UUTE SCIENTIFIC

Path makers: Aki Sinkkonen, Olli Laitinen, Heikki Hyöty, Kari Sinivuori, Oliver Boldt , Rita Nordin, Johanna kalmari, Iida Mäkelä & Harri Näivö

Uute Scientific has developed a microbial extract product that addresses immune-mediated diseases by reintroducing natural biodiversity that urban populations lack due to reduced exposure to environmental microbes. The approach originated from research conducted in the 1990’s, leading to a patented solution in 2015. The company was founded in 2020 when the patent was acquired from the universities.

The development process was initiated when the first customer placed an order which was significantly larger than research production capabilities, requiring complete process redesign. The team developed production methods through manual experimentation, starting in a home garage using kitchen equipment and improvised tools. Once scaling was ready, activities moved to a pilot factory where production continues.

The development approach differs from typical biotechnology practices by securing customers before building facilities. Instead of constructing expensive infrastructure first, the company identified market demand and then developed production capabilities in response. The methodology follows a “learn fast and learn cheap” principle, involving rapid testing with minimal investment and adjustments based on actual customer feedback.

The same core product serves multiple industries, which shaped the development strategy. Applications include cosmetics, building materials, and pharmaceuticals, with the team learning to meet different regulatory requirements through appropriate certification processes. This multi-industry approach emerged from customer interactions rather than predetermined planning.

The project demonstrates product development practices centered on learning through doing rather than extensive planning, customer-driven iteration rather than facility-first investment, and flexible application thinking that enables one core innovation to generate value across diverse markets and regulatory contexts.