R&D at the Forefront of Development: Meet Markus Vuorio & Merja Lahdenranta

When Markus Vuorio joined the company in 2011, Hidex had a team of 12 individuals. Fast-forwarding to 2023, the M. Sc. in Embedded Electronics serves as Hidex’s Technology Advisor. On the other hand, Merja Lahdenranta, who recently celebrated her 8th year at the company, has had the chance to work in different roles during this time, including instrument QC, quality manager, and currently works as an R&D Project Manager. We sat down to discuss the twists and turns of R&D, their experiences of belonging to a constantly growing company, and the evolving world of research and development in health-tech.

What makes you well suited for R&D?

As the holiday season gets closer, the duo’s holiday sweaters bring a nice touch of festive spirit to the company atmosphere. The conversations are sprinkled with a hint of cinnamon, and every problem has a solution when one is wearing a Santa hat. Merja recently started as the project lead on a new project, so despite her having many years of experience, there are plenty of new challenges ahead. When asked what she thinks makes her good at R&D, her response is her previous versatile experience. From working at the University of Turku as a project engineer, to her experience as a quality manager – all helped her shape an investigative mindset.

What aspect do you see as important in Hidex’s growth?

A decade brings a lot of change. As we sip our coffees, we chat about how the working environment has slowly changed, how the company has changed locations, and how work trips have taken them to various corners of the world including Canada, Japan, and India.

 “One might think that an individual in the R&D team does not get a chance to interact much with customers, but on the contrary, Hidex team members have constantly been in touch with customers, which is always at the root of our product development inspiration.” – Markus Vuorio, Technology Advisor 

What kind of people are a good fit for a job in high-tech research & development?

A team with diverse backgrounds gives a 360-degree view of the picture – so rather than having many people with the same background and ideas, Hidex R&D team is a small and yet compact team of individuals with mixed educational backgrounds.

 “Individuals who are inquisitive and enjoy problem-solving are always an asset to the research & development team, and being in a room with different backgrounds sparks the most fascinating ideas and discussions.” – Merja Lahdenranta, Project Manager 

It’s clear from a short chat that both individuals have prioritized learning, whether it’s learning a new programming language or completing a new certification. Behind every growing company are individuals who dared to venture out of their comfort zone and grow for personal and professional development.