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Research to Business

Research to Business

by Mikael Syväjärvi

Business Science

Semiconductors for non-experts (and experts) - introduction and forum

This episode introduces the concept of semiconductors for both non-experts and experts, noting that specialized terminology like bandgap, valence band, and conduction band are unfamiliar for those who are not experts. Semiconductors broadly influence society in direct and indirect ways, and many are relevant. Non-experts in semiconductors bring expertise from other fields, which can be applied on top of semiconductor knowledge. This is creating opportunities for interdisciplinary discussion, new ideas, and collaboration. Even within the semiconductor field, cross-topic learning is useful, for example by content other than technical content about working approaches and how to position technology for business and societal use, not just scientific publication. The forum is using short, focused presentations, around 10 minutes, followed by discussion. This is more effective for learning and exchange than longer, detail-heavy talks, since they allow attention to participants' interests and often surface unexpected connections or network links. Silicon carbide is used as an example, it has made its journey from a research material 30 years ago to a power electronics technology used in electric vehicles, data centers, and renewable energy. Emerging technologies are supported by large-area wafers and lower production costs. The episode frames this long-term perspective and network as a resource for building further on the semiconductor community.

Building network to consortia for long-term effect

This episode presents how conference participation has built up network since three decades. Poster sessions are more effective than oral sessions for building connections, since they involve one-to-one or small-group discussion. Early project funding from 2010 in Nordic call led to organizing workshops, which became valuable for network growth since external researchers with relevant expertise were invited in addition to project partners. The workshops have smaller format and offers more discussion. They rotated across partner countries and further built a network. Symposiums at larger conferences, such as European MRS, also were useful for network-building function. Over time, this led to further project applications, with a current EIC Pathfinder project built on relationships from the original Nordic consortium. This frames this long-term relationship-building as a strategic advantage: by growing a topic and collaboration network. That present how to be positioning before calls are announced. A core consortium can be ready and add complementary partners once a suitable call appears. These complementary partners are often found through active participation in forums and events, meaning that by the time a relevant call opens, the right partners may already be known.

Invited to work - next career step

This episode discusses how researchers sometimes reach out directly with a CV to ask about open positions, whether or not there has been prior contact. Funding for a position is precious, there is significant effort required to write, submit, and often resubmit applications. Because of this, it is an advantage that there is someone already known within a network who has necessary skills and likely to function in a team. While technical knowledge can transfer across related areas, personal fit and working chemistry between people are far less likely to change. Many recruitments come from recommendations. Forums is a solution: presentations reflect professional level, while the discussion that follows reveals both professional and personal chemistry. Researchers who actively ask questions and propose ideas build a stronger impression. As a result, an already-active and well-regarded profile is more likely to be invited to discuss recruitment to a team, or recommended to a colleague with new funding and is recruiting.

Outreach and exchange by LinkedIn posts

This episode discusses how LinkedIn posts can trigger ideas or spark potential collaboration opportunities, particularly when a post closely matches an ongoing activity or interest. Commenting on a post is a low-commitment way to explore interest before connecting or following someone, since an active response indicates engagement. Restricting comments to network-only connections may be a barrier that can limit this kind of informal exchange. Staying mentally open to new connections can grow into valuable opportunities.

Informal knowledge sharing and exchange

This episode discusses the value of informal knowledge sharing, highlighting its role in small group discussions, coffee-table conversations, and one-to-one or online meetings. These interactions generate reflection, feedback, and idea exchange that support career, research, and innovation development. LinkedIn posts are useful as a professional platform for triggering informal discussion, with comment sections often becoming informative extensions of the original post as people propose ideas and build on one another's contributions. Forums and communities designed to bring people together for repeated discussion serve a similar function, allowing ideas to evolve and grow naturally through mutual triggering and learning. Overall, informal knowledge sharing is framed as valuable because it provides timely feedback on relevant topics and helps sustain progress in ongoing activities.

Knowledge as asset and for career progression

Knowledge is an asset that can be used in various ways to position in research career. By sharing knowledge there can be various new opportunities for career and research.

Research to Business - introduction to the pod

The Research to Business is a micropod (less than 10 minutes episodes). It will contain various sharing of experiences, insights, thoughts, etc from Mikael Syväjärvi. He is an experienced researcher, innovator, entrepreneur, etc with more than 30 years of experiences: from basic research to large innovation programmes and international collaborations. And data-driven value creation for impact and exploitation towards business and sustainability. This episode introduces the Research to Business pod.