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The third IdeaKymi contest, which will start in September, aims to find ideas and inventions in Kymenlaakso and to help in the further development of the ones that have the most potential. Proposals submitted to the contest may include technical solutions, products, services, service improvements and well-developed ideas. The contest will be held between 1 September and 15 October. A proposal for the contest needs to be submitted by 4 PM on 15 October. The contest has previously been held in 2021 and 2023. The previous contests received 173 proposals in different divisions. The goal is to establish the contest as a biennial event and to revitalize the Kymenlaakso region through new innovations. The contest endeavours to receive proposals from private innovators who live or study in Kymenlaakso and from companies or other organizations in the Kymenlaakso region.
The contest will be organized by the Kymenlaakso Innovation Network (Kymenlaakson Innovaatioverkosto). The network, comprised of 14 member organizations, was established in the spring of 2020 at the initiative of the Kymi Innovation Association (Kymen Innovaatioyhdistys ry). The goal of the network is to advance the creation and development of new ideas and inventions in Kymenlaakso. The member organizations of the Kymenlaakso Innovation Network are Foundation for Finnish Inventions (Keksintösäätiö), the Kymi Innovation Association, Cursor Oy, Kouvola Innovation Oy, Southern-Kymenlaakso Vocational School Ekami (Etelä-Kymenlaakson ammattiopisto Ekami), Kouvola Vocational School Ltd (Kouvolan Ammattiopisto Oy, EduKo), South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu, Xamk), Kymi Entrepreneurs Association (Kymen Yrittäjät ry), South-Eastern Finland Centre of Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (Kaakkois-Suomen Ely-keskus), Southern-Kymenlaakso Employment Services (Etelä-Kymenlaakson työelämäpalvelut), Kouvola Employment and Business Services (Kouvolan työllisyys-ja yrityspalvelut), Kymenlaakso Association (Kymenlaakson liitto), Kymenlaakso Chamber of Commerce (Kymenlaakson Kauppakamari) and the Kouvola unit of the LUT University (LUT-yliopisto). The Kymenlaakso Innovation Network remains the only regional innovation network in Finland.
Foundation for Finnish Inventions joined the Kymenlaakso Innovation Network to support innovation in Kymenlaakso. The Idearefinary, developed by Foundation for Finnish Inventions to enable innovators to receive support from experts and to provide them with useful tools to enhance their innovations, will offer a digital platform for the hosting of the contest this year. The platform, which makes its debut in the contest, can also be utilized across Finland.
There will be five divisions in the contest this year. From an invention to business –division (Keksinnöstä liiketoiminnaksi) seeks an invention, product, service, process, social innovation or innovative business concept with the potential to become a business. Responsible future –division (Vastuullinen tulevaisuus) seeks an invention, business idea or employee or student invention which places particular emphasis on recycling, green transition and ecological, cultural and social sustainability in innovation. Built environment –division (Rakennettu ympäristö) seeks tools which can be utilized in advancing the commercialization of innovations and digitalization in the construction and real estate business. Idea is the beginning –division (Idealla alkuun) seeks new ideas and solutions with the potential for further development. The division is mainly intended for students, but any person living in Kymenlaakso is eligible to enter it. Growing idea –division (Kasvava idea) is meant for youngsters and school-aged children, with the aim of finding inventive and bold ideas.
Instructions for entering the contest are published in August on the website of the Kymenlaakso Innovation Network and on its social media channels. The contest is financed by funding provided by the Kymenlaakso Association.