Ikigaia is about to land – with a bold new digital presence. Stay tuned!
Co-Creating Sustainable Business from Science to Scale
Join the movement where innovation, strategy & purpose converge.
Join nowWHO WE ARE
Your partner in sustainable growth & impact creation
Ikigaia is a mission-driven expert organization accelerating the journey from early-stage innovation to scalable, sustainable business. We bridge the gaps between academia, industry, ecosystems and capital to unlock global solutions from local potential.
We won't scale alone. We build with leaders.
EU-FUNDED INNOVATION PROJECTS
Ikigaia is proud to be part of a growing portfolio of EU-funded innovation projects that drive sustainable impact across Europe and beyond. From circular bioeconomy to deep tech and ecosystem development, our role spans coordination, commercialization, and capacity-building in transformative ventures. Each project reflects our commitment to turning bold ideas into scalable solutions through collaboration, creativity, and purpose-driven innovation.
GreenTech4Transformation
GreenTech4Transformation (GT4T) is a transformative initiative designed to empower Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as leaders in sustainable innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. Through focusing on key sectors such as the circular economy, digital transformation, and energy transition, GT4T integrates advanced research, deep-tech applications, and entrepreneurial training to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time. The project adopts a structured, interdisciplinary approach that connects HEI researchers, student innovators, and start-up ecosystems, aligning its outputs with Europe’s vision for a green and digital future.
SmartAging
SmartAging explores how to improve indoor environments in assisted living through sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible design. The project develops and tests long-lasting, adaptable solutions using bio-based materials, while contributing to the education of future professionals such as designers, architects, engineers, and care specialists
Launch of biomaterial design agency
The project aims to develop a comprehensive service framework to facilitate the discovery of new bio-based material innovations through collaboration with universities and other innovators. These innovations undergo thorough assessment and examination, followed by scaling and integration into globally applicable solutions for the manufacturing industry. Simultaneously, the project ensures the optimal suitability of identified innovations for global players and facilitates seamless integration. The goal is to incorporate Finnish innovations in bio-based materials into solutions offered by global corporations, thereby reducing carbon footprints and increasing the revenue of stakeholders in the value chain.
More in progress 2025 >, information will follow soon.
IKIGAIA CORE TEAM
Mikko Ruuska
Founder & CEO – Chief Enabler & Impact Architect
TechNextGen materials, industries & technologies
Sustainable strategy and scale-up concept development
Industrial engineering and biomaterial ecosystems
Pasi Rantanen
Chief Innovation Hunter – Academia & Venture Expert
Academic collaboration & project management
Startup mentoring & hands-on advisory
Funding advisory & investor engagement
Tiina Ruuska
Innovation Ecosystem Architect
Strategic Business advisory & project management Mentoring in commercialization, branding, marketing & HR