Innoschool Innovation Event for school pupils 2005

INNOSCHOOL is part of the INNOFINLAND project. INNOSCHOOL promotes the creativity and inventiveness of pupils at comprehensive schools and vocational schools.

In 2005, the Innovation Event for school pupils was carried out for the sixth time. This year, first and second forms in comprehensive schools in the Pori region took part in the contest that received a total of 235 ideas. In addition, we tried a new practice in vocational schools in the Tampere region, in which we judged and awarded the final projects of graduating students.

Director General at the National Board of Education, Kirsi Lindroos presented the INNOSCHOOL Prizes on 29 November 2005 at the INNOFINLAND awards ceremony at the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland.

INNOSCHOOL PRIZES 2005

Vocational schools

Tommi Täyränen’s final project, Valkeakoski Vocational Institute: Computer-aided music composition. A method for easy production of high quality music. It allows a short cut: not even beginners need to look for all sources or try every possibility but are quickly able to make music themselves.

Kaisa Maansalo’s final project, Pirkanmaa College: Innovative coloured knitted jacket. Maansalo introduces a new technique to create individual knitted patterns. She has created a computer program and a method for computer-aided making of pictures on knitted products by using a knitting machine, as early as in the production stage. The advantages of this method are shorter production stages, easy-care, impressiveness, durability and versatility.

Arno Munnukka’s final project, Pyynikki Institute: Autonomous robot. The final project describes an autonomous robot that enables the production of service solutions for specific needs. This small robot is able to move in narrow ventilation ducts and gathers information on the need for repair and maintenance by using its ‘senses of touch, hearing and sight’. As soon as the robot is productised and commercialised, it will have a bright future.

Jussi Suihkonen’s final project, Mänttä Regional Education Center: Siemens Simatic Step7 – program development. This final project includes innovative solutions to the problems of logic in existing industrial processes. The project was done at the plant of Sulzer Pumps Finland in Mänttä, where the solutions applied in the pipe storage area of the test station removed the problems of moving the pipes on the storage walls and improved the smoothness and accuracy of pipe changes.

Comprehensive schools, first and second forms in the Pori region

Vilma Hilden, 2A, Toejoki Elementary School: Do-it-yourself rucksack. The rucksack can be coloured and patterned with the textile dyes and decorations accompanying the rucksack.

Akseli Ketola, 1 A, Ruosniemi School: Traffic sign visible in the dark. There is a light inside the traffic sign. The sign is plastic coated so that no water gets inside.

Kim Suomalainen, 1 C, Ruosniemi School: Keijo Kätevä. Keijo Kätevä is a wiper wheel with a water-absorbing cloth around it. The table is wiped by pushing the wiper wheel back and forth.

In addition, Kallela School was awarded an honourable mention for active participation in INNOSCHOOL 2005.

Further details of the prizewinners are available from

Managing Director, Mr Aarno Kaila, mob +358 (0)50 559 9000, e-mail: aarno.kaila@manifestum.fi

INNOFINLAND Project Manager, Mr Timo Suokas, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5308, mob +358 (0)40 772 1733, e-mail: timo.suokas@prh.fi

INNOFINLAND Project Secretary, Ms Leena Puolimatka, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5239, mob +358 (0)40 546 0125, e-mail: leena.puolimatka@prh.fi