From Research to Business: Lessons from Finnish Deep-Tech Spin-offs
How can promising research become a successful business? What does it take to move from scientific discoveries to market-ready products?
These questions were explored during the Finnish Chips Competence Centre (FiCCC) webinar, The Journey from University and RTO Research to Commercialization, held on 6 November 2026.
The webinar brought together researchers and representatives of research organizations from across Finland to hear practical experiences from two Finnish deep-tech spin-offs.
Two commercialization journeys, valuable lessons
Joonas Govenius, Co-founder and CEO of Arctic Instruments, shared the company's journey from VTT research to developing commercial technology for quantum computing.
He highlighted the importance of moving beyond scientific development and focusing on customer needs, product readiness, and business operations. He also emphasized the value of combining strong technical expertise with complementary entrepreneurial and management skills.
Andreas Liapis, Co-founder and CTO of A-Gate Sensors, discussed the company's journey from Aalto University research to commercializing advanced spectral sensing technology.
He reflected on the long and challenging process of deep-tech commercialization, where reducing technological risks, finding the right applications, and understanding customer needs require time, resources, and flexibility. Andreas also emphasized the importance of a supportive innovation ecosystem in helping researchers turn scientific discoveries into real-world applications.
Key takeaways from the discussion
Although the companies followed different paths, several common lessons emerged:
Scientific excellence is the starting point, not the finish line. Turning research into a product requires customer understanding, business development, and practical commercialization activities.
Deep-tech commercialization takes time. Technology development, validation, and scaling require realistic expectations and flexibility.
Complementary skills matter. Strong technical expertise combined with business and management capabilities can strengthen a startup's journey.
The ecosystem makes a difference. Connections with industry experts, investors, research organizations, and other startups can provide valuable support and opportunities.
How FiCCC supports research commercialization
The webinar also introduced FiCCC's entrepreneurship and funding support services, presented by Golriz Ghonouei from BusinessOulu / FiCCC.
FiCCC supports researchers, Research to Business teams, startups, and SMEs working in semiconductor and microelectronics technologies.
Support includes access to technical expertise and industry networks, entrepreneurship guidance, funding advice, and opportunities to participate in relevant workshops and networking activities.
For established companies meeting the relevant eligibility requirements, additional support may be available in areas such as feasibility studies, productization, commercialization, and IPR.
One important message: You don't need to have an established company to start a conversation with FiCCC.
Researchers and R2B teams can reach out early to explore their opportunities and discuss possible next steps.
Continuing the conversation
A warm thank you to Joonas Govenius and Andreas Liapis for sharing their experiences and to everyone who participated in the webinar and contributed to the discussion.
FiCCC will continue bringing together researchers, companies, and ecosystem partners to support the commercialization of promising technologies and strengthen Finland's semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystem.
Are you considering bringing your research toward commercialization? Get in touch with FiCCC to explore how we can support your next steps.
Reach out to us!
Author: Golriz Ghonouei | BusinessOulu, FiCCC
