Job seeker, participate in the Future Expert program and innovate solutions to real-life challenges

The City of Riihimäki and the South Häme employment area are looking for participants in the Future Expert program, implemented by the Finnish company Demola Global Oy. In this program, job seekers come up with practical solutions to real-life challenges. The program results in new products, concepts, demos and even business ideas. At the same time, participants get to demonstrate their skills, improve their chances of getting a job, and impress potential employers.

Participants work in small groups formed based on their skills and interests. The working language of the groups is English.

Participants will be guided by experienced professionals from Demola. Demola is responsible for the content of the Future Expert program and the implementation of innovation projects in cooperation with the City of Riihimäki and other stakeholders.

What kind of challenges does the Future Expert program find solutions to?

The Future Expert program offers a total of 14 project topics for applicants. We will launch those projects for which there are enough applicants.

The program's project topics include, among other things:

• modular health center,
• chain of authenticity of second-hand products,
• the use of artificial intelligence in journalistic information gathering,
• user-friendly charging of electric cars.

Who can participate in the Future Expert program?

The Future Expert program is intended for unemployed job seekers who have studied at a higher education institution and live in Riihimäki. You do not need to have any special skills, such as programming or business knowledge. Everyone's unique skills can be utilized in projects.

Why is it worth participating in the Future Expert program?

The main goals of the Future Expert program are

• inspiring participants and instilling in them faith in their own work,
• improving participants' employability through new skills, operating models and networks, and
• opening up opportunities for starting new businesses.

It is worth participating in the program for the following reasons, among others:

• You will develop yourself and strengthen your skills. You will gain practical experience in innovation and problem solving. At the same time, you will keep your skills up to date.
• Network with companies, local professionals and other attendees. Maybe you'll find a partner to start your own business!
• The project will give you new experience and fill your portfolio, which you can use when applying for a job. You can present the results of your work to potential employers.
• You will recognize your own skills and strengths. Participating in the program can increase your professional confidence and enthusiasm.

Demola has previously implemented the Future Expert program in Tampere and found it to be effective. Some of the program participants are now starting their own start-ups. Before starting a company, they build a stronger foundation and functional models for the concepts they have created.

What kind of solutions have been invented in the previous Future Expert program?

The previous Future Expert program implemented the following products, among others:

• A location selection assistant that helps a company make informed decisions about where to sell, based on demographics or traffic flows, for example.
• An AI job seeker groomer and interviewer that enables job seekers to have a personalized and development-oriented experience. In turn, companies can more easily consider each job seeker, which creates a positive image of the employer and improves applicant satisfaction and recruitment efficiency.
• A venue sensory system that enables a safe event experience for visitors. The system detects changes in the state of event visitors and utilizes, among other things, wristbands already in use at events to communicate the situation to the person in question, others nearby, and the event organizer.

How do companies join the Future Expert program?

In the Future Expert program, companies have the opportunity to meet teams, be inspired and learn from the concepts developed for their own business. Companies can

• come and follow the implementation of the program out of sheer curiosity,
• participate in the program by sparring groups or
• consider recruiting participants.

Diversity and novelty stimulate thinking effectively, and companies may find talented individuals with surprising backgrounds as future employees. Companies can invite participants who interest them to job interviews.

When and where will the Future Expert program be implemented?

The Future Expert program lasts eight weeks. It starts with a kick-off event on the 29th of September and ends in early December 2025. The best teams will have the opportunity to present their achievements at the Demola national final event in December.

Program participants will gather at the DEFINE Innovation Hub at the Riihimäki railway depots.

How can I apply for the Future Expert program?

Check the Future Expert project catalogue to see what types of projects are included in the programme. Apply to the projects that interest you by the 21st of September.

Future Expert project catalogue. (Portal.futureexpert.demola.net, in English.)

If you need more information about the projects, create a profile on the portal and contact Demola.

More information

You can find more information about the Future Expert program on the program website. (Demola.net/futureexpert, in English.)

If you have any questions about the program's projects, please contact Joonas Kemppainen. His phone number is 050 529 1845 and his email address is joonas@demola.net.

You can also discuss participation in the program with your own employment advisor.