School of Chemical Engineering

We are solving challenges related to the sustainable use of natural resources, the circular economy and a clean environment.

Two lab workers in white coats and blue gloves operating equipment on a bench

Aalto’s research and innovations impact your everyday life. Whether it’s a breakthrough in detecting memory disorders, a sustainable alternative to cement, or turning ideas into startups, you too are connected to Aalto – and have many reasons to donate.

Collage of colourful letter A designs with 'A! Sign of change' in bold white text on a black background in the centre.

Person in a white lab coat stands in an industrial facility, smiling, blue pen in pocket.

Bruno Mattos has been appointed as five-year fixed term Associate Professor at the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems

Mari Lundström elected as a new member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters

Tanja Kallio has received the Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation’s chemistry prize

Iris Seitz awarded for exceptional early-career achievement

Left: person wearing a black jacket and pearl necklace. Right: molecular structure illustration against a cosmic background.

Decoding the chemistry of space with machine learning

A close-up of numerous small, rectangular particles with rounded edges, appearing grey on a dark background.

Catalysis in a new light: Microscale interactions could enhance clean energy technologies

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Person at shared desk browsing a student course catalogue on a laptop, with plants and office supplies nearby

Cooperation, University Published: 25.5.2026

Doctoral positions at Unite! universities now available in one place

Unite! students searching for doctoral positions can now explore a dedicated category in the Unite! Catalogue for Students.

Brown-toned display of wood, pulp, fibre, thread cone and knitted fabric, showing stages from log to textile.

Research & Art Published: 20.5.2026

The journey of a 17th-century shipwreck continues as a unique knitted dress

Researchers at Aalto University transformed surplus wood from the Hahtiperä shipwreck into textile fibre, spun it into yarn, and knitted it into a dress using new AI-assisted technology.

Text 'Otaniemi on a sustainable path' and image of two people walking on campus.

Campus, Cooperation, Studies, University Published: 15.5.2026

Make May the month of movement!

Listen to a mini-webinar about brain and exercise on 28 May. Make sustainable mobility part of your working or study day.

University Published: 11.5.2026

Canvas learning platform data breach – There may be users at Aalto

If you have used Canvas, notify security@aalto.fi. As a precaution, you can also change your Aalto password.

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29.5.

Doctoral hat floating above a speaker's podium with a microphone.

Public defences 29.5.2026 10:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

Public defence, Bioproduct Technology, MSc (Tech) Jenny Wiklund

Acetylated cellulose nanofiber films: Durability and functionality in printed electronics

1.6.

Film produced in this research over a wood log

Public defences 1.6.2026 12:00 – 15:00 (UTC +3)

Public defence, Bioproduct Technology, MSc Eva González Carmona

Sustainable, semi-continuous and closed-loop production of regenerated cellulose films

3.6.

Rows of leafy green lettuce growing densely indoors under long bright ceiling lights

Networking 3.6.2026 14:00 – 17:45 (UTC +3)

GROWvertical Finland Meeting: Bridging Finnish and German Research, Industry and Innovation in Vertical Farming

GROWvertical Finland Meeting brings together Finnish and German researchers, industry representatives and Innovators in the field of vertical farming.

3.6.

Aalto-yliopiston alumneja A! Sign of Change kuvausseinän edessä

Networking 3.6.2026 17:00 – 19:00 (UTC +3)

Aalto University alumni event in Oulu

Aalto alumni are warmly welcome to an alumni event in Oulu on 3 June 2026 from 5 pm to 7 pm.

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A group of chemical engineering students in front of the CHEM main building.

Join us at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering!

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More than the degree | Aalto Blogs (external link)

Lignocellulose samples by Mohamed Magd. Photo: Valeria Azovskaya

Enabling bio and circular economy

Sustainable future with high performance products

World-class materials research

What if we had wood-based colours that never faded?

The color is nontoxic, produced 100% from wood, and can be industrially and economically produced.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/structuralcolor

What if the colour of your jeans grew in your garden?

We explore how to produce and utilise natural dyes derived from plants in a sustainable way.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/willowbark

What if metals could be protected with wood?

In its pure, additive-free form, lignin coatings have already been proven to be effective in minimising the corrosion of metal surfaces.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/metal-coating

What if solar cells could be made out of fish scales?

We are exploring how natural materials like wood or organic byproducts – or even waste like fish scales – could be used for solar cells.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/fish-scales

What if you could 3D print custom bone implants?

Thanks to 3D printing, we can manufacture individualized, custom implants that enhance bone growth and degrade as the patient heals.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/3d-bones

Bacterial cellulose in bowl on a yellow backround

What if bandages could be grown by bacteria?

Although some bacterial colonies can threaten human life, bacteria can be used to produce essential molecules and materials like bacterial cellulose.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/bacterial-cellulose

What if cattle all over the world were eating Finnish wood?

Microcrystalline cellulose is truly a power food for ruminants, and so it could be used to raise the caloric density of animal feed.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/aalto-cell

What if the textiles of the future are growing in Finnish forests?

Ioncell, a fibre woven from cellulose, is a strong contender as a sustainable alternative to cotton and polyester.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/ioncell

What if chemists were also programmers?

When modelling chemical engineering processes, programming skills are essential – and understanding programming basics is an asset in many other tasks as well.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/chem

What if every engineer thought like an artist?

Breaking out of one’s own bubble challenges the brain and changes attitudes. This is why arts courses at Aalto are available to everyone.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/take5-1

At Aalto University, we believe in the power of curiosity. We encourage our students and staff to explore the unknown, learn and do things in completely new ways – to break boundaries together.

See more projects at: https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/

We cooperate with the business world and host numerous competence centers