Dr. Minna Väkevä appointed as Innovation Director

Dr. Minna Väkevä (PhD in Physics) has been appointed as Director of Metropolia’s Clean and Sustainable Solutions innovation hub. She began in her new role on 10 November 2025. Väkevä brings strong research expertise alongside extensive experience in commercialising innovations and developing business operations.

Before joining Metropolia, Väkevä worked as a consultant entrepreneur and startup mentor. She has several years of experience in technology companies, where she has served as CEO, as well as in executive and board member roles. Väkevä has also been a board member of Hallituspartnerit – Board Professionals Helsinki and has been responsible for the organisation’s training programmes, a role she continues to hold.

“At the heart of impactful RDI is the moment when an innovation becomes reality and starts to change the world. To reach that point, we need to bring working life and research closer together and co-develop solutions. Strengthening collaboration between companies and higher education institutions is my passion and one of my key goals in my new role as Innovation Director at Metropolia,” Väkevä says.

“I’m proud to be part of Metropolia. What stands out to me is the clear people-first approach in everything we do. When it comes to developing new technologies, the most important thing isn’t the technology itself, but how it creates value and benefits for people and society.”

A sustainable future is built together

In Metropolia’s three phenomenon-based innovation hubs, staff, students and partners work together to find solutions to global challenges and societal needs.

Our innovation hubs are ecosystem-based; solutions are created with different actors through bold thinking, as well as working and learning together.

Further information

Miimu Airaksinen
RDI Director
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
+358 40 770 4832
firstname.lastname [at] metropolia.fi (firstname[dot]lastname[at]metropolia[dot]fi)