiconductors a kind of shield that prevents them from being affected by the environment in unwanted ways. This could be compared to what happens to an apple when you slice it: its surface starts to go bad. The technology we develop protects semiconductors from similar contamination. Protecting the surface of semiconductors is very important for the performance of the whole electronic device," says Jahanshah Rad.
Research innovation can spawn a new start-up or attract the interest of existing companies
The researchers at the University of Turku receive support from the Innovation Services for patenting and commercialising new inventions. Innovation Officers are involved in the further development of innovations, carry out assessments regarding their protection and success, and support researchers in funding calls aimed at commercialising research.
“The commercialisation project may result in a new start-up company. The University can also sell or license a technology, solution, or service to an existing company. We sign many such agreements every year. A constant goal is to support the competitiveness and renewal of the Finnish business sector, and to promote economic growth and societal well-being," says Business Development Manager Anne Marjamäki from the University of Turku.
Before founding SisuSem, Jahanshah Rad visited several events to pitch their research to potential funders. Today, SisuSem has several funders, one of which is Monttu Ventures, founded by alumni of Turku School of Economics. Business Finland has also supported the development and commercialisation of researchers' inventions through Research to Business (R2B) funding, which was used to implement the SisuProCo project, on which SisuSemi is based.
“We received a lot of help from the University's Innovation Services throughout the process. They used their networks, introduced us to the right people, and helped us to apply for funding and find the right funding events. In addition, University Researcher Pekka Laukkanen from our Materials Research Laboratory has played an important role by always giving the researchers in his research group the freedom to take their research in the direction that felt good to them,” says Jahanshah Rad.
“In addition, it has been important for SisuSem to find business expertise in sales, business development, operations management, and administration. Funders have also required this. Entrepreneurship is a collaborative effort, where the commercialisation of research is ideally combined with industrial production expertise, sales skills, and their implementation as a team. SisuSem now employs six people and has expertise in each area,” adds Miettinen.
According to Jahanshah Rad and Miettinen, there will be more patents based on their research in the future.
Text and photos: Jenni Valta
Translation: Saara Yli-Kauhaluoma
