DAILY BRIEF: Prepare for blackouts, acquisition, health tech, 5G and green textiles

Finnish education tool Whiteboard.fi has been acquired by Norwegian learning platform Kahoot for six million US dollars (approx. 4.9 million euros), with up to six million dollars payable in add-ons dependent on certain financial goals being met in 2021–2022. The acquisition covers 100 per cent of the shares in Digital Teaching Tools Finland, which developed the digital tool to engage students both in the classroom and through remote learning. Image: Whiteboard.fi

Finnish digital health company Popit has partnered with Ashfield Engage to improve patient adherence to treatments. Popit’s smart pill tracking solution uses a device attached to a pill sheet and patented technology to monitor missed doses, and sends alerts to patients via a smartphone app. The data is also sent to healthcare providers and partners such as Ashfield Engage, which provides personalised patient support. Image: Popit

Nokia has been selected by Globe Telecom to roll out 5G in the Philippines under a three-year deal. Set to begin in the second quarter of 2021 and be completed in 2023, the deployment will cover the second and third largest islands of the archipelagic country, Mindanao and Visayas. Image: Nokia

Researchers at Aalto University and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) have developed an AI-based method to predict storms that cause blackouts days in advance, allowing energy companies to prepare repair crews before the weather-inflicted damage happens. The method divides storms into three categories: no damage, low damage and high damage. It can predict the location of the storm to within 15 kilometres and the time of the storm to within three hours. The prediction will, however, never be perfect, Aalto’s press release reminds. Image: Finnish Meteorological Institute

The Finnish sustainable textile ecosystem is bursting at the seams with innovation. Infinited Fiber Company and Spinnova are among those leading the charge with cellulose-rich sustainable textile materials, while newcomers like Rester chip in with refined textile waste and digital second-hand marketplaces such as Emmy and Zadaa complete the loop. Read how these innovators are delivering us from fast fashion by clicking the headline. Image: Marimekko