SIGNATURE
SIDE EVENT
Y Science 2025
Life science innovation and entrepreneurship
Helsinki, Finland, Messukeskus
November 19th 2025
Y Science is an event that brings together the curious scientific community and the business world to inspire concrete actions, innovation and contributions to society in the field of life sciences.
"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
2025 Program
2025 Stage Program
10.30-14.30
Venue 5, Siipi, Messukeskus
10.30 - 10.40 Opening
Felicia von Reden - Co-Founder and CEO, Ovom Care
​
10.40 - 10.55 Fireside
Fanny Jaulin - Co-Founder and CEO, Orakl Oncology
Gustav Henriksson - Head of Swiss Business Hub Nordics, Export and Investment Promotion Switzerland
__________________________________
10.55 - 11.45 Health & Pharma
Short talks
-
How unconventional thinking can give rise to new perspectives in healthcare
Tero Saukkonen - Medical Director, Novo Nordisk Finland
-
Finnish Drug Discovery Center & Lessons from a Finnish Biotech Exit
Maarit Merla - CEO, Finnish Drug Discovery Center
Pharma Pitching Competition
Teams
-
Digehealth - Nour Abassi
-
Rea Diagnostics - Erick Garcia
-
Enantios - Carin Lightner
-
TrueHear - Anni Iso-Mustajärvi
Jury
-
Sammeli Likkanen - Director of Digital Medicine, Orion Pharma
-
Pascale Dychter - Deputy Head of Mission and Science Counselor, Embassy of Switzerland in Denmark
Student Pitch
Polina Gavrilyuk - Aalto-Helsini iGEM team
__________________________________
11.50 - 12.40 Food Systems
Host: Laura Forsman - Manager at Viikki Food Design Factory, University of Helsinki
Food Systems Keynote
Vincent Martin - Director, UN FAO Office of Innovation
Food Systems Pitching Competition
Teams
-
Vaimee - Anita Licata
-
Hola Tractor - Nimain Giri
-
Zertifier - Giovanni Dal Mas
- La Indiana - Lorena Vargas Arias
Jury
-
Marko Turpeinen - CEO, 1001 Lakes
__________________________________
​
12.45 - 13.35 Nature and Forestry
Host: Mikko Pohjola - Head of Viikki Wood & Forest Innovation Hub, University of Helsinki
Short talks
-
Nature and forest technology innovations
Anu Kaukovirta - VP Production Systems, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
-
TBA
​
Nature and Forestry Pitching Competition
Teams
-
LignoSphere - Eero Knuutila
-
Laukansaari Giants - Mikko Tikkinen
-
Koko Forest - Aki Snellman
-
HYGRON - Vinay Kumar
Jury
-
Pia Erkinheimo
-
Reetta Ilo
-
Erik Hämäläinen
-
Viktor Sunholm
__________________________________
​
13.40 - 14.10 Science to Business Runway
Host: Avlokita Tiwari - Business Development Manager at Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd (HIS)
Short talk
-
Science to Business Horizons
Will Cardwell - Partner, Courage Ventures
Sampsa Fabritius - Director, Moonshot Studio at HIS
R2B Runway Pitches
-
SuperBase - Jaakko Kurkela
-
TrueScreen - Andrew Erickson
-
AdCAb - Firas Hamdan Hissaoui
-
EcoGeo - Gene Ho
-
Mitoguarder - Brendan Battersby & Sarah O'Keefe
-
ReCure - Raman Devarajan
__________________________________
​
14.15 - 14.30 Pitching Competition Awards & Closing
Awarding the winners of the three pitching competitions
Closing remarks
-
Pilar Aguar Fernandez - Director of People: Health and Society, European Commission DG Research and Innovation
Networking
10.30-15.30
Venue 6, Siipi, Messukeskus
Coffee and tea will be available throughout the event,
while snacks and drinks will be served at 14.30 - 15.30 (once the stage program ends).
Pitching Competitions
Are you already on the path of turning your discovery into action? Our pitch competitions are for you!
​
In 2025, Y Science will host three pitching competitions:
​
​​
All finalists will receive pitch 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. ​
Why (Y) 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 originates from a collaboration between Slush and the University of Helsinki. In 2025, the event is organized by the Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE together with Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd., Orion Pharma, Viikki Food Design Factory, Viikki Wood and Forest Innovation Hub, Luke, and Swissnex.
Y Science is a Signature Side Event at Slush, the biggest startup conference in the Nordics.