Do you have a project, experiment, or initiative that has opened new pathways in product development? Now is the time to showcase it! The application period for The Product Development Path Makers Award 2025 is open from 4 August to 14 September 2025.
What is The Product Development Path Makers Award?
Established in 2024, The Product Development Path Makers is a national award that highlights ideas, teams, and operating models that boldly advance product development. The award may be granted to a project team or community that has carried out the initiative or activity in question. The Path Makers view product development broadly, as a multidisciplinary activity that can focus on physical or digital products, services, or processes.
What we are looking for?
Eligible candidates include projects, experiments, initiatives, or activities that have:
- Created new customer value through pioneering product development practices.
- Challenged established ways of working through successful experimentation.
- Generated new opportunities beyond the original scope of the activity.
Why participate?
- Public recognition – gain visibility for development work that often happens behind the scenes.
- Prize – each finalist will receive 8,000 euros.
- Ekman Award – one finalist will also win the public vote and be awarded an additional 8,000 euros Ekman Award.
Organisers and Jury
The award is organised in cooperation by: Aalto Design Factory, Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK), the City of Espoo, Technology Industries of Finland, Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, and Finnish Forest Industries Federation. The winners are selected by a jury composed of experts and leaders from all organising partners.
How to participate
Anyone can propose an inspiring project, initiative, or activity as a nominee. The process is simple and quick: Fill in the form at: www.adf.fi/award Application deadline: 14 September 2025.
Our hope is that the award sparks conversations both within companies as well as on a national level on the efforts that are building the future of Finland as we speak,” explains prof. Tua Björklund, director of the Aalto University Design Factory and chairwoman of the award committee.
2024 Award Winners: KONE Veturi Project leveraging scenario-based planning to develop a joint vision in a large development consortium (Ekman Award winner); Sulapac comprehensive knowledge & strong vision in developing sustainable packaging materials; Surgify and their effective collaboration in developing the Halo surgical drill; and Vaisala’s agile development of a Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) device.
