Department of Mechanical Engineering

Meet the MECHuman

This page outlines the strategy and research flagships for the operationalization of the mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Department of Mechanical Engineering MECHuman graphic
MECHuman emphasises the department's human-based organisation and represents the strategic position of its research groups on targeting social needs and aiming at shaping a sustainable future with creativity, know-how and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Our strategy

We research, teach, develop and create solutions that are safe and efficient, targeting social need and shaping a sustainable future, based on scientific know-how, and experimental analysis with digital design, data-driven processing and advanced control in:

Graphic illustrating the strategy of the Department of Mechanical Engineering

inDEPthMEC

inDEPthMEC is a strategic platform, operated in a transversal approach to the department's research groups. Through inDEPthMEC, we enhance and collect the fundamental research produced within MECHuman. Other characteristics of the department's strategic platform are:

  • It collects and applies the department's strategic funding for the operationalisation of its strategic research flagships.
  • It is aligned with the university's strategy towards fundamental research with societal impact.
  • It is the platform for disseminating good practices and installed capacities in the modelling, simulating and measuring of materials, structures, energy flows and machine performance.
  • It is the platform for the management of the Aalto Seminar Series on Mechanical Engineering Sciences.

Research flagships

The department’s multidisciplinary research is committed to converge on three flagships: arctic technology, digital twin world, sustainable energy vectors

    A model ship breaks through the ice in the Ice and Wave Tank. Photo credit: Mikko Raskinen

    Arctic technology

    Encompassing both experimental and numerical modelling, with ice and/or cold climate as a key element.

    Kuka robot at Aalto University

    Digital twin world

    Encompassing digitalization applied to materials science and/or manufacturing and/or product design.

    Energy_Technology

    Sustainable energy vectors

    Encompassing hydrogen-based vectors in power-to-x and x-to-power applications.

    Our objectives

    1. To publish high-quality and fundamental research supported by multidisciplinary collaboration
    2. To promote active participation in strong national and international research consortiums applying to competitive funding
    3. To prioritize novel experimental techniques in modern infrastructure supported by digital- and data-driven methods
    4. To enhance quality of education, of a more balanced in gender generations, supported by motivated teachers with pedagogical awareness and use of monitoring tools (e,g, TCI/TAM by ENG) towards a fair workload distribution and efficient steering by programme directors
    5. To integrate and promote advanced know-how and students into societal impact, with inspiration on the creative design practices at Design Factory, walking with industry, and jumping for start-ups with radical creativity
    6. To strive for a culture of ambition and commitment with Aalto values, in balance with wellbeing, conducted by a motivated research and technical staff
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