Ideakymi Competition and Its Conceptualization into the Ideajalostamo™ Program

The goal of the project is to implement the Ideakymi competition in 2023 and 2025 and establish biannual ideation competitions as a regular activity.

The focus of the activity is on identifying and supporting the development of ideas in their early stages. Once ideas are discovered, they are connected to the input system, and the most promising ideas are supported through encouragement, mentoring, and advice provided by the Innovation Network. Some members of the Innovation Network, such as business incubators, research projects, and workshops, will also be utilized. The target group consists of private innovators, SMEs, and, in the case of employee inventions, medium-sized and large companies in the Kymenlaakso region.

Additionally, the competition activity will be conceptualized into the Ideajalostamo™ program in cooperation with two projects. These projects are “Ideajalostamo Kymenlaakso” and “Growth Platform for New Paths and Innovations.” The goal of the Ideajalostamo program is to implement a digital platform with methods and best practices for evaluating and developing ideas, individuals, teams, and markets, as well as to provide content, methods, and processes to support the development work.

Project Implementers

The project is carried out by Kymen Innovaatioyhdistys and the Innovation Foundation, in cooperation with the Kymenlaakso Innovation Network. The Kymenlaakso Innovation Network includes: Kymen Innovaatioyhdistys ry, Keksintösäätiö, Cursor Oy, Kouvola Innovation Oy, South Kymenlaakso Vocational College Ekami, Kouvola Vocational College Oy (EduKo), South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), and Kymen Yrittäjät ry, South-Eastern Finland ELY Centre, TE Office, Kymenlaakso Regional Council, Kymenlaakso Chamber of Commerce, and LUT Kouvola Unit.

The network meetings will be held in rotation at different members’ locations, ensuring that all activities become familiar to everyone involved.

Project Funding and Support

The project is funded by Kymenlaakso Regional Council, Keksintösäätiö, and Kymenlaakso Cooperative Bank.

The funding for the awards is not part of the project. The awards are funded by members of the Kymenlaakso Innovation Network, Yksinyrittäjäin Foundation, Kymenlaakso Cooperative Bank, and Vaninvest Oy.

Project Duration, Area, and Steering Group

The project’s duration is from May 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025. The operating area is Kymenlaakso. The steering group consists of representatives from the Kymenlaakso Innovation Network.

Lisätietoja:

Markku Merovuo

Kymen Innovaatioyhdistyksen puheenjohtaja

puh. 044 333 1891
markku.merovuo@gmail.com

Juhani Talvela
Keksintösäätiön hallituksen puheenjohtaja
puh. 050 62 471
juhani.talvela@keksintosaatio.fi