ABB Oy will invest in developing local expertise related to the energy transition and will make a significant donation of EUR 1.5 million to Aalto University. The donation supports the new competence centre, House of Energy Transition, bringing together key players in the energy sector. Its mission is to advance research in the field and foster impactful collaboration between industry and key stakeholders in society.
Aalto University stands out for its capability to research and advance the full value chain of energy transition, including materials, product development, testing, commercialisation and founding new companies. House of Energy Transition further strengthens Aalto’s multidisciplinary expertise and promotes close collaboration with companies and organisations, helping accelerate innovation and commercialisation.
ABB’s core expertise in power electronics and new breakthroughs are crucial for Finnish and European industries and for achieving a sustainable energy transition. This donation supports teaching in the energy sector and advances independent scientific research and expert activities at the House of Energy Transition.
Aalto University is establishing four new academic chairs as part of the House of Energy Transition initiative. ABB’s donation is directed in particular to the power electronics professorship to strengthen deep expertise in the area, from fundamental physics to system integration. The House of Energy Transition brings together more than forty Aalto professors and their research groups who work with energy across the university’s different schools.
‘ABB is contributing significantly to the establishment of a new professorship. Breakthrough solutions for the green transition require financial investment and strong partnerships between industry, academia, and research institutes. By supporting the House of Energy Transition and targeted research, we gain insight into emerging topics. As part of the innovation ecosystem, we can help develop key energy sector themes, such as hydrogen utilisation, energy solutions for data centers, and the energy transition in society and industries,’ says Peter Lindgren, Business Line Manager of LV System Drives at ABB Oy.
House of Energy Transition focuses particularly on energy sector research, education, and societal impact. Its mission is to bring together energy-related research and education at Aalto University. The goal is to increase comprehensive understanding of energy systems, energy transition and promote a sustainable green transition.
‘New power semiconductor technologies, converter solutions and design and optimisation methods based on artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming the power electronics sector. The new professorship responds to this development by researching and teaching next-generation solutions to future top experts. Warm thanks to ABB for this important and significant donation,’ says Jussi Ryynänen, Dean of the School of Electrical Engineering at Aalto University.
‘We want to support research and development in the energy sector at its early stage. We also have the opportunity to connect company-specific programs to this work, such as ABB’s H2 Springboard Veturi initiative. By working with students and industrial partners in the energy sector, we strengthen Finland’s competitive position. At the same time, we can secure ABB’s leading role as a pioneer in electrical technology and energy-efficient solutions in the future,’ says Peter Lindgren.
ABB and co-founding donors support the operation and development of House of Energy Transition through an expert group. ABB is strongly committed to advancing its position together with Aalto University and other partners. The goal is to support the development of the new competence centre both nationally and internationally into a significant and impactful ecosystem for collaboration in the energy sector.
‘The new professorship supports the energy transition in energy transmission, energy storage, and electric mobility, and thus the energy self-sufficiency and security of supply for Finland and Europe as a whole. I want to thank ABB for its significant donation and long-term cooperation on behalf of the entire Aalto community,’ says President of Aalto University Ilkka Niemelä.
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). ABB.com
Peter Lindgren, LV System Drives Business Line Manager, ABB Oy, Finland, tel. +358 50 332 2736
Satu Perälampi, Country Communications Manager, ABB Oy, Finland, tel. +358 50 332 3850
Jussi Ryynänen, Dean of the School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto University, tel. +358 50 384 1720
Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio, Professor, Aalto University, tel. +358 50 304 4482
Ilkka Niemelä, President, Aalto University, president@aalto.fi
Donations from ABB, Fortum, St1 and the Walter Ahlström Foundation will be used to establish new professorships. At the same time, the donations support the establishment of Aalto University House of Energy Transition.
The transition to clean energy is a societal transformation on the same scale as digitalisation, and Finland has many strengths to support it, says professor Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio, who leads Aalto University’s new competence centre, House of Energy Transition.
The donation is directed towards a new professorship, which will be part of the House of Energy Transition competence centre.
Lahjoituksella tuetaan kahden uuden professuurin perustamista: uudet energiateknologiat ja -innovaatiot sekä energiastrategia.
The donation will enable Aalto to establish a professorship in sustainable industrial production.
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