Key Research Area: ICT and digitalisation
Digital technologies like AI and 5G cut through the whole society, from education to medicine and economics.
Research & Art
High-quality research. A unique combination of science, art, technology and business.
At Aalto University, we create the conditions needed for innovation, economic growth, employment and wellbeing. Our research focuses on seven key areas combining four core competences in the fields of ICT, materials, arts, design and business together with three grand challenges related to energy, living environment, and health.
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Key research areas
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.
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.
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.
Key Research Area: Advanced energy solutions
The main focus in energy research and teaching are energy sciences, multidisciplinary energy technologies, and sustainable energy solutions.
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.
Key Research Area: Health and wellbeing
Health and wellbeing focus areas include biomedical engineering, neuroscience, biomaterials, digital health, and health management and design.
Join Aalto - Interested in starting a career with us?
Read more about our doctoral programmes and tenure track career system! And get to know our university teaching.
How to apply for doctoral studies?
Doctoral students at Aalto University can pursue the degrees of Doctor of Science (Technology), Doctor of Arts (Art and Design), Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration), and Doctor of Science (Architecture). The target time for the doctoral degree is four years. The admissions are organised individually by each doctoral programme.
Tenure track
Aalto University’s tenure track career system offers a well-supported and clear career path for professor-level academics towards a permanent professorship.
Lecturer career system
Aalto lecturer career system is intended primarily for individuals conducting teaching. The lecturer career system supports individual development and career advancement through clear principles and systematic evaluation criteria and allows Aalto teachers and lecturers to advance in their careers with teaching-focused merits. Teachers and lecturers have the opportunity to advance within the career system, from the university teacher level to the university lecturer level, and further to the position of a senior university lecturer and principal university lecturer. This page contains principles of the lecturer career system, levels in lecturer career system, generic time allocation in lecturer career levels as well as descriptions of recruitment and advancement processes.
Teaching and learning
A landing page for teachers to help them find services and support related to teaching and learning.
Delve into our research – find the people behind it!
Excellence in research
We believe that impact and excellence in research are best achieved by collaboration – both between disciplines as well as universities. Get to know our recognitions, funding awards and projects.
Learning from nature
In his lab, Academy Professor Olli Ikkala is catching up with evolution’s lead in the manufacture of materials. The results of his work may be of crucial significance to an energy-scarce society.
EU grants for smart materials and next generation LEDs
Three million euros grants to Assistant Professor Jaana Vapaavuori and Postdoctoral Researcher Konstantinos Daskalakis to make environmentally friendly materials
Professor Paula Hohti receives two million euros of ERC funding for research into renaissance fashion and culture
Experimental processing of materials from fashion history opens up new interpretations of daily life in bygone times.
Tenured Professors' Installation Talks
In the short videos, the new tenured professors present their own field and research.
Renewing society by art, creativity and design
Aalto University promotes creativity in all disciplines and communities. One of our strategic targets is to renew society through art, creativity and design. We are a forerunner in combining art and creative practices with research and education.
Ilkka Niemelä, PresidentScience and art help us make sense of our complex world and, at the same time, challenge our own ways of thinking.
Read the latest research news
EIT Jumpstarter 2023 (register before 16 April 2023)
Do you have an innovative idea and want to jumpstart your business?
Avatars and genuine interaction
Aalto University’s researchers are contributing to the creation of redesigned maternity and child health clinics and positive childbirth experiences in their research projects. The visions seize the potential of technology, such as childbirth simulation in a 3D-video conference using an avatar, a virtual character. On the other hand, the researchers would also like to hold on to the best practices from the past, such as the traditional child health clinic card, genuine human interaction and the rotina tradition, visits by family and close-ones to meet the newborn and bring foods as a gift.
Sahar Babaeipour dreams of entrepreneurship – but before that, she wants to graduate as a doctor
The doctoral research conducted by Sahar Babaeipour, a doctoral researcher at Aalto University’s Bioinnovation Center, aims at a more sustainable packaging industry.
Matteo Iannacchero, a developer of bio-based yarns: ‘I value the freedom of science’
In his doctoral research conducted at Aalto University’s Bioinnovation Center, Iannacchero uses machine learning to develop ecologically sustainable electronic yarns. This is an opportunity to come up with something completely new.Key figures of 2021 and reports
In 2021, Aalto University has set its sights firmly on building a sustainable future.
Platforms and other collaboration units
Many scientific and societal challenges require systematic and integrative approaches that are beyond the capabilities of a single discipline or department. We believe that collaboration both within Aalto as well as with external stakeholders is key in order to gain the best possible impact.
Aalto Networking Platform
The Aalto Networking Platform brings together research expertise across departments, supporting collaboration both inside and outside of Aalto.
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.
Societal impact as driving force
Open science and research
The principle of openness is the key principle of science and research. At Aalto University, the most visible forms of open science are open access publications, open research data and metadata, and combining openness and commercialisation.
Research assessments
Aalto University is continuously assessing the quality of its research and artistic activities, and its societal impact. The assessment is based on peer review and internationally agreed best practices.
Research Ethics and Research Integrity
Aalto University has committed itself to following the guidelines for ethical principles of research and integrity. You will find help and advice on questions on research ethics.
Management of research and art
Research at Aalto University is conducted by faculty and staff based in the departments. The role of the university management is to ensure the long-term preconditions for conducting high-quality and high-impact research and art.