Katja Kivinen appointed as the new Director of Biocenter Finland – the new leader aims to drive innovation in life science research infrastructures

HELSINKI, Finland — Biocenter Finland is pleased to announce the appointment of Katja Kivinen as its new Director. Kivinen will begin her five-year term on April 1, 2026, succeeding Olli Silvennoinen, who will remain in his role until the end of June to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

Kivinen joins Biocenter Finland from DeepScan Diagnostics, where she will continue to serve as Chief Scientific Officer. She brings leadership and technology experience from her previous roles as the director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) Technology Center and as the vice-director for research infrastructures at the Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki. She has also previously represented FIMM in the Biocenter Finland Board and is therefore familiar with the national life science research community.

“Katja Kivinen brings strong leadership experience, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of the life science landscape,” says Lauri Eklund, the chair of the recruitment committee and Board member of Biocenter Finland. “We are very pleased to welcome her to lead Biocenter Finland as we continue to develop national research capabilities”.

Kivinen is particularly passionate about the continuous development of core facilities and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

“I feel honored and excited to take on this role,” says Kivinen. “Finland has an outstanding life science research community, and Biocenter Finland plays a key role in strengthening collaboration and supporting high-quality research across the country”.

“I am especially driven by the potential of new technologies to transform our understanding of biological systems,” Kivinen continues. “However, world-class infrastructure is nothing without the people who run it. I am committed to fostering a culture of fair treatment and professional development for our staff. By supporting our experts and working together across disciplines, we can ensure Finnish research remains internationally competitive and impactful”.

Biocenter Finland is a national research infrastructure network that supports life science research across Finnish universities. Its activities focus on developing and coordinating shared research infrastructure services, promoting collaboration, and supporting cutting-edge research to solve major societal challenges.

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