

Y Science 2021
An official side event of Slush for Life Sciences
Helsinki, Finland, Messukeskus
December 1st 2021, 12.00-16.00
Y Science is an event that brings together the curious scientific community and the business world to inspire concrete action and contribution to the society in the field of life sciences.
This year the event will be hybrid, allowing participants to attend it in person or virtually. Attendance is free-of-charge, but requires registration.
REGISTER TO Y SCIENCE
To register to Y Science 2021, sign up to the Tavata platform and then join our event using the code VMNR.
IMPORTANT COVID-19 INFORMATION
Slush will check the Covid passport of each person entering Messukeskus, including attendees of the side events held in the Siipi area. This means that to attend Y Science in person, you will need a valid Covid passport. Please note that only the EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) can be accepted as a valid Covid passport in Finland. Instructions for acquiring EUDCC for people that don't have it, as well as more information on Slush's health and safety policy, can be found from Slush's health and safety documentation.

"Y Science is one of the best events to get in touch with a diverse set of the top-notch researchers and science-based startups from the Nordics."
— Michael Lütolf, Creathor Ventures
PROGRAMME
Y Science 2021 will take place on December 1st, 2021, 12.00-16.00, in Messukeskus, Helsinki, and the event programme will be divided into three sessions, each with its own pitching competition.
Throughout the event we will also reserve time slots dedicate to networking, so our audience can have the possibility to connect with other Y Science attendees and set up meetings using our matchmaking app. Moreover, since the event will have a hybrid format, attendees will also be able to follow the event remotely and schedule online meetings.
12.00 - 13.00: Health & Pharma
Opening word by Olli Silvennoinen, Director of HiLIFE, UH
Keynote - Sanna Lauslahti, Managing director - Pharma Industry Finland (PIF)
Life science brings hope for a brighter future
Host - Juha Paakkola, Director - Health Capital Helsinki
Health pitching competition
Finalists
-
Lukasz Surazynski - Auroptics Medical
-
Sven Lanens - Immunate
-
Tamara Alagirova - Moncyte
-
Jana Buzkova - NADMED
Jury
-
Alexander Bedenkov - AstraZeneca
-
Caroline Heckman - Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki
-
Gerald Parloiu - Global Founders Capital
-
Giles Dudley - BioInnovation Institute Fonden
Mark Daly, Director - Instritute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki
FinnGen - Partnership with pharma to advance medical discovery
Anna-Maria Henell, CEO - Disior
The Disior Story
Student pitch - Polychronis Tatsis - Winner of the Planetary Health Hackathon
Jury
-
Janne Mielck - ECBF
-
Juha Lindfors - Lifeline Ventures
-
Merja Penttilä - Aalto-University and VTT
-
Miika Mahonen - HMD Global
-
Perttu Koskinen - Neste
- Tuula Palmén - VTT
13.00 - 13.15: Networking break
13.15 - 14.20: Synbio, Biotech & Sustainability
Host - Nina Pulkkis, SynBio Powerhouse
SynBio documentary
Keynote - Perttu Koskinen, VP of Innovation, Discovery and External Collaboration - Neste
Providing globally scalable renewable and circular solutions to tackle climate change
SynBio Power Pitch
Finalists
-
Andrii Shekhirev - Enzymity
-
Prateek Singh - MPower
- Dario Forneris - Nordic Bioproducts
-
Antonio Biundo - REWOW
-
Kenani Kenani - Umkele Inc
14.20 - 14.35: Networking break
14.35 - 15.40: Foodtech & Agritech
Host - Laura Forsman, Manager - Viikki Food Design Factory
Keynote - Thomas Bacon, Investor - Maki.vc
VC trends and opportunities in Foodtech
Foodtech pitching competition
Finlists
-
Panu Miettinen - CompactGrowth
-
Pauliina Piuhola - Mäsli
-
Dmitry Gradov - Natinrec
-
Fabio Valoppi - OleoFlow
Jury
-
Ilkka Kivimäki - Maki.vc
-
Juha Helenius - University of Helsinki
-
Lauri Reuter - Nordic FoodTech VC
-
Louise Heiberg - PINC
-
Maija Tenkanen - University of Helsinki
-
Reetta Kivelä - Viikki Food Design Factory, University of Helsinki
Outi Mäkinen, CTO - Nordic Umami Company
From research to startup - Case Nordic Umami Company
Mari Granström, Founder - Origin by Ocean
TBA
Announcing the winners of the three pitching competitions
Closing remarks by Olli Silvennoinen, Director - HiLIFE, UH
15.40 - 16.00: Networking break
Hungry for more science-based innovations? Check out
-
the UNICORNER event, taking place in Tiekedulma (Helsinki) on December 1 at 17.00-20.00
-
the event Impact Health: International Investments are Rocket Fuel for Finnish Health Innovations, taking place at the Helsinki Partners' Lounge (Messukeskus, Exhibitors Lounge) on December 2 at 14.00-15.00

Pitching Competitions
Are you already on the path of turning your discovery into action? Our pitch-competitions are for you!
In 2021, Y Science will host three pitching competitions, one for each of the main sessions in the program:
All finalists will receive pitching training from experienced communication specialists before the event, as well as a ticket to attend Slush and the opportunity to showcase their idea to potential investors on December 1st.
The winner of each competition will be granted a 5,000 euros prize to take their exciting idea further!
Why Science
We're here to bring forth the value of science-based business, and encourage scientists to embrace a different way of thinking about impact. Y Science invites all those enthusiastic about life sciences and commercialization of research for a moment of mutual enlightenment.
The event, now at its forth edition, originates from a collaboration between Slush and HiLIFE from the University of Helsinki. This year we take it one step further and we welcome SynBio Powerhouse, Health Capital Helsinki, and Viikki Food Design Factory as co-organizers.
On December 1st, join us for a journey of discovery. Our path will pass through scientific breakthroughs, possibilities for concrete action and tasty teasers of what you can do with your skills if you just set your mind to it.
The event is one of the official side events of Slush, the biggest startup conference in the Nordics.