Business Networking Day brings together companies, researchers, and students to explore new collaboration opportunities
Business Networking Day is an annual networking event organised by the University of Jyväskylä, where companies and stakeholders can showcase their expertise and needs, and university researchers can highlight their own expertise. Students also have the opportunity to meet representatives from companies and other stakeholders in their field.
This year’s theme sessions featured keynote speeches on crisis-resilient societies, imaging and measurement technologies, wellbeing, data, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, games and gamification, as well as clean energy and green technologies. The programme also included short pitches from company representatives and researchers related to these themes.
Many different stakeholders
Business Networking Day provided an opportunity to meet both new and existing partners.
“We already collaborate extensively with the university and wish to strengthen our partnership further,” says Katri Paakkari, CEO of Hotel Alba. “The event has also been a good opportunity to meet representatives of other partners with whom we already cooperate.”
“The number of stakeholders in the event grows even further when you consider the university staff’s networks outside of work, for example, through associations and hobbies,” sums up Tommi Sievinen, reception manager at Hotel Alba. “This has been a great event.”
Internships and job opportunities attracted interest
Business Networking Day also offered students the opportunity to meet representatives of companies in their own field, while companies had the chance to connect with potential future employees.
“It has been a busy day,” says Pertti Almqvist, customer success manager at Polar Electro Oy. “In addition to our equipment, visitors have, for example, been interested in our internships. We have also discussed business partnerships and ideas.”
“This is our second time at the event,” says Pasi Hytönen, software architect at Polar Electro Oy. “And it was definitely worth coming again.”
The Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries (PIA) participated in the event with a large exhibition stand representing several companies.
“We have discussed a wide range of topics during the day,” says Petra Raussi, senior scientist at VTT. “For example, we have received inquiries about defence-related summer jobs.”
“We have had some great encounters, and visitors have been particularly interested in job opportunities,” says Harri Rantala, global marketing manager at Hiab Finland Oy. “The event has also provided networking opportunities with other defence industry companies.”
“We have met potential and future employees during the day,” says Vesa Arkko, director at Airbus Defence and Space.
“We want to showcase the defence equipment industry and the local expertise associated with it,” says Mari Halttunen, manager at Millog Group. “Business Networking Day has been a good experience, and we have had good encounters with students of physics, business, and information technology, for example.”
JYU highlights diverse expertise
Business Networking Day attracted a total of 888 participants, including 314 students. A record-breaking 93 organisations took part this year.
“It has been a pleasure to see how many companies have participated in the event,” says Viivi Sakkara, communications manager at the Central Finland Chamber of Commerce. “The university is a very important partner for us. I highly recommend this event.”
“We have received a lot of positive feedback about the event,” says Anni Taponen, business services manager at the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. “Visitors have been able to see the diverse range of expertise available at the University of Jyväskylä. The faculties have also found new ways to cooperate through the event.”
