KEMI-TORNIO TEAMS FINISHED FIRST AND THIRD (6.2.2009)

The Lapland’s InnoMaraton 2009 Event climaxed with thrilling finals among 21 teams at the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi on Friday. First the judges selected the four finalists and then decided their mutual ranking.

To keep the audience in suspense the results were given in a reverse order. When it was announced that Team Två + tre from Rovaniemi is placed second the Kemi-Tornio group was overjoyed.

The Lapland’s InnoMaraton 2009 winning team Inno_everybody aka (left) Jenni Uimaniemi, Jutta Kaarre and Timo Tjäderhane were congratulated by Development Director Eero Pekkarinen from Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences. The victorious team created services for the Itella Mobile mailbox.

Team Hillevi aka (left) Antti Keinänen, Tea Tryyki, Tiina Hiltula, Bernard Boardi and Timo Wikström finished third with their idea of skateboard ramps for Keminmaan Puurakenne. The fourth was Ryhmä 27 from Rovaniemi.

 

INNOMARATON WEEK GETS OFF TO A FLYING START (3.2.2009)

- This is a pleasant and distinct way of studying. Be positive because that will promote ideas, project manager Satu Valli instructs the students when opening the InnoMaraton 2009 in Tornio, Minerva building, on Monday 2 February.

A hundred and plus students cram into the Liike room, in Minerva, to listen to Satu Valli’s opening of InnoMaraton 2009.

The InnoMaraton week schedule is introduced by Satu Valli. After the three days’ intensive work period the first point of excitement will be the tryout on Thursday, 5 February, when 12 Kemi-Tornio semi-finalists will be chosen for the InnoMaraton Finals in Rovaniemi. On Friday students from Kemi-Tornio and Rovaniemi will compete with each other for top four placing. The best four teams will achieve fame and fortune as they will be awarded with Innovation grants worth 1000, 500, 300 and 200 euros.

- And of course we start from the premiss that Kemi-Tornio teams will be victorious. Let´s set the goal of having at least three our teams among the top four, spurs Satu her hearers. In the next breath she reminds that to achieve the goal the teams should have brilliant ideas, work energetically and exhaustively and prepare gripping presentations. In the finals the InnoMaraton jury will be demanding.

 

Visiting entrepreneur gave a stimulus to innovation

A diversified and multicultural team called # is working on the assignment of the Pohjanranta Oy Ltd. which is a hotel and catering business. The team members are business students Rinna Heikkilä and Vesa-Matti Kreus, fine art student Tytti Juntunen, business information technology student Henri Miettunen and international BIT student Zhang Lian Cheng.

The Finnish team members find Zhang’s international standpoint very profitable. Zhang himself is also satisfied with the teamwork.

- Our teamwork is very democratic. All the members have a chance to tell their ideas. And we have pretty good ideas, Zhang says.

Team # a.k.a. (from left) Rinna, Vesa-Matti, Henri, Tytti and Zhang are utilizing the existing services in the area and developing something new.

Meeting earlier the entrepreneur the team got a clear picture of what they were expected to do. Each and every one of them had thought up something on their own and on Monday they finally pull their ideas together. As much as possible, they intend to utilize the existing activities and services.

- Networking is our key word, Tytti sums up.

 

INNOMARATON - BIGGER THAN EVER (20.1.2009)

The kick-off of Lapland’s InnoMaraton Event gathered the participating students and coaches in Borealis Hall, Rovaniemi, 12 January. Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences organizes the event for the fourth time. Last year InnoMaraton was launched also in Rovaniemi and this year both Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences as well as University of Lapland are participating.

About a hundred business, culture and technology students from Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences and another hundred students from Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences  and about 40 students from University of Lapland were engaged in the innovation and team training in Rovaniemi.

Project manager Satu Valli from Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences opened the training session.

Companies and organizations in Kemi-Tornio area have given the total of 12 InnoMaraton assignments. As there are 24 student teams, two teams develop ideas for each client. In Rovaniemi there are 3–4 teams working on each assignment.

Managing director Asko Alanen from Lappset Group/SmartUs Ltd, told the audience how ideas, innovations and focused development and research work have furthered the advancement of the northern family company to one of the world’s leading producers of playgrounds and equipments. SmartUs combines latest technologies with traditional play elements to create intelligent playing and gaming environments which support children’s learning and physical and motor development. This year, as well as last year, SmartUs is among the companies participating InnoMaraton.

Six rules by Jussi Leimio: #1 First get a customer, #2 Create outstanding product or service, #3 Wrap the product, #4 Sell and market frantically, #5 Manage and lead. and #6 Take one step at a time.

Jussi Leimio who has made an all-round career in the field of marketing and sales (e.g. Gustav Paulig Ltd coffee company, Mozo Design and Marketing Ltd and nowadays Vault Finland Ltd),  related an entertaining story of  a young man called Keijo, who wanted to become a billionaire. Keijo united his own inventive abilities with the skills and competence of his family and friends in a product development process. Viuhta, the carpet beater, was produced. But because of the insufficient customer survey and hastily made plans for sales, marketing and distribution,
Keijo had to kiss goodbye to his dreams of getting rich. Read Keijo’s story.

Development manager Seppo Immonen,Valmennus-Visio Ltd, has made a successful career as a couch of long dinstance runners. He gave a lecture on the topic How to form a creative team.