The Product Development Path Makers award recognizes outstanding projects, experiments, and initiatives that have opened new pathways in product development and created lasting impact.
The award is organized by TEK together with Aalto Design Factory, the City of Espoo, Technology Industries of Finland, Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, Finnish Forest Industries, and TT-säätiö. The domestic award was established in 2024.
“We are in the midst of significant global uncertainty, at a time when Finland needs renewal and positive news. In moments like this, it is especially important to highlight those who have succeeded in building different kinds of growth stories,” says Juhani Nokela, Director of Public Affairs, TEK.
“At TEK, we want to raise the appreciation of product development in Finland and show, even in the midst of these challenging times, that we have successes and the foundations for sustainable growth,” Nokela continues.
Anyone may nominate an inspiring experiment, activity, or project for consideration. From the nominations, the award jury will select 4 finalists. Each finalist will receive a prize of €8,000. In addition, one finalist will be chosen by public vote to receive the Ekman Award, worth a further €8,000. You can find more information about the award from the above web page.
The award may be granted to a project team or community. Last year, the Ekman Award was won by Entteri for overcoming adoption barriers with its AI-powered dental X-ray analysis software.