Neurocenter Finland Event 2026

Building Bridges: Academia, Industry and Brain Health Innovation 

14:00–14:20 Opening remarks and introduction to the event; Satu Palva and Eero Rissanen (Neurocenter Finland) 

14:20–14:50 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Keynote: Outi Forsström 

14:50-15:20 Trailblazer talk from laboratory to company “The only way to bring an invention into practice is to set up a company” – pioneering career paths and venture creation; Samu Lehtonen (Marginum) 

15:20-15:30 Mini Break 

15:30–16:00 Stakeholder discussion: Building Patient-Centered Collaboration Across Healthcare, Industry and Innovation (invited representatives from companies and organizations). Q&A. Moderating by Susanna Flaherty (IQVIA), Panelists: Tiina Paunio (HUS), Markku Aittokallio (StellarQ), Minna Korolainen (Eli Lilly),..

16:00-16.45 Stakeholder perspectives:
16:00 Finnish Drug Discovery Center – Bridging scientific discoveries into innovative therapies, Maarit Merla, CEO of the Finnish Drug Discovery Centre

16:45–17:15 Networking and event partners’ stands   

17:15–18:00 Brief history of Neurocenter Finland, toast to celebrate 5th anniversary; Professor Reetta Kälviäinen, Professor Mikael Fraunberg 

18:00–21:00 Networking dinner 

From Discovery to Clinical Impact: Advancing Brain Health Across Finland 

9:00–10:00 Industry Perspectives on Brain Health Innovations, health care and economic impact; Saara Hassinen (Healthtech Finland), Nadia Tamminen (Pharma Industry Finland), Taru Blom (Blomira Oy) 

10:00–10:20 Helsinki Brain & Mind, The future of multi-locus transcranial magnetic stimulation: Observation–Control Neuroscience, Emeritus Professor Risto Ilmoniemi, Aalto University 

10:20–10:50 Jyväskylä Brain & Mind: Bridging academia and Wellbeing services county through shared data infrastructure (video): Elina Sillanpää, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä. Academia-Industry Collaboration in Practice: Sustainable careers in elite contact sports: Mihály Szeróvay, Professor of Practice, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä Academia-Industry Collaboration in Practice: Psychophysiological recordings and AI for future mental health research and innovation: Tiina Parviainen, Professor, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä

10:50-11:30 Stakeholder perspectives (TBD) 

11:30–12:30 Lunch, exhibition, and networking 

12:30-12:50 Turku Brain & Mind, From the PET Centre to the Memory Clinic and back: Building Better Brain Health Through Collaboration; Laura Ekblad, Adjunct Professor, MD, PhD, University of Turku 

12:50–13:20 Tampere Brain & Mind, From Experimental Models to Translational Insight: The Importance of Integrating Data Across Modalities; Adj. Prof Emre Kapucu
Building translation from wet lab inventions; Adj. Prof Susanna Narkilahti

13:20–13:40 Oulu Brain & Mind, Co-creating the Future of Healthcare with 5G; Jani Katisko, Medical Physicist, Associate Professor, Oulu University Hospital, Pohde 

13:40–14:10 Kuopio Brain & Mind, From Neurosamples to Clinical Impact – Co-developing a Human-Informed Translational Pipeline; Professor Ville Leinonen, University of Eastern Finland / Wellbeing Services County of North Savo; Professor Mikko Hiltunen, University of Eastern Finland / Wellbeing Services County of North Savo; Professor Tarja Malm, University of Eastern Finland 

14:10–15:00 TBD and Closing remarks