DAILY BRIEF: Fashion talent, acquisitions, funding, cancer research, 5G and women scientists

Finnish company Siili Solutions has been given the green light to acquire a majority stake in Hungary’s Supercharge to form an international digital innovation, experience and technology powerhouse. Siili will acquire 55 per cent in the fast-growing digital services provider with offices in Budapest, London and Amsterdam. To be completed by the end of February, the transaction will accelerate Silli’s digital experience strategy with Fastcharge’s significant innovation, concept and mobile application expertise. Image: Siili Solutions

Finnish eco-design and material technology company Woodio has been selected for the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Accelerator programme. Woodio will receive 2.5 million euros in funding with an option for a further five million in equity financing. The programme is highly competitive, with only one per cent of the applicants awarded funding. Woodio’s material innovation is a composite made of wood chips and resins, which can be moulded into end products such as wash basins, bath tubs, toilets and panels. Image: Woodio

The DECIDER project coordinated by the University of Helsinki has received 15 million euros in funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. The goal of the five-year research project is to improve the diagnostics and treatment of ovarian cancer with advanced technology. Its partners represent 14 organisations from seven European countries. The research will use patient data to develop diagnostics tools that are able to give earlier and better predictions for patients whose cancer is not responding to current treatments, as well as find effective and more personalised treatments. All the patients participating in the research project are treated in Finland. Image: Pixabay

Aalto University fashion design student Idaliina Friman has won the Designers’ Nest competition for young fashion designers in Copenhagen. The jury was impressed by her “visually striking silhouettes, accomplished tailoring, an elegant grasp of historic references and use of recycled materials”. Aalto students Ines Kalliala, Elina Äärelä and Arttu Åfeldt also reached the final. Part of Copenhagen Fashion Week, the competition is an important springboard for young and promising Nordic designers. Friman, Äärelä and Kalliala’s works will also be included in the upcoming Future Nordic Fashion exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden. Image: Aalto University / Arttu Åfeldt

Finnish public organisation Business Finland and Brazil’s Ministry of Communications have signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration on digital development and 5G in Brazil. The South American country’s communication minister, Fabio Faria, is currently on a global trip to learn more about the 5G technologies available in various countries, ahead of the world’s largest auction for 5G frequencies planned in Brazil in the spring. The agreement establishes a broad base for collaboration to provide Brazil with the best Finnish digital practices and solutions. Image: Business Finland

With the International Day of Women and Girls in Science being celebrated on 11 February, our weekly Five From Finland series set out to explore some innovative developments where female scientists from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have played a key role. The featured innovations are plastic alternatives, a food vending machine of the future, a waste processing solution, sustainable cosmetics and a treatment method for excessive sweating. Read our article on the inspiring ladies by clicking the headline. Image: VTT