RDI Specialist Values Humak’s Agility

Konsta Ylimaunu has a background as a historian and in his role at Humak has the opportunity to anticipate the future.

As a Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) specialist, Konsta feels he is working in a field whose importance in higher education institutions will only continue to grow.

Konsta has worked at Humak since spring 2021. Prior to this, he spent more than four years in Brussels at the heart of RDI policymaking.

“In Brussels, I worked in roles related to EU funding and advocacy. I carried out diverse EU-level advocacy for Finnish public organizations, such as higher education institutions, as well as communications related to these tasks. The work in Brussels was done from a different perspective, and I wanted to see the other side and the practical implementation as well,” Konsta explains.

His experience in Brussels and the understanding gained there have also been beneficial in his work at Humak. Konsta’s current responsibilities focus on EU funding and foresight, the development of RDI processes, and monitoring current issues in the RDI field.

His workdays include, among other things, familiarizing himself with the latest changes and decisions in the RDI sector, assessing their impacts, and working within networks. Mapping funding opportunities, communicating about them, and maintaining a funding calendar are also important parts of his role. Konsta does not personally write funding applications; instead, he supports Humak’s experts in applying for funding at different stages of the process. He sees his role as that of an enabler and considers himself to be in a service profession—his task is to help others succeed.

The work is meaningful in a great team, and colleagues who are passionate about their work, as well as the development of his own expertise, provide daily motivation. Years of experience and the sharpening of his professional insight help him increasingly identify truly relevant opportunities within very broad and multidisciplinary contexts.

And this is crucial: the significance of RDI activities for higher education institutions—and for their funding—will certainly not diminish in the future.

At Humak, Konsta particularly values the low hierarchy and agility that are partly the result of the institution’s relatively small size. It is easy to approach people at all levels, including top management, and to move ideas forward. Experts are encouraged to try new things and, at times, step outside their comfort zones.

“At Humak, you can make your own contribution visible quite quickly. The atmosphere is positive toward development and ideation. By saying yes more often than no, you grow both professionally and personally,” Konsta describes.

“At Humak, you can make your own contribution visible quite quickly.”