On 26 March 2026, the Pori campus of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) hosted the Founders & Innovators Day, an event organised by the Venture Science Center as part of the GreenTech4Transformation (GT4T) project—an initiative in which the DIVERSE European University Alliance participates.

The event brought together students, academics, entrepreneurs, businesses and regional policymakers, creating a collaborative space to exchange ideas and advance innovative and sustainable solutions.

The programme combined keynote speeches, panel discussions and hands-on workshops, offering participants a practical perspective on entrepreneurship, the Finnish start-up ecosystem, funding opportunities and the challenges of the green transition. In addition, the workshops helped participants develop key skills such as idea validation, pitching and understanding intellectual property.

One of the highlights was the panel entitled “How to build an innovative and solution-driven mindset across society”, moderated by Minttu Porri. It featured key figures from institutional and business sectors, including the mayors of Pori and Ulvila, representatives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and academic leaders, who discussed how to foster a culture of innovation across society.

Beyond the learning experience, the event stood out for its ability to create meaningful connections among different stakeholders, opening up new opportunities for collaboration and strengthening students’ confidence.

“These events demonstrate that institutions listen to students and value their role, helping them to understand that they are not just participants, but the future drivers of change ”, said Ali Tavakoli, project coordinator. 

From DIVERSE’s perspective, initiatives of this kind are key to embedding innovation in higher education and bringing students closer to real-world environments, empowering them as active contributors to social and sustainable transformation.