Corporate collaboration

Research collaboration and innovations

The possibilities for research collaboration extend from single research projects to long-term funding of research personnel and also include possibilities to utilise the university’s extensive research infrastructure. Often the collaboration starts from a single project but may develop into long-term strategic partnership.
CHEM students working in a lab
Aalto University / Micronova Cleanroom / Aino Huovio

Contract research

Corporate-funded research enables more flexible consideration of corporate-specific needs.

Preferably, the topic and goals of corporate-funded projects should be connected to ongoing research and support the development of strategic thematic areas at Aalto.  Academic results, such as publications or theses are typically required. IPR typically belongs to the company.

Aalto University/ Department of civil and environmental engineering / Water engineering / Adolfo Vera

Joint-funded research collaboration

Jointly funded research collaboration enables many possibilities for partners; different roles and levels for participation as well as networking and information sharing with other partners. Possibilities include:

  • Projects funded mutually by Aalto and a company
  • Projects fully or partially funded by Business Finland, the Finnish Academy, EU or other funding organisations

Projects may involve research institutes, other universities and corporations. Academic results, such as publications or theses are required. Ownership of IPR depends on the funding organizations.

Aalto University / Micronova / Ville Jokinen /photo by Aino Huovio

Funding personnel for research and teaching

Companies can ensure progress of research also by funding positions for research personnel working in their interest fields.

  • Professor of Practice (PoP) are distinguished professionals from business life, public sector, and arts, having often the task of promoting collaboration with external stakeholders.
  • Adjunct Professors work part-time at Aalto and participate intensively especially in teaching.
  • Postdocs: Experienced post-docs ensure long-term knowledge transfer and provide efficient guidance of MSc and doctoral students.
  • Doctoral Students: Many research projects employ doctoral students as practical task force.

Advancing entrepreneurship and innovations

Behind Aalto's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem are both student-led entrepreneurial activities and the university's own research and innovation hubs.

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Corporate Relations

The corporate relations team promotes cooperation between business and Aalto University. We help companies find the right contacts in Aalto and support the development of strategic partnerships.

Contact information
Scientists working together in a laboratory / Photo by Aalto University, Mikko Raskinen
Contact us at Aalto Corporate Relations

Other forms of collaboration

Field-specific networks and ecosystems are a great way to participate in university research and stay up-to-date with development.

Three researchers using a device on the surface of the ice at Aalto ice tank

Research and learning infrastructures

Our research and teaching infrastructures are a prerequisite for world-class, cutting edge research. They offer opportunities for collaboration and foster the local innovation ecosystem growth. The large infrastructures are open for all Aalto and external users.

Two students working at the Aalto University Design Factory's PrintLab

Design Factory

Design Factory develops creative ways of working and enhanced interdisciplinary interaction to support world-class product design in educational, research and practical application contexts.

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Image courtesy of Mika Seppä

Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) (external link)

FCAI is a national competence center for AI in Finland, initiated by Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and VTT aiming to major industrial and societal impact.

Finnish AI Region logo banner

Finnish AI Region FAIR (external link)

The Finnish AI Region, or FAIR, aims to accelerate and expand the adoption of artificial intelligence in small and medium-sized enterprises.

FinnCERES Materials Cluster

FinnCERES

FinnCERES, competence center for materials bioeconomy, is a Flagship for our sustainable future.

Collaboration
Industrial Internet Campus is a co-innovation lab for students, researchers and companies

Industrial Internet Campus

Aalto University Industrial Internet Campus (AIIC) is a platform for students, researchers, and companies to innovate and co-create smart, connected products and services. Industrial Internet Campus enables multidisciplinary research, education and innovation together with industrial partners.

Building 2030

Building 2030

The Building 2030 project envisions, researches and promotes a better future of construction.

Image from remote site: acas.fi

Aalto Center for Autonomous Systems (external link)

ACAS combines Aalto expertise on various fields to tackle challenging systems-related research problems related to the autonomous operation of networked machines.

Aalto Factory of the Future videowall

Aalto Factory of the Future

The Aalto Factory of the Future is an infrastructure to support innovation in future industrial automation, industry 4.0 & 5.0 and beyond. It allows test and trials of advanced technologies, such as future wireless communication (5G / Wifi6 and beyond) in industry.

Aalto research collaboration in practice

Read the latest news about our research collaboration with companies and communities.

Pyörteilevä, turbulentti vetyiekki (simulointikuva). Ilya Morev ja Ville Vuorinen, Aalto-yliopisto

How does hydrogen actually work as a fuel? Research project receives 1.7 million euros to study hydrogen combustion

The goal of the project financed by Business Finland is to speed up the development of emission-free marine technology, among other things.

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A close-up image of pink woven fabrics and a red bottle of fabric dye.

FinnFiberColor – Spun cellulose fibres and sustainably colored textiles

The FinnFiberColor project develops sustainable solutions for manufactured cellulose fibre processes. The project has enhanced the understanding of the properties of new kinds of textile fibres and assessed the consumer perception of fabrics created from alternative materials.

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A picture of the researcher

I am passionate about collaboration between industry and academia

Concerns about the climate, the world’s oil resources, and the availability of strategic raw materials have turned interest towards renewable and carbon-neutral natural resources in the production of energy, fuels and chemicals. Most of the world's industrial chemicals are still petroleum products but biorefineries are the game changers of future.

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Kemian tekniikan tutkija / Chemical engineering researcher

From processing metals to recycling batteries - Aalto University and Boliden work together to strengthen top expertise in metallurgy

Competence in metallurgy is needed as the energy transition increases the demand for metals, and the reuse of materials requires new competence.

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Textile waste. Photo: Shutterstock

New T-REX Project launches to drive closed-loop sorting and recycling of household textile waste across the EU

Aalto University is part of a consortium that has launched an innovative European Union (EU) funded project to create a circular system for post-consumer textile waste.

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A man and a woman looking at computer screen.

Planmeca and FCAI collaboration: Machine learning for oral and maxillofacial imaging

The second video in FCAI's new video series presents collaboration between FCAI, health equipment manufacturer Planmeca and Tampere University Hospital.

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Examples of research collaboration with companies

Here you can find examples of various research collaboration projects with companies.

Read more here
Two researchers at a lab.

The seven key research areas of Aalto University

Key Research Area: ICT and digitalisation

Digital technologies like AI and 5G cut through the whole society, from education to medicine and economics.

Aalto X Reality Keynote PiP by Matti Ahlgren

Key Research Area: Materials and sustainable use of natural resources

Materials research ranges from physics, nanotechnology, mechanics, performance and design to biomaterials and sustainable resource use.

An abstract composition of different metals and forms.

Key Research Area: Arts and design knowledge-building

Art and creativity enable looking at the grand challenges of our time from a new perspective. Look past the imaginable and join us in changing the world in art and design knowledge building.

In Tension 4 Photo by_ Eeva Suorlahti

Key Research Area: Global business dynamics

Research related to global economy dynamics is carried out in the areas of business, economics, and industrial engineering and management.

General image of people gathered at Slush startup event, photo by Mikko Raskinen

Key Research Area: Advanced energy solutions

The main focus in energy research and teaching are energy sciences, multidisciplinary energy technologies, and sustainable energy solutions.

View of Helsinki by night. Photo by Ioannis Koulousis.

Key Research Area: Human-centred living environments

Research in this area aims to understand how individuals experience their physical environment and how art, spaces, buildings and communities can enhance it.

Kokoon modular living system is made of wood. Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Key Research Area: Health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing focus areas include biomedical engineering, neuroscience, biomaterials, digital health, and health management and design.

Aalto-health-forest-hiking
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