Join the global SPARK community

Applying

Next call will be open 1.-30.11.2024

Twice a year – in May/June and Nov/Dec – an expert panel of faculty and industry advisors reviews proposals submitted from across the academic and clinical landscape. Finalists are invited to present to the panel before final selections are made. On top of that we have partner programs – the first one is a Finnish version of BioDesign – from which we have a separate path to SPARK.

Call information

In open calls SPARK Finland looks for projects targeting on new solutions in health tech and life science space. Eligible applicants are from Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Kuopio and Joensuu regions – scientists, students, and healthcare professionals – from our member institutions.

Typical characteristics of targeted solution: it is targeted to a health related (clinical) problem or for enhancing processes of developing or producing the solution (e.g. drug development), it requires some health related regulatory approval, and most likely also a some sort of clinical validation.

HOW TO APPLY?  

  1. Check the match with your needs and offering of SPARK Finland. 
  2. Have a discussion with a SPARK manager about your case.
  3. Fill the application form and submit a two-page application.
  4. Make a 5-minute video presentation (see advice slide for that).
  5. Get invited to discusswith our evaluation panel.
  6. Decisions will be done in 2-3 weeks.

Next call: 1.-30.11.2024

Call info in Zoom: Mon 11.11.2024 at 14-15 EET

Selection criteria

Calls are targeted for wide spectrum in health tech and life science field; from drugs and vaccines to diagnostics and med tech – all the way to bioinformatics and healthIT.

The solution of the proposed project must:

  • address an unmet need in area of life science, medicine and health
  • utilize a novel approach (and possibly with an opportunity to IP)
  • have the potential to advance to clinic, clinical trials or commercialization within 2-3 years

Applicants are not required to have external funding for applying the program.

For Biodesign Finland winners we have a special route. Those applicants we ask to contact first Biodesign program managers and get their endorsement. (Notice: If your project is not associated with Aalto, UH or HUS, unfortunately you are not eligible to get to SPARK.)

For more information take a closer look to our frequently asked questions.

NOTICE: If you have already an operating company then you will receive support from existing business development service providers (incl. accelerators, incubators…).