Sonja London Appointed Chair of the Board at Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd
On 1 October 2025, changes were made to the Board of Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd (HIS), the technology transfer and commercialisation company fully owned by the University of Helsinki. With deep expertise in technology transfer and the IP sector, the renewed Board is tasked with increasing the impact and market reach of research-based inventions originating from the University.
Sonja London has been appointed Chair of the Board of Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd.
Helsinki Innovation Services manages and commercialises intellectual property rights owned by the University of Helsinki, generated by its researchers. HIS supports the research to business process and commercialisation, and coaches researchers in navigating the practical realities of commercialisation of intellectual property rights.
Making research-based innovations available to companies accelerates their adoption and societal impact. “Licensing can significantly fund scientific research, take innovations to global markets, and speed up their diffusion for the benefit of society at large,” Sonja notes.
With this appointment, Helsinki Innovation Services gains world-class private-sector commercialisation expertise. “Throughout my career, from Nokia to TactoTek, and now through Fearless IP where I lead strategic licensing advisory, my work has centred on building international commercialisation pathways for technology and innovation. Licensing has been at the core of what I do for over two decades,” Sonja says.
Bringing Finnish research into commercially usable form also strengthens the global reach of Finland’s technology sector. “The University of Helsinki’s research-based technologies are needed to support the Finnish and European industries, and transferring intellectual property to the market is increasingly topical. We have a strong position and a real opportunity to drive the sector forward,” Sonja adds.
Societal impact remains at the heart of HIS’s mission. “There are already strong commercialisation success stories, but we want to create many more, and at an increasing pace.”
“I believe universities can increasingly support their research funding through commercialisation and licensing. In this role, I can bring my experience and international networks with investors, partners and licensing ecosystems to support HIS in advancing research towards sustainable business.”
The University of Helsinki is also an important alma mater for Sonja. “It is wonderful to return to my alma mater through this Board role. It is a privilege to help Finnish researchers and the University ensure that their inventions find their way into real-world use globally.”
The new Board of Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd comprises IP strategist Sonja London (Chair), CFO Marjo Berglund, Vice-Rector for Innovation and Infrastructures Jouni Hirvonen, and technology and innovation strategy leader Jarmo Eskelinen.
Sonja London
Sonja has a long career in innovation and technology commercialisation, with over 20 years of experience in intellectual property, patent and technology commercialisation, and licensing.
Founder of Fearless IP, an independent international advisory firm supporting companies in strategic IP exploitation, commercialisation and out-licensing.
At Nokia (2007–2021), Sonja developed and led international patent licensing programmes.
At TactoTek Oy, she served as General Counsel in a rapidly scaling technology company whose business model is based on licensing to leading global automotive players.
Sonja has extensive Board experience in Finnish growth companies and listed firms, including Kesla Plc and SolidComp.
She is an alumna of the University of Helsinki (Master of Laws, Executive MBA) and a respected visiting lecturer at IPR University Center on patent licensing and IP commercialisation.
Through her professional work and her leadership roles within the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), Sonja has strong international networks across companies, investors, licensing ecosystems and research communities.
Sonja’s particular international strengths include developing inventions into commercial and licensable assets in line with Research-to-Business models, building effective IP strategies, and scaling innovations to global markets.
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