Business Networking Day 2026

Explore cutting-edge innovation and discover your future partnerships at JYU's Business Networking Day! On 8 Oct 2026, Jyväskylä will see an assembly of researchers, companies and students discuss all things innovation and collaboration.

Come and join us!

Come and join us for an event where research, business and stakeholders meet!

The Business Networking Day is organised by the University of Jyväskylä. During the day, companies and stakeholders have several opportunities to discuss and network as well as to seek new collaboration. Valid data and a solid scientific foundation are essential for companies in product and service development, whereas for researchers solving practical problems, it can be an excellent opportunity to extend their know-how within their area of expertise. The event is open to a wider student audience, making it a showcase for both companies and the university, both competing to find the brightest minds of the future.

The event includes a traditional exhibition area, keynote talks and themed oral sessions to introduce companies and researchers to the public. When the daytime programme ends, the evening programme starts! The evening is spent among good food, drinks, relaxed discussions and informal programming.

Etsimme kaupallistajia ja enkelisijoittajia

Registration and participation to the event

The registration for exhibitors is open! Early bird prices are valid until 29 May.

Registration of companies and stakeholders

An exhibition stand is an excellent way to gain visibility among all event participants. We offer presentation spaces of different sizes and prices so that you can choose the option that best suits your needs.

Book your exhibition stand!

Table Space 2 × 2 m

Early bird price: €250 + VAT
(Normal price from 30 May 2026: €350 + VAT)

Table 120 × 80 cm, height 70 cm, and 2 chairs
Electricity for a computer, 200 W
Event participation and catering for the day (lunch and coffee) for up to 3 persons
Space, for example, for a roll-up banner

Table Space 3 × 2 m

Early bird price: €350 + VAT
(Normal price from 30 May 2026: €400 + VAT)

Table 120 × 80 cm, height 70 cm, and 2 chairs
Electricity for a computer, 200 W
Event participation and catering for the day (lunch and coffee) for up to 4 persons
Space, for example, for one or two roll-up banners

Corner Space 2 × 2 m

Early bird price: €400 + VAT
(Normal price from 30 May 2026: €450 + VAT)

Table 120 × 80 cm, height 70 cm, and 2 chairs
Electricity for a computer, 200 W
2 poster boards
Event participation and catering for the day (lunch and coffee) for up to 4 persons
Space, for example, for one or two roll-up banners

Block Space 4 × 2 m

Early bird price: €650 + VAT
(Normal price from 30 May 2026: €750 + VAT)

2 furniture sets
Electricity for a computer, 200 W
2 poster boards
Event participation and catering for the day (lunch and coffee) for up to 6 persons
Plenty of space for exhibition materials

Block Space 4 × 4 m

Early bird price: €1,200 + VAT
(Normal price from 30 May 2026: €1,400 + VAT)

4 furniture sets (low tables can be replaced with standing tables)
1 × 1300 W power connection
4 poster boards
Event participation and catering for the day (lunch and coffee) for up to 10 persons
Plenty of space for exhibition materials

You are free to design the content of your stand exactly as you wish. You may display, for example, brochures, recruitment ads, videos presenting your activities, products, or giveaways for participants. According to your needs, additional services can be ordered via Paviljonki, such as screens, or even the construction of a full exhibition booth.

Please contact Paviljonki directly:
Heli Lempinen
📧 heli.lempinen@paviljonki.fi
📞 +358 40 826 4201

Please note in your presentation materials that the event is bilingual (Finnish and English).

Opportunity to Apply for a Speaking Slot

You may also apply for additional visibility by giving a short talk. The talks are approximately 3‑minute elevator pitches on topical themes in themed sessions. The event venue has two seminar spaces with stages. You may use presentation slides to support your talk.

We cannot guarantee speaking slots for all applicants, but we will do our best to ensure a diverse and balanced programme.
Applications for speaking slots must be submitted via a separate form by 31 August 2026. Pitch proposal

Networking continues at the dinner event of Business Networking Day (17-21) with a relaxed chat and programme. The dinner (early bird 40 €+VAT) includes

Programme
Buffet dinner
An appetizer and two drink tickets

Please note that the dinner event is only for those who have registered in advance.

Dinner registration will open in April–May.

Registration for University Staff and Students

Advance registration for the event is required for staff members and will open in May. Event catering is available for a limited number of participants, and places including catering will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis according to unit-specific quotas.

If you are not included in the catering quota, you may purchase lunch and café services at your own expense at the event venue.

All staff members are warmly welcome to attend the event!

You can present your research by giving an elevator pitch or purchasing an exhibition stand.

The exhibition stands can be purchased (100 € + VAT). This includes a table (120 cm x 80 cm, h 70 cm) and two chairs, an electrical connection and space for a roll-up or two.

You can also purchase additional accessories, for example poster boards or a screen for your stand.

Book your stand!

The elevator pitches will be short 3-minute presentations on topical issues in themed sessions. Our event space has 2 seminar rooms with a stage. You can use presentation slides to support your presentation.

Apply for a pitchby 31 August!

Participation is free for students, and no advance registration is required.
You can join the event by showing registering at the registration desk.
The event is not limited to university students — so if your friend studies elsewhere, feel free to bring them along!

We will provide a complementary event lunch for the first 50 students who arrive at the event. The next 50 students to arrive will receive a coffee ticket for the afternoon coffee. So make sure you arrive early!

Lunch and café products are available for purchase at the event, but student pricing is not offered. There are also several lunch restaurants in the Lutakko area where you can stop for lunch. For example, you can enjoy a student-priced lunch at Restaurant Cube on JAMK's Lutakko campus (Piippukatu 2).

To make the most of the event, you can prepare by considering the following points:

Familiarize yourself with the organizations participating in the event.
Which of the participating organizations could be potential employers for you in the future or partners for your thesis project?
Do you have any questions you could ask regarding the organization's product development, processes, production, human resources, management, or sustainability etc.?
You can approach the organizations at their stands or after the speech. Every company and organization needs employees and is always looking for new talent, so the Business Networking Day is a great opportunity for you to explore your possibilities!

Event venue

The Business Networking Day will be held in Jyväskylä, Paviljonki (Lutakonaukio 12). We will be using halls A and B1, which can be entered via the entrance of Lutakonaukio.

For detailed arrival and parking instructions, please visit the Paviljonki website Arrival and parking - Paviljonki.

Themes of the day

The event will consist of 6 themed sessions, including a keynote speech (30 min) and short elevator speeches (ca. 3 min) from companies, stakeholders and researchers.

Artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping job tasks, skill requirements, and the ways organisations operate. The volume of data is growing at an unprecedented rate in both business environments and daily life. Data alone is not sufficient; real value arises from the ability to interpret, integrate, and critically evaluate information, and to relate it to its context.

The development of artificial intelligence and the expansion of data flows create new opportunities for nearly all organisations, but also introduce risks related to the reliability of information. Responsibility, transparency, and the importance of trustworthy information are becoming increasingly central in organisational decision-making and communication across sectors.

This transformation brings psychological, pedagogical, and ethical questions related to human–AI interaction to the forefront, particularly regarding how technology is learned, utilised, and applied in practice. Future competitiveness will depend on the ability to combine human expertise, technological capabilities, and data-driven knowledge that is context-sensitive and critically assessed.

How can data and artificial intelligence be leveraged in organisational operations and decision-making in ways that are impactful, responsible, and human-centred? How can organisations identify and mitigate misinformation and potential biases in algorithmic systems?

Disruptive technologies are rapidly changing the structures of society, challenging both businesses and research to think in new ways. Quantum technology opens up entirely new possibilities for computing. Semiconductors and chip technologies form the critical foundation of digitalisation.

At the same time, bio and gene technologies are revolutionizing healthcare, materials production and the way sustainability challenges are addressed, offering new tools to overcome threats to human well-being.

The Disruptive Technologies theme brings together these emerging technologies and their potential, providing an opportunity to understand how research, businesses and society can jointly steer change towards a more sustainable, secure and competitive future.

Population structures are being reshaped by increased longevity, declining birth rates, and migration. As life expectancy rises, life courses, career trajectories, and the structures of working life must be reconsidered. As more people reach the age of 100, extending working careers from the current average of approximately 40 years to as much as 50 years is becoming a key factor in ensuring labour supply and the sustainability of pension systems. At the same time, younger age cohorts are shrinking, making immigration an important means of maintaining the workforce.

This transformation requires new approaches to supporting health, work ability, motivation, and the continuous development of skills across different life stages. New leadership practices and flexible career models can facilitate young people’s transition into working life, support the integration of immigrants into workplaces, and enable older employees to remain in employment for longer. This shift also creates opportunities to develop services and solutions that promote well-being and sustainable work participation.

How can supporting mental well-being help individuals navigate life transitions? How can we strengthen social connectedness and support sustainable participation in working life and society?

Climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and the need for more accurate measurement of environmental impacts are challenging companies and organisations to rethink their operating models. At the same time, sustainable technologies and new energy solutions are opening up entirely new markets and sources of competitive advantage. Measuring the ekological footprint helps to direct sustainability efforts to where they have the greatest impact.

How can we build growth through sustainability—not only by reducing risks, but by harnessing the opportunities of the green transition to drive innovation, efficiency, and new forms of business?

Responsibility for security no longer lies solely with public authorities. Cybersecurity, security of supply, and dual‑use technologies are increasingly important for the competitiveness of companies and for the functioning of society as a whole. At the same time, hybrid threats, disinformation, and the reliability of information challenge us all. Media literacy, starting from a young age, is becoming an ever more critical factor in safeguarding democracy. Other nationally important issues include digital sovereignty as well as the mental and physical resilience of citizens in times of crisis.

How can companies, researchers, and the public sector work together to build a safer and more resilient society?

Major and disruptive innovations rarely emerge in isolation. In an ideal scenario, collaboration between companies, research organisations and the public sector enables the creation of new solutions and their rapid deployment. By working together, we can secure more research, development and innovation funding from both national and European sources.

How can research collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation ecosystems accelerate the creation of new innovations? What is still missing? Why are more new companies not being created?

Programme

Daytime programme 9-17, dinner event 17-21.

Participating organisations

The list will be updated as registrations come in.

Exhibitors

Other participating organisations

Additional instructions

Principles of the event
The event is free of harassment and discrimination. We respect everyone's mental and physical integrity and values.

Please remember to behave in a friendly manner towards other people. There is designated contact person at the event who can be contacted if you encounter inappropriate behavior or harassment.

Contacts

For matters related to exhibition spaces and the participation of companies and stakeholders, please contact Heli Lempinen at heli.lempinen@paviljonki.fi.
For matters related to the participation of university staff, please contact businessday@jyu.fi.

Business Networking Day 2026

Come and join us!

Registration and participation to the event

Registration of companies and stakeholders

Register as exhibitor!

Table Space 2 × 2 m

Table Space 3 × 2 m

Corner Space 2 × 2 m

Block Space 4 × 2 m

Block Space 4 × 4 m

Opportunity to Apply for a Speaking Slot

Registration for University Staff and Students

Event venue

Themes of the day

Programme

Participating organisations

Exhibitors

Other participating organisations

Additional instructions

Contacts

See also

Business Networking Day brings together companies, researchers, and students to explore new collaboration opportunities

Grow your network at the Business Networking Day – sign up now

Researchers, companies and students meet at the Business Networking Day

Business collaboration and partnerships

Recruit a student

Unifund VC

Business Networking Day 2026

Come and join us!

Registration and participation to the event

Registration of companies and stakeholders

Registration

Exhibition stand from 250 € + VAT

Dinner from 40 € + VAT /person

Registration for University Staff and Students

University staff

Students

Event venue

Themes of the day

AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making

Disruptive Technologies

Well-Being and Demographic Change

Climate, Environment, and Green Transition

Comprehensive Security Solutions Providing Resilience

Collaboration as a Foundation for Innovations

Programme

Participating organisations

Exhibitors

Other participating organisations

Additional instructions

Do you need accommodation in Jyväskylä?

Safety in the event

Contacts

See also

Business Networking Day brings together companies, researchers, and students to explore new collaboration opportunities

Grow your network at the Business Networking Day – sign up now

Researchers, companies and students meet at the Business Networking Day

Business collaboration and partnerships

Recruit a student

Unifund VC