Business Development Experts to University of Helsinki projects

Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd; Helsinki; Hybrid; EUR 50 000 - 70 000; Full time

Job summary

A research commercialisation company in Helsinki is seeking a Business Development Expert to lead commercialisation activities for innovative projects. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with world-class scientific discoveries within an international community. Candidates should have a background in commerce, experience in commercialising research, and fluent English communication skills. Flexibility for part-time or full-time employment is available. Applications are due by January 4, 2026.

Benefits

International work environment

Opportunity to impact research

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience in turning science-based inventions into successful businesses.
• Background in business with an understanding of science-related projects.
• Ability to work in a hybrid environment while being present at the University of Helsinki.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement project’s commercialisation activities.
• Conduct market analysis and participate in IPR protection.
• Engage with customers and investors to build strategic partnerships.

Skills

Commercialisation experience

Fluency in English

Communication skills

Teamwork

Negotiation skills

Education

Relevant background in commerce

Job description

We are seeking Business Development Experts to University of Helsinki science-based commercialisation projects

University of Helsinki research commercialisation teams are looking for business development experts who are eager to make an impact by turning science-based inventions into successful businesses.

The University of Helsinki has a proven track record on innovation and business creation utilizing Research to Business funding from Business Finland. Research to Business-funded projects run for 1.5–2 years with an approximate budget of 500–700k EUR. Research to Business projects are coordinated and supported by Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd, the technology transfer and research commercialisation company of the University of Helsinki.

We expect

Ideally, you would support the research team already during the Research to Business funding preparation phase for the funding call in Autumn 2025. In case of a positive funding decision, you will join the team as project’s a commercial lead (also known as Commercial Champion). We expect you to have a suitable background and experience in commercialisation and/or business, as well as some understanding of the project’s field of science. In addition to fluency in English, excellent communication, teamwork, and negotiation skills are key to master the role successfully.

We offer

This meaningful position comes with the unique opportunity to build a global business based on world class scientific discoveries. You will work in an international community immersed in a vibrant innovation ecosystem. You will be employed by the University of Helsinki with flexibility regarding part time or full-time employment.

You will

As a Commercial Champion, you will have the overall responsibility to develop, coordinate, and implement the project’s commercialisation activities in close collaboration with the research team and Helsinki Innovation Services. Usual tasks include market analysis, participation in IPR protection, regulatory investigations, reach-out activities to future customers, partners, and investors as well as the development of a solid business strategy.

The role is hybrid but will require presence/working at the University of Helsinki campuses.

The following innovation projects are looking for Business Development Experts:

1 DopaStrat

We are developing a scalable serum-based diagnostic test to identify a biologically defined subgroup of psychosis patients supporting cost-effective and precise treatment decisions in psychiatry.

Contact person: Jaan-Olle Andressoo, [e-mail]

2 Morphotype AI

Morphotype AI is building a new way to diagnose blood diseases without traditional histology. Our AI-powered platform uses advanced imaging to deliver fast, accurate insights that will help doctors make treatment decisions sooner.

Contact person: Caroline Heckman, [e-mail]

3 ReBiont

The ReBiont project aims at the development and subsequent commercialisation of a bacteriotherapeutic formulation to restore disturbed gut microbiota. While we gather safety + efficacy proof and optimize the cultivation of bacterial strains, the Champion’s role will be to map and act upon potential commercial routes.

Contact person: Reetta Satokari, [e-mail]

4 PreciLip

Inflammation-targeting precision nanomedicine that delivers anti-inflammatory agents, aiming to treat diseases like IBD and injuries more safely and effectively. We seek a business-driven person in Finland with strong stakeholder management skills and network in drug delivery/therapeutics to turn this targeted nanomedicine into partnerships and market traction.

Contact person: Oula Penate-Medina, [e-mail]

5 Rewired

We are creating a drug discovery pipeline focused on targeting altered cellular energy pathways, a critical driver of cancer and metabolic diseases. Our mission is to transform these breakthroughs into early-stage clinical trials, paving the way to capture multi‑billion-dollar market opportunities across diverse indications.

Contact person: Juha Klefström, [e-mail]

6 DPDREP

DPDPREP is an advanced technology that improves sequencing by removing interference from dead cells before data is generated. This ensures cleaner, more accurate results while reducing costs. The outcome is high purity for transcripts of interest in any sample—better data quality and lower expense.

Contact person: Andrew Erickson, [e-mail]

7 AngioReset

AngioReset is a drug discovery pipeline built on a novel mechanism that enables the design of precision‑targeted biological therapies to restore vascular integrity in diseases driven by inflammation and vascular leakage. By advancing selected biological therapeutic candidates toward preclinical readiness, the project aims to generate innovative discoveries that support commercial translation and ultimately reverse vascular leakage to strengthen health resilience.

Contact person: Pipsa Saharinen, [e-mail]

8 EMMI

EMMI is a maternal healthcare service/project aimed towards the development of an accurate tool for monitoring labour onset, progress, and associated risks. Our tool can be used as at‑home kits or facilitate medical professionals in identifying the timing of birth.

Contact person: Anne Salonen, [e-mail]

9 ZebraScreen

This project aims to develop a rapid, high‑throughput zebrafish xenograft imaging and analysis platform that significantly reduces hands‑on time while enabling reliable, large‑scale drug‑response assessments. The goal is to establish a comprehensive service for researchers and pharmaceutical companies interested in utilizing the zebrafish xenograft model.

Contact person: Ahmed Al‑Samadi, ahmed.al‑[e-mail]

10 FUNGA

This project aims to explore and develop innovative applications for biobased regional by‑products by biotechnological approaches.

Contact person: Tuula Jyske, [e-mail]

11 Sustainable Commodity Chemicals from Industrial Side Streams via Light‑Promoted Hydrogen‑Borrowing

We aim to commercialise a sustainable process using quinone‑based photoredox catalysis and renewable alcohols as hydrogen donors. This enables dual valorization—oxidizing alcohols to ketones while reducing organic substrates or generating H₂O₂—without heavy‑metal catalysts. The technology offers strong scale‑up potential for producing chemical building blocks (e.g., ketones for coatings, plastics) and oxidation agents for applications in cleaning, pulp and paper, textiles, and water treatment, while expanding substrate scope and improving catalyst efficiency.

Contact person: Juho Helaja, [e-mail]

12 AI‑DrugDesign

We will develop novel AI‑based end‑to‑end architectures to virtually generate potent, safe, and stereochemically optimized drug‑like molecules for currently undruggable targets. These models will generate and rank candidate molecules for each target, with top‑ranked candidates undergoing in‑vitro and in‑vivo validation in collaboration with in‑house partners. This integrated pipeline is designed to identify optimized drug‑like candidates that meet preclinical requirements and are suitable for advancement to clinical trials.

Contact person: Ziaurrehman Tanoli, [e-mail]

Applications

Please send your application and CV by email to the contact person (research group leader) of the project you are interested in joining latest by 4th January 2026. Please cite the project name in the email subject.

Interviews of suitable candidates will start on a rolling basis depending on each contact person’s timetables.

Please note that direct LinkedIn applies only will not be considered.

We look forward to hearing from you!