Professor Johanna Ivaska is an academic researcher at the University of Turku, Finland. Her research focuses on finding novel approaches to treat cancer by gaining a fuller appreciation of the intricacies of cell adhesion in regulating cell fate, tissue homeostasis and crosstalk with the stroma. Johanna obtained her PhD in 2000 at the University of Turku before completing her postdoctoral training at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute in 2003.

Johanna Ivaska will deliver a keynote speech At SHIFT side event “InFLAMES corporate corner goes SHIFT” on the 21st of May, on the topic “Bridging Academia and Industry: Leadership Lessons in Innovation, Team Building, and Commercialization” 

The aims and ambitions of academia and industry are somewhat different and can even become conflicting. This can be challenging for leading academic projects exploring the possibilities of innovation. Thus, taking ideas from academia towards industry can be rewarding and also requires sacrifices.

Mrs. Ivaska will discuss the possibilities and the challenges of this conundrum from the leadership perspective. What do you gain or lose by trying to take an academic finding towards commercialization? How to decide what is a good research project for innovation? How do you choose the team and justify the approach? How to mentor talented individuals? She will also share her personal experiences and learnings, which have not always come the easy way.

InFLAMES-lippulaiva on Turun yliopiston ja Åbo Akademin yhteinen hanke, joka hakee syvempää ymmärrystä normaaleista ja väärin kohdistetuista tulehdusreaktioista sekä terveydessä että sairaudessa. Lippulaiva muuttaa immunologisen tutkimuksen ja innovaatiot taloudelliseksi ja yhteiskunnalliseksi voimaannuttamiseksi yhdessä bioteknologia- ja lääkeyritysten kanssa.