Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiR) is a programme that involves entrepreneurs in the activities of Turku School of Economics in variety of ways. The objective of the EiR programme is to increase the participation and presence of active entrepreneurs in the school. The unique programme started in autumn 2020 and no similar cooperation programme between entrepreneurs and a university exists in Finland.
The close form of cooperation benefits both parties. The EiRs chosen for the programme become honorary members of the scientific community. They offer students and researchers a direct connection to the realities of business life. In turn, the entrepreneurs get access to the latest academic research and knowledge. The entrepreneurs are also offered the possibility to engage with business collaboration projects and to offer students assignments for master’s theses, for example.
The contact person for the EiR programme at the Turku School of Economics is professor of entrepreneurship Jarna Heinonen.
Below you can read more about the forms of engagement as well as the benefits of the programme for the EIRs.
- Engagement as inspirational guest speakers
- Serving as review panelists/judges in classroom activities, such as pitching/business idea competitions
- Mentoring students in the identification, evaluation and exploitation of business ideas
- Supporting research activities of faculty members across TSE
- Reinforcing TSE as an entrepreneurship-friendly faculty and partner for business
- Serving as ambassadors of TSE and its programmes
- Access to academic excellence and know-how
- Vantage point to interdisciplinary research and expertise from across the University of Turku
- Access to the academic support network offered by the University of Turku
- Access to events targeted to the EiRs
- Preferential access to students for assignments and collaborative projects as well as exposure to fresh perspectives and future talents
EiRs at the Turku School of Economics
Hannu Aaltonen, CM-trader
Petri Hollmén, Founder and CEO of Lyyti Oy
Jussi Karttila, Founder and CEO of Zefort
Noora Keskievari, Co-Founder and CEO of OneMind Dogs Oy
Sari-Anne Poikkijoki, Founder and CEO of Åma Oy
Founder of Dagsmark Petfood Oy and serial entrepreneur Laura Strömberg as an entrepreneur
(Started as an EiR and currently Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship)
