Visiting the Arctic Silicon Valley in Oulu, Finland

From March 31 to April 3, 39 students from the RSM honors programme visited University of Oulu to immerse themselves in the dynamics of the Oulu region and 6G communications technology. The RSM honors programme focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship in high-tech regions. The Oulu region is an interesting example of such a region which managed to overcome the demise of a central player in the region’s ecosystem (i.e., Nokia). Our visit made clear that the Oulu region has fully recovered from this economic downturn in the early 2000s and represents a hotbed for innovation and research into new technologies such as 6G.

Henna Määttä, Satu Nätti and Petri Ahokangas, in particular, helped us with the organisation of our annual study trip and the Tech business challenge we had in mind. Together, they put together a rich and engaging programme, that included policy talks, academic insights, company visits, and networking opportunities—each shedding light on the development, resilience, and ongoing renewal of the Oulu innovation ecosystem.

Our programme commenced on March 31 with a warm welcome by Dr. Arto Maaninen, Rector of the University of Oulu. This was followed by an insightful presentation from Professor Jaakko Simonen on the resilience of the Oulu ecosystem, and an introduction to the Oyster incubator by Minna Komu. In the afternoon, students visited Nokia’s Oulu facility, hosted by Mikko Nissi, where they witnessed firsthand the company’s role in Finland’s techno-economic resurgence.

April 1 began with a keynote by Timo Alalääkkölä of Pohde Wellbeing Services, who illuminated the potential of 5G in healthcare applications and subsequent innovations. This was followed by Professor Petri Ahokangas, who introduced the students to the future possibilities of 6G and launched the 6G Tech Business Challenge. Students, organized in eight teams, were encouraged to identify promising application areas for 6G with potential societal and economic value looking toward 2030 and beyond. The teams spent the remainder of the day exploring these possibilities, with feedback and support from Professor Ahokangas. That evening, the City of Oulu and its Innovation Alliance hosted a reception at the Preludi Music Centre. We were honored by the presence of Mr. Govert Jan Bijl de Vroe, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Finland, who engaged the students in a lively discussion about Dutch-Finnish relations.

On April 2, the group visited Bittium, a technology and engineering firm specializing in secure communications. Karoliina Malmi provided an overview of the company’s role in developing reliable and secure connectivity solutions. The rest of the day was dedicated to further development of the student projects, culminating in a vibrant networking event co-organized with the OBS Finanssi student association. This gave students from both universities the opportunity to connect in both professional and informal settings, culminating in an enjoyable evening exploring Oulu’s social scene.

April 3 marked the final day of the programme and the culmination of the 6G Challenge. Each of the eight teams presented their 6G application concepts to a distinguished jury consisting of Petri Ahokangas, Satu Nätti, Seppo Yrjölä (University of Oulu), and Rene Olie (RSM, Erasmus University). Proposed application domains ranged from defense and agriculture to healthcare, education, and sustainable energy. While the jury posed critical questions regarding technical feasibility and commercial viability, they were clearly impressed by the students’ creativity, analytical thinking, and enthusiasm. The projects reflected not only newly acquired knowledge, but also a genuine drive to imagine how 6G could transform industries and society.

In sum, our journey to Oulu left us with a deep appreciation for the people, institutions, and entrepreneurial spirit that define this remarkable innovation ecosystem. We gained valuable insights into how regions can recover and reinvent themselves through resilience, collaboration, and visionary thinking. Our heartfelt thanks go to Henna Määttä, Satu Nätti, and Petri Ahokangas for their unwavering support and for making this inspiring and forward-looking experience possible.