Tomio Pihkala brings expertise in international business and innovation commercialization to the board of the Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion

Tomio Pihkala is a long-time technology influencer and the Chief Technology Officer of KONE, with solid experience in international business and commercializing innovations. On the board of the Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion, he aims to promote a more customer-centric approach to supporting researchers.

Who are you, and what motivated you to join the board of the Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion?

“I am Tomio Pihkala. I have worked at KONE for the past 25 years in various roles, currently as Chief Technology Officer. I was happy to join the foundation, as I have always been interested in technology, research, and product development. I also want to contribute to my home country in this field.

Since its founding, the Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion has been a remarkably influential player, involved in all major technological transitions. Reading about the foundation’s history is truly inspiring, and even today, it has a lot to offer, as we are once again experiencing a period of technological transformation.”

As you mentioned, you have had a long career at KONE in various roles. What kind of expertise do you bring to the board of the foundation?

“I appreciate that the board and advisory council include experts from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds—representing both the research world and institutions as well as the business sector. I believe in the richness that comes from bringing together different perspectives.

My core expertise lies in commercializing innovations and creating scalable innovations that have the potential to revolutionize entire industries. Often, success in this area comes down to having the right expertise in the right place at the right time—and utilizing it in the right way. I believe I have experience that I can share and pass on.”

You have a strong international aspect to your career. How can Finnish technology research get promoted better globally? What can the Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion do to support this?

“We need to focus on our strengths in Finland and build on them. We must also stay informed about various megatrends and the challenges and opportunities they bring.

As a foundation that funds research, we need to, so to speak, bet on the right horses. However, the nature of research and development is such that the outcome cannot be predicted in advance. That said, a lot can be learned from mistakes, and often, failed projects lead to even better results. At KONE, some of our best innovations have emerged as byproducts of projects that initially failed!”

What kind of initiatives or goals do you want to advance as a board member of the foundation?

“I am still in the learning phase, so there is a lot for me to absorb. My first impression of the foundation is that it has a solid base in both financial management and strategy.

I believe we could adopt a more customer-centric approach. In our case, this means helping and supporting researchers even more effectively. Additionally, I would like to develop ways to measure the impact of our activities more comprehensively.

Of course, I also want to do my part in ensuring that we are involved in the right research projects—those that have the potential to be truly transformative for Finland’s future.”