First Product Development Path Makers award given to KONE’s project consortium
The Product Development Path Makers award highlights the importance of product development. The new award was given out for the first time on 12 November 2024. The EUR 16,000 main award was given to the KONE Veturi project consortium for smooth cooperation in the co-development of future urban housing.
The Product Development Path Makers award is a recognition for inspiring work or a project that pursues new product development models or impact and draws attention to the importance of a successful product development process.
The winner was chosen by public vote from four projects selected by the jury. In addition to the main award won by the KONE Veturi project consortium, the other finalists, Sulapac, Surgify and Vaisala, received monetary awards worth EUR 8,000. The City of Espoo congratulates the winners.
‘All four projects reflect the significance of collaboration and agile experimentation in product development. It is great to be able to shine a light on the activities and people behind successful innovations through these awards,’ says Tua Björklund, chair of the jury and Director of the Aalto University Design Factory.
The awards were given out at the AI Powering Product Development seminar organised jointly by the Aalto University Design Factory and DIMECC Oy in Otaniemi, Espoo.
The City of Espoo is a co-founder and co-presenter of the Product Development Path Makers award together with the Aalto University Design Factory, Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) and the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation.
'In Espoo, innovation is not only a concept but a continuous approach. Our success is based on creativity as well as shared goals and values,’ says Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Sports and Culture Mervi Heinaro. ‘In order to generate economic growth in Finland and commercialise the innovations created, we must invest in high-quality product development,’ Heinaro, one of the members of the jury, continues.
Espoo wants to be a trailblazer in urban development and to invent solutions for global challenges such as urbanisation, digitalisation and climate change. We actively make use of our networks to support the growth of the local innovation community.
Last week, Espoo was the only Nordic city to reach the final of an international smart city competition when we were in the running for the World Smart City Awards.
We are currently waiting for the results of the European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) competition. We are one of three finalists in the European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) competition, whose winner will be announced today on 13 November during the Web Summit in Lisbon. The competition will award the European city which, by setting a good example, has best promoted the creation of new innovations to ensure a smother everyday life and a sustainable future.
Additional information
Mervi Heinaro, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Sports and Culture, City of Espoo, tel. +358 40 6369250, mervi.heinaro@espoo.fi
Tua Björklund, Assistant Professor, Aalto University School of Engineering, Director, Aalto University Design Factory, tel. +358 50 5113182, tua.bjorklund@aalto.fi