Mr. Tomi Paalosmaa | Digital City Awards | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Tomi Paalosmaa, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK), Finland

Tomi Paalosmaa is a Finnish innovation strategist, project manager, and researcher with a diverse professional background spanning smart city development, sustainability, and innovation ecosystems. Currently serving as a Senior Specialist, Project Manager, and Lecturer at the Design Centre MUOVA, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, he leads co-creation initiatives and sustainability strategies in projects such as Design PSS and Enertelligence. His academic work focuses on energy transition, digitalization, stakeholder engagement, and trust in innovation ecosystems. With prior experience at the University of Vaasa’s InnoLab and City of Vaasa, he has contributed significantly to projects involving smart mobility, low-carbon strategies, and citizen engagement. A passionate advocate for mental health, Paalosmaa also lectures as an expert by experience in mental healthcare. Earlier in his career, he held executive roles in the Nordic film distribution industry. His interdisciplinary expertise bridges technology, design, policy, and community well-being, making him a unique contributor to both academic and applied innovation landscapes.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

Summary of Suitability: Tomi Paalosmaa – Research for Best Researcher Award

Tomi Paalosmaa is a highly versatile and impactful candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award, distinguished by his multifaceted contributions to innovation ecosystems, smart city development, sustainability strategies, and user-centered co-creation in both public and private sector research environments. With a unique blend of academic insight, applied research, and practical innovation leadership, his work embodies the integration of research excellence with societal relevance.

🎓 Education

Doctoral Researcher (Ongoing)
University of Vaasa – Innovation and ecosystem development, sustainability, energy transition, smart cities, co-creation, stakeholder engagement
(Publications being written at JUFO level)

💼 Work Experience

🏛️ Academia & Research

Senior Specialist / Project Manager / Lecturer
Design Centre MUOVA, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK) | 2023–Present
- Project Manager: 🇫🇮 Design PSS (Finnish Government), Enertelligence (EAKR), Port of Vaasa Innovation Ecosystem
- Lecturer: Course on co-creation in innovation ecosystems (2025→)
- Academic writer and ecosystem developer
Project Researcher
University of Vaasa – InnoLab | 2022–2023
- Research on transition risks, smart governance, trust-building, stakeholder co-creation
- Port of Vaasa Innovation Ecosystem (POINT VaaSA)

🏙️ Public Sector & Smart City Development

Project Manager – Development
City of Vaasa | 2021–2022
- Developed EV car-sharing “Mini-Lifti”, smart mobility and energy projects
- Applied for EU & national funding (Horizon, Interreg, Business Finland)
Project Manager & Coordinator
City of Vaasa | 2020–2021
- IRIS Smart Cities project replication & smart district planning
Internal Auditor & Quality Developer
City of Vaasa | 2018–2020
- Social services auditing and development work

🧠 Mental Health Advocacy

Expert by Experience
Vaasa Central Hospital & Ostrobothnia Well-being Services County | 2016–Present
- Delivered lectures, peer support, and therapy group facilitation in mental health fields

🎬 Creative & Media Industry

CEO / CCO / Director of Acquisitions
Various film & media companies (Helsinki/Vaasa) | 2004–2015
- Acquired and distributed international film rights across Nordic platforms
- Managed VOD and digital film businesses globally

🏆 Achievements, Awards & Honors

🥇 Innovation Scholarship – Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (2019)
🧠 Recognized contributor in smart city innovation, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation practices
📣 Speaker and workshop leader at conferences and development forums
💬 Mental health lecturer and peer support contributor in Finnish healthcare system
💼 Leader in public-private partnership development and sustainable innovation ecosystems

Publication Top Notes:

Smart Cities and Product-Service Systems—A Conceptual Framework for Urban Sustainability

Prof Dr. Sara Paiva, Viana do Castelo Polytechnic Universiry, Portugal

Sara Paiva, an esteemed academic and researcher, is currently serving as an Assistant Professor and Pro-President for Information Systems at Viana do Castelo Polytechnic University in Portugal. Born on November 28, 1979, Sara has built a distinguished career marked by notable academic and professional achievements.Sara’s educational journey is both extensive and impressive. She holds a degree in Systems and Computer Engineering from Minho University in Braga, Portugal, which she completed in 2002. Her early passion for technology and engineering laid a strong foundation for her future endeavors. She then pursued a Ph.D. at Universidade de Vigo, where she focused on semantic technologies, specifically developing an architecture for guided search systems. She successfully defended her thesis in 2011, further cementing her expertise in the field.In her relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation, Sara undertook a Post-Doctoral research project at Universidade de Oviedo from 2018 to 2021. As part of the SMIOT Research Group, she concentrated on Smart Mobility and Advanced Driving Assistants, areas that align with the burgeoning intersection of technology and everyday life.

Professional Profile

ORCID

Education

Post-Doctorate (2018 – 2021):
- Institution: Universidade de Oviedo
- Research Group: SMIOT – Multimedia Services and Internet of Things
- Research Area: Smart Mobility and Advanced Driving Assistants
Ph.D. (2007 – 2011):
- Institution: Universidade de Vigo
- Thesis Title: An architecture for guided search systems based on semantic technologies
Degree in Systems and Computer Engineering (1997 – 2002):
- Institution: Minho University, Braga, Portugal

Work Experience

Assistant Professor:
- Institution: Viana do Castelo Polytechnic University, Portugal
- Roles and Responsibilities:
  - Teaching various courses in Systems and Computer Engineering.
  - Supervising student projects and theses.
  - Conducting research in Smart Mobility, Internet of Things, and related areas.
  - Serving as the Pro-President for Information Systems, overseeing the institution’s information systems and technology initiatives.

Research and Publications

Sara Paiva has a robust research portfolio, focusing primarily on smart mobility, advanced driving assistants, and the integration of semantic technologies in guided search systems. Her academic contributions include numerous publications in high-impact journals and conferences, reflecting her expertise in multimedia services and the Internet of Things.

Publications Notes:📄