Ismo Kauppinen is an entrepreneur and physicist whose career has taken him from the research laboratory to international technology business. As CEO of Gasera Ltd, he has seen first-hand how long and demanding the journey from research innovation to a commercial product can be – and why collaboration between research and industry is needed from the earliest stages.
Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your career path?
“When I was younger, I also considered a career in music, but I ultimately chose to study physics. During my studies, I was able to combine these two interests: my master’s thesis focused on modelling audio signals, and I developed a method to mathematically restore the sound of, for example, a scratched LP record.
This led to a doctoral dissertation, patents and eventually licensing the technology to an international company. At that point, I realized that I was particularly fascinated by commercialization – how a research result is brought into practical use.
Together with my father, I founded a company to protect and license inventions, and from there the path led to Gasera Ltd. The company originated from university research and has grown over more than twenty years into an international technology company developing and manufacturing gas analysers for environmental and industrial applications.”
What inspired you to join the Board of FRIF?
“Because of my background, I tend to look at things from research towards industry. I have personally experienced the journey of taking an innovation born in research and trying to bring it into societal use.
FRIF’s work resonates with me for this very reason. The Foundation starts from the quality and objectives of research and seeks to build a bridge towards impact. It is not only about funding, but also about systematically reflecting on and measuring impact. Personally, I find this perspective compelling – I want to better understand how the societal impact of research can be assessed and strengthened.”
How do you see the role of FRIF in the Finnish research and innovation system, particularly from the perspective of technology and growth companies?
“I see the Foundation as a long-term developer of the ecosystem. Finland produces a great deal of high-quality research, but especially at an early stage there are not enough funding instruments that enable close collaboration with companies.
Private capital typically does not flow into very early-stage research, as the risks are high and the return uncertain. FRIF helps to bridge this gap and brings research and industry together from the outset.
In research-based entrepreneurship, technology often comes first and applications are identified only afterwards. This is a more challenging path than market-driven development, but it can also create entirely new markets. For this reason, early dialogue between researchers and companies is critical. When both parties are involved from the beginning, the path from innovation to practical application becomes shorter.
In addition to funding instruments, FRIF can support this development by fostering a culture in which collaboration is seen as a natural part of research.”
Where do you see FRIF creating the greatest added value in the coming years?
“One important role is to act as a pathfinder within the broader funding system. The Foundation was created to address funding gaps, but at its best the models it develops can spread more widely.
I also consider it important that FRIF has opened up research–industry collaboration beyond technical disciplines. In the deep tech field, collaboration is often more natural, but in areas such as the humanities this way of thinking is still relatively new. The Foundation can act as an enabler and encourager in these fields as well.”
Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve during your term on the Board?
“I hope that we can develop new funding instruments and further strengthen the Foundation’s impact. It is encouraging that FRIF does not settle for a single model but is willing to continuously experiment and develop new approaches.
Personally, I am particularly interested in the work of the investment committee and in how the Foundation’s capital can be managed in a way that allows its activities to scale and its impact to grow. I also look forward to strategic discussions within the Board. There is a great deal of expertise and experience in this group.
I have seen how long the journey can be from research innovation to real societal impact. That is why this theme is close to my heart. If I can contribute to ensuring that strong research ideas find their way into practice, I consider the Board work meaningful.”
