Aalto University and Saab sign a new ten-year collaboration agreement

Image: Managing Director of Saab Finland Oy Kristian Tornivaara, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Surveillance of Saab AB Carl-Johan Bergholm, Dean of Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering Jussi Ryynänen, Head of Communications of Business Area Surveillance of Saab AB Nathalie Dunér, Chief Technology Officer of Saab Petteri Alinikula and Aalto University's professor Ville Viikari at the radiowave anechoic room on Aalto University's campus in Otaniemi, Espoo.

Aalto University and Saab AB have signed a second ten-year collaboration agreement to strengthen and deepen their research cooperation in areas related to antenna technology, microelectronics, radar signal processing, artificial intelligence, and hydroacoustic sensing.

‘For Aalto, collaboration with Saab means an opportunity to invest long-term in research in critical high-technology areas. Thanks to the agreement, Aalto University can expand and deepen research activities in the field and train new experts’, says Ilkka Niemelä, President of Aalto University.

The primary model of collaboration has become doctoral research cooperation, which both Saab and Aalto University have been extremely pleased with. One of the objectives of the previous agreement was the employment of doctors graduating from the collaboration, including in Saab’s product development teams, where they play key roles in developing new sensor products. The university's important role is to educate top experts in their fields, and close collaboration with industry helps fulfil this mission.

‘Saab’s successful history is built on constant innovation. In order to maintain that position, we must understand and benefit from the emerging technologies at the frontline of current research. The collaboration with Aalto University clearly shows the benefits of cooperation between academia, industry and government to address our common needs’, says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

Research collaboration with top scientists has produced new technologies for industrial use. The cooperation guides research work by bringing current issues to the forefront and helps in better understanding the needs of businesses. The collaboration has also produced several dozen joint publications and multiple patents.

The extension of the contract underscores Saab and Aalto University’s commitment to further strengthening their collaboration, ensuring the continued pursuit of academic excellence and strategic research that will drive innovation for years to come.

More information 
Outi Toijala, Head of Corporate Relations, Aalto University
p. +358 50 544 7096, outi.toijala@aalto.fi 

Aalto University's press release, STT (in Finnish)

Saab Press Centre 
p. +46 (0)734 180 018, presscentre@saabgroup.com 

Saab press release