Tiivik
University of Tartu program for the development of research-driven business ideas TIIVIK
TIIVIK is designed for researchers and students who wish to develop research-intensive business ideas, build strong entrepreneurial teams and promote innovation, science-based entrepreneurship and the practical application of scientific results in society.
TIIVIK Program for Students
The TIIVIK program is highly practical—it gives students the opportunity to address real-world problems and implement tangible solutions, all in collaboration with University of Tartu researchers. It is aimed at enterprising students, offering them the chance to develop research-intensive business ideas originating from the university and gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience. The program includes a range of activities—workshops, mentoring, and networking events—to support students on their entrepreneurial journey. After completing the necessary training, students can tackle the day-to-day challenges of UT research teams, helping a science-based project reach its next logical development stage and accelerate its path to market.
Within the program, participants:
- Attend [hybrid] seminars to learn the fundamentals of developing and managing a research-intensive enterprise.
- Gain practical experience in a multidisciplinary team, tackling challenges that arise in creating and launching a science-based company.
- Network with researchers and other forward-thinking students interested in technology transfer and research-driven entrepreneurship.
- Earn 6 ECTS credits by creating tangible value and helping a research team reach the next phase of development.
- Conclude the program with a dynamic sprint focused on developing bold business ideas.
- Receive support and guidance from mentors participating in the program.
In summary, the TIIVIK program enables students and researchers to work closely together to develop innovative ideas and bring them to market. This synergy helps create knowledge-based solutions that deliver significant practical value to the participants and to society as a whole.
TIIVIK Program for Researchers
The TIIVIK program offers researchers the opportunity to explore the commercial potential of their scientific work and gain the knowledge and skills needed to start and grow a business. As part of the program, participants:
- Take part in hybrid seminars and expert meetings to acquire practical entrepreneurial know-how.
- Receive comprehensive support in business development, team building, and bringing a product or service to market.
- Become familiar with opportunities for establishing a research-intensive company.
- Develop alternative commercialization strategies, such as creating a spin-off company or licensing research results.
The TIIVIK program is ideal for those who wish to take their research a step further with the support of experts in their field.
Stage 1: February 19 – April 30, 2025
Inspirational hybrid-format seminars tailored to two groups:
- Researchers participate in a business development program “From Science to Business!” focused on commercialization opportunities for specific scientific results.
- Entrepreneurial students gain knowledge and skills to become active members in science-driven start-up teams, taking the lead in business strategy creation and development.
Stage 2: May 1 – June 30, 2025
Team formation, strategy development, mentoring sessions, and workshops:
- Teams composed of researchers and students, formed during the pre-training phase, work together with mentors and business experts to develop a science-based product or service.
- The program accelerates the market entry process by guiding participants in creating a detailed business strategy and an action plan for future activities.
Why join the program TIIVIK?
- Support for developing research-based entrepreneurship: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the commercialization potential of scientific results and acquire practical skills to develop and bring a product or service to the market.
- Experts and mentors: Collaborate with experienced industry professionals and international consultants from the MIMIR Fellows program to shape a clear and actionable business strategy.
- Networking and connections: Engage with investors, science parks and business advisors and establish valuable contacts during the final presentation day of the program.
- Collaborators and team building: Form strong research-student teams equipped with the skills to advance science-driven entrepreneurship.
How to join?
For researchers:
Complete the registration form, including an evaluation of your project's technological readiness level. Demonstrate readiness to build a team to bring the business idea to life. Join Here - full!
For students:
Apply with a motivation letter highlighting your strengths, skills and experience. Join Here - full!
From Science to Business seminars
| For researchers | For students | |
| 19.02 | Joint Kick-Off Event | |
| 26.02 | Product & Service design/ Markko Karu | Idea and Idea Evaluation / Alo Lilles |
| 05.03 | Market Development / Andres Kuusik | Market and Market Development / Aivar Pere |
| 12.03 | Intellectual Property / Relika Alliksaar Williams | Intellectual Property / Alina Paas |
| 19.03 | Teamwork & organization development / Veiko Valkiainen | |
| 26.03 | Business Law & Founders’ Agreements Alex Luik Hedman Legal/ | |
| 02.04 | Elevator Pitch ABC / Maret Ahonen | Elevator Pitch ABC |
| 09.04 | Elevator Pitch practice | Investment & Venture Capital |
Workshops
| 25.04 12:15-16:00 | Demo day & researcher-student team formation Delta room: 2040 |
| 07.05 | 1st workshop |
| 14.05 | 2nd workshop |
| 21.05 | 3rd workshop |
| 28.05 | 4th workshop |
| 11-12.06 | 2-day business idea sprint & demo presentations |
The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the schedule.
Are you ready to take your scientific idea to the next level? Join now and be part of shaping the future of entrepreneurship!
For researchers:
Triinu Lööve - triinu.loove@ut.ee
For students:
Mervi Raudsaar - mervi.raudsaar@ut.ee
Meelis Kadaja is the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Nanordica Medical, an Estonian medtech company founded by scientists and medical doctors to bring innovations from the lab to clinical practice in wound care. Trained as a cell biologist, Meelis earned his PhD from the University of Tartu and later conducted research on skin stem cells and wound healing at Rockefeller University in New York. After returning to Estonia in 2014, he completed an MBA and served as Chief Business Officer at Icosagen for nine years before joining Nanordica Medical.
Mihkel Tammo is an experienced leadership advisor and consultant for multiple companies, a supporter and advisor of the Green Tiger initiative, and served as the CEO of the manufacturing company Estanc from 2016 to 2020. Since April 2024, he has been leading the University of Tartu's Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ahmed Hadi
As an entrepreneur, Ahmed is passionate about inspiring more students to become entrepreneurs and providing them the tools to take on some of today’s most pressing challenges. He began this work as Aaltoes' 2022 president and continues it as a MIMIR co-founder. He also advocates for youth entrepreneurship and research commercialization in the OECD, EU Commission, and Union for the Mediterranean.
Ghita Wallin
With one foot firmly in academia and the other in the Nordic startup ecosystem, Ghita has a unique perspective to uniting the two worlds. She is now building MIMIR and advancing her PhD at Aalto while actively working towards making the Nordics global leaders in research commercialization leveraging her experiences from Slush and Inventure.
Heli Valtna is a scientist-entrepreneur who earned a PhD in physics in 2010, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Germany and founded and led a deep-tech company. She is currently pursuing a second PhD in deep-tech entrepreneurship and ecosystems at the University of Tartu, in the Chair of Public Economics and Policy.
Alo Lilles is an experienced business advisor and mentor with nearly 20 years of expertise in business management, IT, and European project leadership across both the public and private sectors. He holds a PhD from the University of Tartu’s School of Economics and Business Administration. Today, he contributes to innovative solutions in space and supply chain domains at Guardtime and supports early-stage startups as a mentor and project consultant.
More experts to be added soon...
Blog posts
Business development program “TIIVIK” is funded by the European Union's Structural Funds through the public procurement 278968 "Developing Estonian startup ecosystem and startup incubation programs: Part 1 - Developing the deep-tech startup ecosystem."
