How startup collaboration turns ideas into impact

Published 29 May 2026

Stora Enso brings colleagues together through its Startup Collaboration Day to explore how working with startups turns ideas into real business impact — and how more teams can take part.

The event is part of the wider Foundry Day, led by Combient Foundry, Europe’s largest venture client alliance and Stora Enso’s strategic innovation partner for startup collaboration.

Across presentations, panels and conversations, one message stands out: collaborating with startups is no longer experimental. It is a practical way to accelerate innovation, test ideas faster and create value across the business.

“At Stora Enso, when the future we want isn’t available, we don’t wait for it, we explore and build it together with startups. Startup Collaboration Day showed how curiosity and collaboration is turning ideas into real customer impact,” said Hannele Palje-Rossi, CIO at Stora Enso.

Why startup collaboration matters

Teams across Stora Enso are already working with startups on concrete challenges — from material innovation and energy optimisation to AI and legal solutions. Startups bring focus, speed and specialised solutions that complement Stora Enso’s internal expertise and long-term partners.

Startup Collaboration Day brought these experiences together, making them easier to access and learn from across the organisation.

“Our goal was to demystify startup collaboration. To show that there is a clear, supported path, from an idea or challenge to a concrete collaboration and results.” said Lukas Adamek, Innovation Lead and one of the organisers. The image shows Lukas on the far left, next to Jari Räsinen, Martin Whillans, Christpher Tonk and Nea Krogell (Combient Foundry).

Learning from real cases

The day featured case examples and a panel with colleagues who have led startup collaborations across the company. They shared practical lessons, honest reflections and what it takes to move from exploration to results.

“It was valuable to gain insight into different initiatives within Stora Enso and to exchange experiences with colleagues working with start-ups. These discussions help strengthen our understanding of both opportunities and risks, enabling more informed decisions and continued innovation,” said Martin Whillans, Development Manager in Harvesting Operations.

Discussions continued beyond the sessions, with participants connecting, exchanging ideas and reflecting on how startup collaboration could support their own challenges.

“Foundry Day 2026 was an outstanding event. It strengthened collaboration with startups across Stora Enso and created space for open exchange between colleagues. The discussions also helped strengthen our internal network and improve the way we work,” said Christopher Tonk, Senior Digital Solution Advisor in Digital Mill Operations.

Part of a wider ecosystem

The second part of the day connected Stora Enso to the wider Combient Foundry alliance, offering perspectives on emerging technologies, venture trends and the venture client model. It reinforced the value of operating within an international ecosystem where collaboration and learning help accelerate impact across industries.

From ideas to action

Startup Collaboration Day marked a milestone, not an endpoint. Several ideas are already moving forward, and interest in startup collaboration continues to grow. With a clear and structured approach, more teams can now turn challenges into collaborations — and ideas into action.

“The strongest signal from the day was the engagement of our colleagues—questions, discussions, and new ideas. That is exactly how this journey continues,” concludes Lukas Adamek.