AIMday brings together working life, students, and university experts

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences engages in diverse research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities and is constantly seeking new ways to lower the threshold for especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in joint projects. The aim is to develop forms of collaboration where research, development, and learning are seamlessly integrated.

In May, VAMK became the first Finnish university to join the AIMday network, aiming to further promote and strengthen collaboration between companies and the university’s RDI activities. AIMday is a registered trademark of Uppsala University since 2011 and is used by over 15 universities around the world. It brings together the academic world and the business and professional sectors in an innovative and approachable way, focusing on current challenges.

“We were introduced to the model at the University of Toronto during a recent visit organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture, and it caught our interest because it fits perfectly with our goal of continuously developing new forms of collaboration with businesses and working life. We will launch the AIMday activities in autumn 2025, with the aim of organising at least two events per year,” says Marja-Riitta Vest, RDI Director at VAMK.

Driving cross-border innovation together

AIMday is a one-day event where companies have, in advance, defined specific challenges related to a selected theme. The questions and needs presented by companies and other stakeholders from working life form the core structure of the event day.

“The university connects these questions with its own expertise, and during the event, our experts work on the challenges in multiple “one question, one hour” workshops. In each workshop, around five to ten participants gather to openly discuss each topic. Students are also warmly encouraged to participate,” Vest clarifies.

The event is all about exchanging knowledge and ideas, with a focus on discovering new approaches to real-life challenges.

“Close collaboration with various stakeholders comes naturally to us and already provides a lot. AIMday concept helps us innovate across borders, creating growth and generating new know-how. It lowers especially SMEs’ access to academic knowledge and increases the integration of teaching with RDI activities,” tells Vest.