Acts of Change
14 Theme
Construction remains a major climate culprit, yet it could also hold the key to cutting emissions. What if carbon dioxide could be locked into concrete structures?
Cover image
Photographic artist Johannes Romppanen took portraits of researcher Mohamad Hanafi (left) and assistant professor Sanandam Bordoloi wearing clay masks. Bordoloi’s research group has developed a biochar-based binder that can be used to convert clay waste into building materials. Read more starting on page 14. Mask-making by Taru Haili, Studio Tarua.
Johannes Romppanen
24
On the go
A discarded wind turbine blade has been given new life as a floating pier hosting a sauna. Read more about the startup’s innovation.
Contents
5 Openings Jyri Hämäläinen wants to break routines.
6 Now Small news, big topics.
12 Oops! Laura Aalto and the World Design Capital without chairs.
Theme / Acts of Change
14 Theme Carbon sinks beneath the city –what will future infrastructure be made of?
20 Who Maija Itkonen makes the world better through business.
24 On the go Reverlast gives new life to old wind turbine blades.
30 Meet-up Helena Aspelin develops a bio-based adhesive.
32 Entrepreneurship A student startup improves construction sites logistics.
34 Wow! Students reinvent the form of silicone cartridges.
36 On science Satellites reveal new insights into wolverine habitats.
39 In celebration Six new honorary doctors.
40 5 things Origami can do more than you think.
42 On science Corporate diversity and patents go hand in hand.
43 On science briefly Virtual reality offers new tools for ADHD research; Rising sea levels threaten coastal nature.
44 Partnership Valmet and Aalto collaborate from basic research to commercialisation.
46 Doctoral theses Solip Park on the stories of migrant game developers; Pinja Venäläinen on measuring snow with satellites; Juha Äkräs on an integrated management model.
48 Everyday choices Talvikki Hovatta, what is a relativistic jet?
50 Key figures Aalto at a glance.
48 Everyday choices
Senior Scientist Talvikki Hovatta uncovers the secrets of space at the Metsähovi Radio Observatory.
Aalto alum, illustrator, and designer Eija Vehviläinen created the illustration for the 5 things about origami article in this issue. Vehviläinen believes in small everyday changes and actions instead of big leaps: ‘Over time, when looking back, small changes come together to form something greater. They gradually shape both the individual and the environment –almost imperceptibly.’
Johannes Romppanen took the cover photos for this issue. He is a photographic artist who works with portraiture and storytelling. He is currently completing his master’s in photography at Aalto University.
In his artistic research, Romppanen focuses on the interaction between photographer and subject. ‘I believe that change happens in encounters, in those moments when we are present and willing to listen, understand, and look a little further.’
Publisher Aalto University, Communications
Editor-in-chief Communications manager
Anitta Pirnes
Managing editor Paula Haikarainen
Layout/photo editor Dog Design
Cover Johannes Romppanen
Contributors in this issue
Matti Ahlgren, Amanda Alvarez, George Atanassov, Tiina AulankoJokirinne, Cyrienne Buffet, Tiina Forsberg, Ulla Donner, Jaana Eloranta, Ville Eloranta, Taru Haili, Sarah Hudson, Minna Hölttä, Henrik Jansson, Katrina Jurva, Esa Kapila, Kalle Kataila, Sini Koskimies, Anne Kosola, Tuomas Kärkkäinen, Katja Lahti, Lasse Lecklin, Ira Matilainen, Juuli Miettilä, Juuso Mäntykivi, Terhi Ollikainen, Nhung Pham, Tiiu Pohjolainen, Miina Poikolainen, Kristian Presnal, Marjukka Puolakka, Mikko Raskinen, Johannes Romppanen, Katja Rönkkö, Sedeer el-Showk, Heli Sorjonen, Outi Törmälä, Akseli Valmunen, Eija Vehviläinen, Nita Vera, Enni Äijälä
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Eija Vehviläinen
Johannes Romppanen
Eija Vehviläinen
Johannes Romppanen
Break routines to make change
Our everyday life consists mostly of routines. Changes, on the other hand, emerge when we break these routines and stop operating on autopilot. Change happens when we do something new or approach something familiar differently. How much change could we achieve if we systematically altered our routines toward a goal? How much change could we bring about if we collectively strived toward a common goal?
Routines are often disrupted at life’s turning points, such as changing jobs, starting studies or graduating. These are times when we often reflect on the meaning of our work. Where does my motivation come from? Why do I want to do what I do? I believe many people are driven by the desire to see their lives as part of a larger whole, to make an impact or to carry out daily actions towards a greater goal. To me, working at Aalto means having the opportunity every day to contribute to securing the well-being of our planet. I am inspired by the members of our community who demonstrate a daily desire to make the world a better place. Our faith in the future is sometimes tested, but we cannot abandon hope; it would be immoral. We must believe that we can preserve the Earth for future generations. Working together and taking actions for change strengthens our hope and trust in the future.
We must believe that we can preserve the Earth for future generations.
These acts of change are showcased in Aalto University’s largest exhibition of the year, which will be on display in the Marsio building from September to October. The Designs for a Cooler Planet exhibition presents dozens of bold solutions, ideas, and prototypes that address the major challenges of our time. The featured projects are the result of collaboration between researchers and students from various fields and were made possible by donations of all sizes. These projects offer new perspectives on construction, health and the circular economy, among other topics. You are welcome to explore the exhibition and challenge your own thinking at the same time. What does a good life mean to you? Which changes to your everyday routine would help you achieve that goal? Which routines could you break? What could you achieve with the help of others? Every action matters because the world will not become a better place on its own.
Jyri Hämäläinen Vice President of Research at Aalto University
Aalto alumni companies have a combined turnover of around three billion euros and employ around 15,000 people. Growth entrepreneurs met with investors at Slush 2024.
Cinema Sheryl’s technology is top-notch: the theatre is equipped with a 4K laser projector, 7.1 Dolby Atmos sound system and comfortable
Aalto Founder School puts entrepreneurship in focus
Welcome to the movies
Cinema Sheryl is a new student-run cinema in the Marsio building at Aalto (Otakaari 2, Espoo).
The theatre’s programme consists of cult films, art film classics, current hits, special screenings, film clubs and events.
Cinema Sheryl also offers a unique opportunity to see works by students of the Department of Film (ELO).
Ticket prices are affordable, and students receive a significant discount. The main subtitle language is English.
The theatre is operated by the student organisation TOKYO, which unites students of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Launching in September, Aalto Founder School is a new university-wide entrepreneurship programme open to all Aalto University students. The programme includes hands-on entrepreneurship courses, a tailored coaching track for selected promising students and a monthly public lecture series featuring successful founders.
The goal is to help more startups emerge from Aalto and equip them for long-term success. ‘Growth companies are key to Finland’s economic future. That’s why we’re building an ambitious, supportive entrepreneurial environment,’ says serial entrepreneur Mårten Mickos, one of the programme’s leaders.
The academic track covers a wide range of topics, from product development to legal frameworks and go-to-market strategies. Courses combine the latest research with practical, project-based learning. Students can also build a minor from the curriculum.
A handful of students will be selected annually for a coaching track that provides one-on-one mentoring and access to startup and investor networks.
Graduates of the entrepreneurship programme will form their own alumni network, which in turn will support future participants.
The monthly public lecture series, held at Marsio on campus and available online, brings leading entrepreneurs from Finland and around the world to share their stories.
Kristian Presnal
seats.
Mikko Raskinen
BRILLIANT NEWS
#114
Aalto
University’s global ranking
QS World University Rankings 2025
Juuli Miettilä
A revolution for R&D with the missing link of machine learning
Aalto University professor Samuel Kaski has received a European Research Council Advanced Grant to develop new types of machine learning. The five-year, €2.5 million euro project will develop machine learning that is more robust and deployable, or useful beyond its limited training context, and generalisable, rather than being limited to specific tasks.
Scientific research and the R&D process itself are iterative and require going outside of existing data. The ‘missing link’ is incorporating human expert knowledge in the research cycle, parallel to machine learning. Including the expert in the loop may be a way to avoid deployment failures where machine learning doesn’t work when applied to new problems or with unfamiliar data. Eventually, human-AI teams that combine expertise, reasoning and optimal decision-making could lead to groundbreaking R&D and solutions to grand challenges. This is also an aim of the newly established ELLIS Institute Finland that Kaski directs.
IDBM: Three decades of interdisciplinary collaboration
The interdisciplinary master’s programme International Design Business Management (IDBM), one of Aalto University’s flagship initiatives, turns 30 this year.
Unique in Finland, the programme equips students with the skills to tackle complex global challenges through creativity, business knowledge, and technology. Studies are hands-on and project-based. The courses focus on, for example, interdisciplinary teamwork and leadership, customer insight, sustainable innovation, and entrepreneurship.
IDBM began as a minor subject in 1995 and became a full major when Aalto University was established in 2010. Over three decades, the programme has educated around one thousand professionals with interdisciplinary expertise. IDBM graduates work in a wide range of industries across the globe.
The degree’s employment outcomes are strong – graduates find careers in fields such as design, marketing, product and service development, strategy, business development and consulting. 95% of graduates in 2022 were employed within a year.
IDBM is taught in English and is offered across all six Aalto schools. Students can graduate with a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration, a Master of Arts, or a Master of Science in Technology.
Curly birch – The tree pressed by the devil The exhibition presents 26 pieces of furniture and other objects made from curly birch by an international student group at Aalto University’s Wood Studio.
Finnish Forest Museum Lusto (Lustontie 1, Punkaharju) until 15 March 2026
Artefakti 2025 presents works by students who have graduated from the MA programme of Contemporary Design.
Helsinki Design Week, Cable Factory, Valssaamo (Kaapeliaukio 3, Helsinki) 5–14 September 2025
Olla-station (earthenware clay) by
Säikeistyksiä (Fibrations) consists of the final works of the Aalto’s interdisciplinary course Crystal Flowers in Halls of Mirrors: Mathematics Meets Art and Architecture.
Science Centre Heureka (Tiedepuisto 1, Tikkurila, Vantaa) until 31 December 2025
Wakesonance is made from folded ice paper. Design by Aarni Markkanen, Ilona
Aalto University’s exhibitions
Matti
Ahlgren
Cyrienne Buffet
Curly birch furniture designed by Cyrienne Buffet.
Taittonen and Natasha Yiu Lok Man.
Aarni Tujula.
Anne Kinnunen
Aalto ARTS Grad Show 2025 presents the projects of students graduating in architecture, design, film, art and media.
Aalto University, Väre building (Otaniementie 13, Espoo) until 6 October 2025
Nhung Pham developed a game to explore the flexibility of housing for his master’s thesis in architecture.
Aalto’s traditional spring fashion show was supplemented by an exhibition this year. The Näytös/Näyttely25 event showcased an exceptionally wide range of fashion and textile design by young designers.
Mikko Raskinen
Nhung
Pham
In the Everyday Materials section, you can check out shoe insoles made from biomaterials.
Designs for a Cooler Planet 2025
The world doesn’t just become better on its own –it’s made better.
Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition, Designs for a Cooler Planet, showcases dozens of bold solutions, ideas and prototypes addressing the major challenges of our time. The exhibition features work by students and researchers offering new perspectives on construction, health and the circular economy, as well as other topics.
Come see how clay is transformed into a carbon sink, what can be built from fungi, and how memory disorders can be detected early. Fall in love with children’s material experiments and learn how the price of a takeaway coffee can be invested in a more sustainable future.
/ Doors are open from 5 September to 28 October at the Marsio building on Aalto’s campus, Otakaari 2, Espoo. Mon–Thu 7.45–21.00 | Fri 7.45–20.00 | Sat–Sun Closed. Free entry – you are warmly welcome! / aalto.fi/acoolerplanet
/ Part of Helsinki Design Week and the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus initiative. helsinkidesignweek.com new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/index_en
Photos Esa Kapila
The Marvelous Materials book encourages children to experiment creatively using nothing more than nature’s resources and household biowaste. The exhibition’s miniature house interior uses materials such as egg ceramics and toilet paper foam. It was made by Aalto University Junior summer campers.
The Future of Adhesives – Inspired by Mussels and Barnacles introduces a unique protein adhesive that works underwater. Read more about it in the interview with its inventor, Helena Aspelin (page 30).
Reedboards, designed by design student Hana Rehorčíková, are a sustainable alternative to particleboards. They are made from the common reed and bound with cellulose.
A design capital without chairs
In 2012, Helsinki was named World Design Capital. Laura Aalto, now Communications Director at Aalto University, recalls a time of high hopes – and a hard lesson in humility.
Text Paula Haikarainen Illustration Ulla Donner
‘In 2012, I was working for the City of Helsinki. The world was a very different place back then – and so was the general understanding of design. For most people, design meant furniture, textiles, tangible objects, or buildings. We wanted to challenge that idea.
Helsinki applied for the World Design Capital title with the theme Open Helsinki – Embedding Design in Life. Our goal was to broaden the meaning of design: to make it part of everyday life, part of decisionmaking and urban development. At the time, that felt radical.
The bid was supported by a wide network – the state, businesses, universities, and other cities in the region. Once Helsinki was selected, a foundation was set up, and a team was assembled to carry out the programme. I was in charge of communications and marketing. Unfortunately, our messaging failed. Our biggest mistake was overestimating the public’s readiness to embrace a broader concept of design. Finnish audiences and media wanted exhibitions of chairs and tables. We were talking about service design, process design, user involvement. People were puzzled – even annoyed. The media mocked us, asking how “everyone suddenly was a designer”.
Even design professionals were critical. Many felt the resources should have gone toward promoting Finnish design internationally. We, on the other hand, were speaking about public services, humancentered thinking and building cities for the future.
But by the end of the year, things took a turn. International media began to take interest – they saw that Finland was using design to build a better society. That recognition brought credibility at home, too. In October, the leading newspaper Helsingin Sanomat used the term “design thinking” in an editorial for the first time and highlighted how design expertise could be applied to new areas.
The biggest lesson I learned? When you’re creating something new – something that doesn’t yet exist –you have to be humble. You need to explain it in a way people can understand. There’s no room for arrogance. Design wasn’t familiar to everyone back then, but today, service designers are an everyday part of life –in both Helsinki and Espoo.’
Acts of Change
Change happens when we do something new or approach something familiar differently. Working together and taking actions for change strengthens our hope and trust in the future.
THEME
14 Theme Carbon sinks beneath the city –what will future infrastructure be made of?
20 Who Maija Itkonen makes the world better through business.
24 On the go Reverlast gives new life to old wind turbine blades.
30 Meet-up Helena Aspelin develops a bio-based adhesive.
32 Entrepreneurship A student startup improves construction sites logistics.
34 Wow! Students reinvent the form of silicone cartridges.
Construction remains a major climate culprit, yet it could also hold the key to cutting emissions. Change is already underway in infrastructure materials, as researchers, cities and companies work together to find more sustainable – even carbon-storing – ways to build.
What will tomorrow’s infrastructure be made of?
Text Tiina Forsberg
Photos Esa Kapila
Our built environment is by far the world’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions – in Finland, it accounts for around one third of all emissions. Most of these arise from the energy used in buildings, but the construction process itself also contributes significantly: over five million tonnes of CO2 equivalents, which is more than a third of the total emissions from the built environment.
New districts in Helsinki, such as Kalasatama and Jätkäsaari, vividly illustrate where much of this comes from: grey concrete. The main ingredient in concrete is cement, and cement production is the single largest source of anthropogenic carbon emissions globally.
But emissions start to accumulate even before the first building blocks are laid. Much of Finland’s geological soil is weak and soft clay, and strengthening such soil and transporting the resulting clay waste is both expensive and carbon-intensive.
One of the most common ground improvement methods is deep stabilisation, where layers of clay, silt or peat are reinforced with a binder to make them load-bearing. The binder is injected into the ground with compressed air to form column-like structures that stabilise the soil. Traditionally, a mixture of lime and cement – known as lime-cement –has been used as the binder, and its production accounts for 95% of the emissions from deep stabilisation.
The emissions from ground improvement – as well as from other infrastructure construction, like roads, bridges and courtyards – haven’t been studied much so far. The estimated total is over two million tonnes of CO2 equivalents – roughly equal to the annual carbon footprint of more than 200,000 Finnish residents.
What if CO₂ could be locked in the ground?
At the same time as urbanisation accelerates and construction expands onto ever softer ground – clay soils and peatlands – emissions need to drop close to zero. Finland’s national carbon neutrality target is set for 2035, and the City of Helsinki aims to reach it even earlier, by 2030. On top of that, Finland’s new construction legislation and the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism are also pushing the building sector to cut its emissions.
But what if carbon dioxide could be locked beneath our feet – into roads, sidewalks and other concrete structures? What if construction were no longer just part of the emissions problem but part of the solution?
‘We saw an opportunity here: the construction industry is in urgent need of low-emission materials, and at the same time, there’s an abundant supply of clay that’s considered unusable. Combining these two challenges could lead to a completely new and more sustainable solution,’
says Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering Sanandam Bordoloi
Bordoloi’s research group is the first in the world to develop a binder material based on biochar that can bind CO2 gas in a stable, solid carbonate form within the cementitious clay layer. Lab tests have even shown negative emissions.
‘Biochar is a by-product of the biofuel industry – and in Finland, we have plenty of it thanks to vast forest and biomass resources. Using biochar instead of cement as a binder for soil stabilisation could cut emissions from binder production by up to 75 percent – without compromising the durability of the structures,’ Bordoloi explains.
‘And biochar has one more critical feature: it can sequester carbon dioxide directly from the environment,’ adds postdoctoral researcher Mohamad Hanafi, a member of the research team.
Turning waste clay into a resource Bordoloi and Hanafi explain that the technology they have developed is not only low-emission but also quite simple. And it makes it possible to turn waste clay into construction material –without heavy industrial processes or transportation. In Helsinki alone, 340,000 cubic metres of waste clay are transported every year.
‘We basically make construction material directly on site by mixing the clay with a minimal amount of binder and biochar. This way we avoid transportation costs, save emissions and meet the construction sector’s need to cut its climate impact,’ Hanafi says.
Solving problems like this in today’s world requires a multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted approach – which is exactly why both Bordoloi and Hanafi have found their way to Aalto University. Bordoloi is originally from India
Bordoloi and Hanafi explain that the technology they have developed is not only low-emission but also quite simple. And it makes it possible to turn waste clay into construction material.
but has worked as a researcher at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Illinois – both top universities in engineering.
‘I’ve always had a curious mind from the get go, and I like to have global challenges that we as researchers can tackle. Of course, multidisciplinarity is nothing new to other universities either, but Aalto was formed around that idea. And that’s exactly what provides a safe space for doing explorative and experimental research,’ Bordoloi says.
Mohamad Hanafi agrees. He completed his doctorate in Turkey, but Aalto’s strong focus on environmental issues is what he most appreciates here.
But in addition to helping the climate, the researchers’ innovation also eases costs for companies – provided that funding and partners can be found to scale it up.
Pilot stabilisation at the old airport site
In the City of Helsinki’s construction projects, lime-cement is no longer used as a binder for deep soil mixing. It has already been replaced by lower-emission alternatives, such as indus-
trial by-products like fly ash or gypsum. But could biochar offer an even more sustainable solution?
‘The idea behind developing these lowcarbon binders is not just to lower emissions but to actually lock carbon into the ground,’ says Mirva Koskinen, who leads Helsinki’s urban environment geotechnical team. She has also previously worked as a geotechnical researcher at the Helsinki University of Technology, now part of Aalto University.
In her current role, Koskinen has been collaborating with Bordoloi’s research group in projects such as DeMiCo, which explores using biochar as part of the binder mix for soil stabilisation. According to Koskinen, the results from the lab have been promising, and the next step is to test the innovation in real conditions: to build actual test columns using the same mix studied in the lab.
‘This autumn, we’ll run a pilot stabilisation at the former Malmi Airport. And we need to build several similar test structures in different locations to see how the mix performs in varying conditions and with different equipment,’ Koskinen explains.
Carbonaide’s innovation turns CO₂ into concrete
So how does a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative innovation break through and reach large-scale production? Tapio Vehmas, CEO of Carbonaide, knows this journey well. He spent years as a concrete researcher at VTT and, before that, worked in various roles in the concrete industry.
‘I’m a concrete guy through and through – my whole career has revolved around concrete,’ Vehmas says with a smile.
Carbonaide’s method locks captured carbon dioxide into concrete during the curing phase. Once the concrete is poured, it simply needs to rest for a while to harden. During this time, CO2 is injected into the concrete, where it reacts and turns the cement into limestone and silica. The silica further densifies the concrete’s microstructure, making it even stronger – and because of this, less cement is needed in production.
Their concrete can be used just like any conventional product: for example, the paving stones and parking areas of the new retail site of Northern Karelia Cooperative Society (Pohjois-Karjalan Osuuskauppa, PKO) were built using concrete made with Carbonaide’s technology – right under our feet.
Achieving change demands research, funding, and a touch of radical creativity.
Perhaps surprisingly, this kind of modern technology was actually tested decades ago. But it wasn’t simply dusted off from a drawer – instead, Vehmas says, they ended up ‘reinventing the wheel.’
‘At our first production plant, an older employee mentioned that similar experiments were done already back in the 1990s. But back then, they were just looking for production improvements – climate wasn’t really part of the conversation.’
Carbonaide’s success story is the result of years of research and development. Vehmas spent 15 years studying concrete at VTT, starting from very low technology readiness
The material images in this article are related to the BEACON research project led by Sanandam Bordoloi, which develops a biochar-based alternative to cement. The project is featured at this year’s Designs for a Cooler Planet. (see page 10)
levels. The company was finally founded with the help of funding and VTT’s internal startup incubator.
Today, Carbonaide is growing fast. Its technology is expanding to be used by several concrete producers and product segments in Finland.
Until now, the bottleneck has been the availability of CO2 – they have had to import it from abroad. But soon the company will have its first domestic source, and Vehmas believes that carbon capture will increase significantly in Finland.
‘There’s so much talk about it that if even one percent of the talk turned into action, we’d already be in a good place,’ he says.
While Carbonaide’s technology relies on captured CO2 to mineralise carbon in concrete, Bordoloi’s method would sequester it directly from the environment. Both solutions are remarkably simple, the inventors say, designed to lock carbon permanently beneath our feet.
‘If you understand the basics of concrete, this really isn’t rocket science. And although we’d love to call it space tech, it’s not,’ Vehmas says, chuckling.
Climate goals require research –and courage
Bordoloi emphasizes that his team’s work is still in its early stages. The construction industry is conservative – for good reason, he adds. Structures must last at least 50–70 years, so any new material is naturally met with caution. Research is needed to prove how well and how safely these new materials perform.
‘Besides ground stabilisation, realistic applications could include sidewalks, paving stones or parking areas – places where the load-bearing requirements aren’t as high as in buildings, and the lifespan can range from 5 to 30 years,’ Bordoloi says.
The group’s partner, Mirva Koskinen, remains optimistic, although she acknowledges it will take years of work before the team’s innovation can become a commercial product. ‘Many companies are already interested in this. But now we need to gather enough data through research and testing so that commercial producers can some day start manufacturing ready-to-use binder mixes for the market,’ Koskinen explains.
Everyone agrees that research is crucial to make change happen. Koskinen also finds it frustrating that the construction sector rarely gets recognition as a driver of change and that its research is not always seen as ‘real science’. But it is a huge sector, tackling issues of global scale.
‘To cut emissions and costs, we need innovations. And there won’t be any without the contribution of universities and research.
That’s simply a fact,’ Koskinen states firmly. Achieving change demands research, funding, and a touch of radical creativity.
‘It’s perfectly logical to be sceptical or even dismissive of new ideas – but then you should also be able to offer something better instead. If we truly want to reach ambitious climate goals, we need radical thinking. We need the courage to do something outside the box,’ Bordoloi says.
Postdoctoral Researcher Mohamad Hanafi, Aalto University
Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering
Sanandam Bordoloi, Aalto University
CEO Tapio Vehmas, Carbonaide
Team Leader Mirva Koskinen, City of Helsinki Urban Environment Design
The enabler
Maija Itkonen, CEO of Onego Bio, is known for popularising the meat alternative Pulled Oats and now also for egg protein made without chickens. She believes business can change the world for the better.
Text Miina Poikolainen
Photos Akseli Valmunen
A good CEO. That’s what Maija Itkonen aspires to be, above all. As a young designer, she didn’t see developing businesses as a creative pursuit on par with design. ‘I no longer ask myself how I can express myself – that happens through the companies I build,’ she says.
Itkonen first rose to fame as the co-developer of Pulled Oats, but it wasn’t her first startup. Already during her studies, she co-founded PowerKiss Ltd, a company that created wireless charging devices integrated into furniture. She began developing Pulled Oats in the 2010s with Reetta Andolin and Zhongqing Jiang It became a massive hit in 2016, selling out in stores across Finland.
Clearly, Itkonen has no shortage of ideas, but she knows she can’t chase every single one. For her, getting things done is key.
‘If you ask me whether I’m a starter or a finisher, I’m definitely a finisher. Nothing is more rewarding than completing something,’ she laughs, adding that she has a passion for making lists.
Itkonen has co-founded companies in both tech and food. Could she help shape a business in any industry? ‘In theory, yes. But of course, it’s essential to have experts who know the field inside out. I don’t imagine I can do it all alone.’
WThe power of networks
Between 2002 and 2008, Itkonen studied industrial design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and design management in the IDBM programme at the Helsinki School of Economics – both predecessor institutions of Aalto University. Before that, she had studied music at the Sibelius Academy and the University of Gothenburg.
When she began her design studies, she didn’t intend to give up music. She continued playing oboe with the Helsinki City Theatre Orchestra while studying and launching startups, until family life took over her calendar. ‘I’ve always juggled several things at once.’
Networks have played a major role in her career, something she often highlights to students. ‘Just think about what kind of network Aalto University offers: students, professors, an incredible amount of expertise. Each of them is, in principle, willing to help you if you approach them genuinely and without an agenda.’
But building networks doesn’t mean pushing your idea on everyone. For Itkonen, the key is finding the right match. When that happens, things move forward without a struggle. She also stresses that networking is reciprocal. ‘If you help someone less experienced, they’ll remember it.’
Maija Itkonen lives with her family in Helsinki’s Arabianranta district, where Onego Bio’s office is also located.
She says she’s never really had dreams in the traditional sense – she doesn’t just dream, she makes things happen. Although, as a child, she did have a dream job: to be an art teacher.
‘I thought it would be inspiring to be the fairy godmother who opens the supply cupboard and hands out little sparks to unlock people’s creativity,’ she says enthusiastically, but adds that she probably wouldn’t make a very good teacher. ‘I tend to spoon-feed answers and I’m impatient.’
Aiming for systems-level change
In 2022, Itkonen co-founded Onego Bio with Christopher Landowski. The company produces egg white powder for industrial use without chickens or eggs. ‘It’s a VTT spinoff, and the technology is so valuable that it wasn’t easy to get it out of VTT. I had to raise funding and prove that my vision and abilities were exactly what the product needed.’
She describes it as a product that aims to improve the egg industry on a systems level. ‘We currently pay a high price to make our cakes fluffy,’ she says, referring to the environmental costs of egg production and blights like avian flu.
What’s more, eggs – which are mostly water – are expensive to store and transport. Powder, on the other hand, keeps well and is easy to ship. The goal isn’t to replace eggs entirely. You can’t make the Finnish delicacy egg butter from it, and no one expects people to give up boiled eggs for breakfast.
‘We’re continuing the work started by Mother Nature. We take from the egg what we need – say, for leavening cakes – and do it in a way that avoids the byproducts of egg production. Isn’t that a fascinating idea?’
An engineer’s brain
Itkonen lives with her family in Helsinki’s Arabianranta district, where Onego Bio’s office is also located. That’s where we meet. The company currently employs around 40 people.
‘There’s a food lab upstairs where we run experiments and test the product’s functionality,’ Itkonen says before we head to a meeting room.
She says Onego Bio values collaboration with farmers and is not interested in setting plant-based and animal-based products against one another. ‘Our customer is the food industry, which struggles with the inconsistency of egg quality, price and availability.’
Opposition doesn’t lead to progress – and right now, the goal is to transform the food industry and improve the world. ‘I don’t believe that wanting change is enough. Real change happens through business. If money moves, change follows.’
In Itkonen’s view, improving the world and doing business are not opposing forces; they depend on each other.
The company is currently targeting the US market, as approval processes in Europe can take years. There’s plenty to do, and Itkonen’s phone keeps buzzing. ‘I work all hours if needed. But I’m protected by the fact that my brain is built like an engineer’s. I simply can’t function if I’m tired.’
Designed to taste
When Itkonen and Andolin founded their Pulled Oats company Gold&Green in 2015, they were told that food couldn’t be designed. ‘That it just ends up on your plate and tastes good or bad. But it’s not that simple.’
She picks up a chocolate from the bowl on the table.
‘Food is incredibly designed. It’s about what I want to eat, what I want to reach for, what I truly like, the childhood memories the product evokes, the feelings it triggers and what it does to me or the environment over time.”
For her, design is first and foremost about creating value. ‘Technology is worthless if it doesn’t reach the user. You have to crystallise the idea and make it accessible in some kind of package.’
When developing something new, Itkonen believes in ‘pessimistic optimism.’ First, consider everything that could go wrong. What remains is a crystal clear core.
Sometimes, though, an idea simply doesn’t work. Then you have to be ready to change course overnight. ‘In startups, you go all in. You give your company all your love, creativity and energy. But no one guarantees it will succeed.’
So far, Itkonen has succeeded: PowerKiss was sold to the US-based Powermat in 2013, Gold&Green was sold first to Paulig in 2016 and later to Valio in 2022. With Onego Bio, she’s aiming even higher.
Maija Itkonen
/ Studied music at the Sibelius Academy and the University of Gothenburg. Worked as a freelance musician and teacher. Her instruments are the oboe and saxophone.
/ Studied industrial design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and design management in the IDBM programme at the Helsinki School of Economics.
/ Helped found Aalto University’s Design Factory and was named Innovation Leader of the Year at the 2010 Business Summit.
/ Co-founded PowerKiss Ltd., which developed wireless charging technology, and Gold&Green Foods, known for its Pulled Oats product.
/ Since 2022, she has served as CEO of Onego Bio, a company producing animal-free egg white protein.
Maija Itkonen is one of the keynote speakers at Aalto Alumni Weekend on 25 October 2025. Register for the event at alumniweekend.fi.
Also
/ Green thumb. ‘What I love about gardening is how humbling it is. You try to grow something, and then some damn deer comes and eats everything. Or you plant too early and it freezes. You succeed if you’re lucky. All I can do is try my best, humbly.’
/ List lover. ‘There’s nothing better than crossing something off a list. Even the idea for Pulled Oats became clear during a flight when I made a list of where I might go next.’
/ Musician. ‘Studying music is a great way to train both passion and perseverance. I recently attended a week-long international entrepreneurship camp and was amazed at how many people there had a background in music. Our kids play and sing, too – we often make music together at home.’
A new life for an old blade
Startup Reverlast repurposes discarded wind turbine blades into durable floating docks, the first of which supports a beloved community sauna on the university’s shoreline.
Text Minna Hölttä
Photos Kalle Kataila, Henrik Jansson
At first glance, Siipisauna – wing sauna, in English – looks like any other modest, barrel-shaped sauna on a floating dock. But under the edge of the pier, something white and curved peeks out. ‘That’s the tip of a wind turbine blade. It helps stabilise the dock, and it’s also a great spot to jump into the water from,’ says Johannes Peace, CEO of Reverlast, as he tends the sauna’s heater.
Founded by three Aalto alumni, Reverlast is a startup created to solve a growing global problem: what to do with wind turbine blades that have reached the end of their lifecycle.
Once a blade – typically weighing around 15 tonnes and worth €200,000 – is brought down, it becomes difficult and expensive to recycle.
The EU’s waste policy has a five-tier hierarchy: prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery and, as a last resort, disposal. The higher the method on the hierarchy, the better it is for the environment.
In the US, used blades are buried. In Europe, where landfilling is banned, they’re incinerated for energy or, at best, shredded for use in concrete. Either way, the valuable material properties and engineering of the blade are lost.
In 2022, Johannes Peace had an idea that could move wind blade recycling up the hierarchy.
Strong and affordable Peace, who studied bio- and chemical engineering and international design business management at Aalto, had long been exploring how to build large, floating marine structures – like seaweed farms – but couldn’t find a material strong enough and cheap enough to work.
Then he came across a photo of a blade graveyard.
Wind turbine blades are made of fiberglass, a material familiar to him as a passionate sailor. It’s tough and long-lasting, even in harsh marine conditions. That sparked an idea, and he contacted another boat enthusiast, Aalto University Business School alum Ossi Heiskala. Would he be interested in turning the idea into a business?
of
The tip
the blade stabilising the floating sauna pier also makes a great spot to cool off, says Johannes Peace.
‘The combination of positive environmental impact and a solid business case – of course I was in,’ says Heiskala.
After careful research, the team joined the Kiuas accelerator programme and founded Reverlast in August 2024. The third member of the team is Henrik Jansson, a design student at Aalto. Their mission: to turn used turbine blades into floating docks.
Their first prototype is already in place –and the sauna floating on it is warmed up and ready to go.
Decades of extra life
Siipisauna, floating just off the Aalto campus shoreline, was completed in early 2025 with the help of a €10,000 Sustainability Action Booster grant from the university. The sauna itself is a classic Finnish barrel model, stained dark and assembled from a kit. The deck is made from Siberian larch, a naturally durable wood rich in resins and minerals. But the real innovation lies beneath: the dock floats on four pontoons made from wind turbine blades.
Each pontoon is filled with polystyrene and weighs over 300 kilograms. The blade segments have a fibreglass shell up to six centimetres thick – compared to around one centimetre in a typical sailboat hull – making them incredibly strong. Siipisauna even survived a full winter in the ice without damage.
A wind turbine blade typically lasts 20 years in its original use. In water, it can last more than twice that long. With painting and
surface treatments, its longevity improves further. This approach also reduces the need for traditional dock materials like concrete and polyethylene, lowering the environmental footprint even more.
A dock like Siipisauna prevents an estimated 2.6 tonnes of carbon emissions – and the bigger the dock, the greater the impact.
At a recent boat fair, Reverlast quickly sold out its stock. The team has already outgrown its workshop in Otaniemi, the Aalto University campus area. New premises await in Naantali, a coastal town in southwestern Finland. And globally, there’s no shortage of used blades to work with.
Breakwaters and floating villages
Most Finnish wind turbines are still relatively young. In contrast, over a third of turbines in Germany are already more than 15 years old. WindEurope estimates that starting in 2030, over 52,000 tonnes – or more than 3,000 blades – will be decommissioned annually in Europe alone.
As a result, reuse concepts are being developed around the world: Denmark has made bike shelters from blades, Germany uses them for outdoor furniture, and in the US, researchers are exploring their use in bridge structures.
Reverlast is now launching a partnership with VG-Port Oy, a circular economy–focused port operator in Naantali. The plan is to ship cargo to Western Europe and return with loads of turbine blades.
The massive blades are attached to the wind turbine rotor with heavy-duty bolts, explain Johannes Peace and Ossi Heiskala.
A wind turbine blade typically lasts 20 years in its original use. In water, it can last more than twice that long.
The floating sauna is supported by six pontoons made from repurposed wind turbine blades.
The technology is adaptable to many other floating structures, like breakwaters.
‘We’ve calculated that transporting 600 metres of blades at a time would make the system financially viable,’ says Heiskala.
The company started with floating docks because of the team’s expertise. Currently, most pontoons are filled with foam glass made from recycled glass, which makes them unsinkable.
A new method is on the drawing board to make the pontoons float without any internal filling at all.
Reverlast’s dock concept is the first of its kind, but the technology is adaptable to many other floating structures, like breakwaters. Looking even further ahead, the team imagines floating villages made from wind turbine blades.
‘Climate change is raising sea levels and intensifying storms, increasing the need for temporary housing in many areas,’ says Peace. ‘And people are naturally drawn to water. It’s calming. When you sit on that sauna bench, feel the gentle sway, and see the tip of the wind blade through the window – you’re literally sauna bathing on a turbine wing.’
A cherished sauna
‘Siipisauna opened to the public in April 2025, and people have absolutely loved it. It’s charming and accessible: anyone can book a slot, and a one-hour sauna session costs just five euros – basically the price of firewood. Volunteers from Aalto Sustainability Club helped build the sauna, and now we run it together with the Polytechnic Sauna Society. The opening party was packed; at one point there were 17 people in the sauna at once. We played games, swam and saunaed for hours – it was the perfect start to the summer.
Aalto is such an international community, and for many of our international students, experiencing sauna culture is a key part of their time in Finland. There’s no better place for it: the sea view is beautiful, and after a hot steam, it’s amazing to plunge into the cool water. My international friends have been totally enchanted, and I believe this sauna has brought a lot of joy to Aalto’s student community.’
Anna Hakola Economics student and board member, Aalto Sustainability Club
The wood-heated Siipisauna offers an excellent steam experience.
A pier like Siipisauna helps prevent an estimated 2.6 tonnes of carbon emissions.
The charming and accessible sauna has won over its visitors, says Anna Hakola.
Nice to meet you, Helena Aspelin!
Text Juuso Mäntykivi
Photos Nita Vera
Tell us about your work.
I’m a first-year doctoral researcher in Professor Markus Linder’s research group, where we study how the structure and properties of natural materials – such as spider silk or substances produced by marine organisms – can be mimicked to develop new biomaterials. Our group is part of the LIBER Centre of Excellence. In my own research, I’m developing a protein-based adhesive derived from the DNA of barnacles and mussels. Our goal is to create a sustainable material that works as well as the adhesives produced by nature, if not better. Our adhesive is unique because it works in both dry and wet conditions and even underwater.
How did you end up using mussels and barnacles in your research?
Most traditional adhesives require dry conditions to work, but marine organisms are different. Mussels and barnacles can produce protein-based adhesives underwater and attach very tightly to rocks and ship hulls. That sparked the idea of developing a similar, environmentally friendly adhesive. I’ve been developing this material together with my colleague Jianhui Feng. I started researching this topic for my Master’s thesis, which Jianhui supervised.
It’s very difficult to collect enough adhesive directly from nature. For example, you’d get only about one gram from 10,000 mussels. That’s why we produce these adhesives using E. coli bacteria. We transfer modified DNA into the bacteria, which then guides the production of the desired protein. Bacteria grow quickly and are cost-effective, and the production process is environmentally friendly. Producing the adhesives in bacteria also allows us to tailor the proteins for different applications.
What can this material be used for?
The adhesive we’ve developed can be widely used – for example, in composite materials. Thanks to its water resistance and biocompatibility, it could be used as a medical adhesive or for repairing coral reefs. In the future, we hope protein-based adhesives could even help repair major tissue damage and potentially save lives.
Right now, I’m particularly focused on studying how the material would work as a medical adhesive. Adhesives are typically used on skin, where there’s little moisture, but we want to explore whether ours could be used inside the human body. Next, we want to determine which applications the adhesive would be best suited for.
Our long-term goal is to move into product development and eventually commercialise the material.
LIBER (Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials)
• Established as a Centre of Excellence by the Academy of Finland for 2022–2029.
• Aims to create dynamic and soft hybrid materials with the capability to learn, adapt or respond to the environment.
• Includes eight research groups from Aalto University, VTT and Tampere University.
Helena Aspelin’s research is featured in the exhibition The Future of Adhesives –Inspired by Mussels and Barnacles. The team includes doctoral researcher Jianhui Feng and Professors Markus Linder and Barbara Pollini. The exhibition is part of Designs for a Cooler Planet (see pages 10-11).
Helena Aspelin works at the Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering.
Better digital tools, better building
A student-founded company helps construction firms find the right products and streamline operations.
Construction is one of the world’s largest and most traditional industries – and one that urgently needs improvements in both efficiency and sustainability. It also lags behind many other sectors in digitalisation.
Four Aalto University students founded a startup, Complink, to tackle these challenges. Their goal is to use artificial intelligence and building information modeling (BIM) to make construction not only more cost-effective but also more sustainable.
Jonathan Atwood, Complink’s CEO and a master’s student at the Aalto University School of Business, explains that the company has developed a software solution for construction firms to find the most suitable products for each building project. Using AI and architect- and engineer-generated data models, the software helps optimise procurement and logistics processes at construction sites.
‘For example, when a designer creates a ventilation duct, we can compare it to similar products on the market based on technical specifications, such as diameter or material. The system then optimises the selection based on factors like
cost, quality, carbon emissions, logistics and timelines,’ says Atwood.
This means construction companies can save time and money. Traditionally, the procurement process can take weeks or even months, but Complink’s software can perform the same analysis in just minutes. According to Atwood, the tool could save companies millions of euros annually. Sustainability also improves.
‘Our software optimises construction logistics, which generates a large share of emissions, making the procurement process more sustainable,’ says Niklas Paassilta, Complink’s head of sales and marketing and also a master’s student at the School of Business.
Complink is also looking to optimise construction scheduling, as many projects are delayed and exceed their budget. In the future, the software will include a feature that aligns product deliveries with on-site construction timelines.
This allows projects to be adapted to different priorities. While some projects focus on minimising costs, others emphasise sustainability. Complink’s technology enables both perspectives to be taken into account, enabling cost-effective choices that also support sustainability goals.
Startup
born in Aalto’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
The idea to harness AI and technology for construction arose when Atwood and Paassilta were conducting market analyses as part of their strategy studies. A shared interest in entrepreneurship and connections to the construction industry brought them together. When they met engineering student Mikko Suhonen and architecture student Aino Hukkanen at Aalto University’s Startup Sauna, the idea of a joint company began to take shape.
Text Tiina Forsberg
Photo Matti Ahlgren
The team combines expertise from four different fields. Suhonen developed the software and AI algorithms, while Hukkanen has focused on user interface design and company culture. Atwood and Paassilta created the business plan and handled investor and customer relations.
‘Aalto’s entrepreneurial community played a key role in giving us the confidence to turn our idea into a startup,’ Paassilta says.
Complink’s first prototype helped users navigate the complex world of
construction regulations. Now, the focus is on software that streamlines the construction process, and the team is in discussions with several Finnish construction firms.
The company’s goal is to scale quickly and go international. After Finland, the next steps are the Nordics and Europe.
Aino Hukkanen, Jonathan Atwood, Mikko Suhonen and Niklas Paassilta came up with the idea for their company at Aalto’s Startup Sauna.
Student innovators seal a new future for silicon
The Product Development Project course pairs multi-disciplinary student teams with industrial partners to find sustainable solutions to real-world problems.
Text Sarah Hudson
If you’re familiar with home renovation, you’ll know the triggerloaded cartridge used to squirt silicon behind the kitchen sink or around the shower recess. But have you thought about all those tubes ending up in landfill?
As chairman of theconstruction supplies company Torggler, Tobias Johannes has. Silicon cartridges are contaminated after use, making them non-recyclable, so about 600 million plastic cartridges go to landfill annually, he explains. ‘It bothers me that, in 50 years, nobody has thought up a more sustainable way to apply this common building material.’
Johannes wanted a fresh take on packaging design for the company and, as a former exchange student at what’s now the Aalto School of Business, he knew where to find it.
The Product Development Project (PdP) is a course designed primarily for master’s students from any background, be it tech, business, art and design, science or anthropology. Students work across disciplines, with real companies, to solve real world challenges. Companies can sign up as partners, setting the challenge and sponsoring cooperation with the next generation of product developers.
‘If you want to be successful in innovation, you need everybody working together on projects –cross-functional teams – and that’s super challenging for an established company. We saw the opportunities and signed up,’ says Torggler CEO Benno Pamer. The students selected their project and collaborators, and the Italian company was paired with a multidisciplinary team with members from seven different countries. Their challenge: design a more sustainable way of packaging and delivering silicon.
Two solutions, two patents
Industrial design student Owein Iveson was drawn to this challenge because he ‘saw potential to make something quite revolutionary in quite a dormant market.’ Specialising in mass production, for him it was the perfect case study. Meanwhile, for chemical engineer Amanda Lahtinen the lure was the sustainability angle, the chance to use her interest in bio-based products and materials to solve an impactful, real-world problem.
‘We started with desktop research to gain a fundamental understanding of the problem. And then we did a lot of interviews with the end users,’ says Iveson. ‘In the beginning we tried to think: OK, forget
the cartridge. But when we realised the market was so stubborn, we kept coming back to that form – but how to do it better,’ adds Lahtinen. They spent nine months working to design a better product alongside eight other students from fields including automation, engineering and economics. According to both students, the best aspects of the experience related to the richness of ideas stemming from both the internationality and cross-disciplinarity of the team. The result: two completely different solutions, both of which now have patents pending.
Torggler staff are excited – not only with the solutions, but with the whole process. They’re hoping to keep the collaboration going and to participate in the PdP again.
‘This young way of working, of collaborating across different fields, not having the same blocks or gaps, it’s crucial for us,’ says Pamer. ‘The results are fantastic, but the value is more than that. It’s helped us in our vision for the whole company.’
From portable flight simulators to compostable shoe inner-soles, many product ideas were born at PdP. The teams present their work at the annual PdP gala each spring. See past creations and learn more about being a corporate partner or a student here: pdp.fi
Chemical Engineering student Amanda Lahtinen served as the team’s project manager. Owein Iveson is studying in the Collaborative and Industrial Design (CoID) Master’s Programme.
This origami-inspired solution negates the need for a ‘trigger’ due to its cleverly designed collapsible packaging. With the market’s attachment to traditional cartridges in mind, this packaging utilises a multilayered method that prevents contamination, making the external cartridge fully recyclable.
Kalle Kataila
George Atanassov
George Atanassov
Tracks in the snow
Satellite data and snow track surveys reveal that wolverines have returned to Southern Finland. While the national population is growing, the species remains endangered. A new study sheds light on the forest environments that support its survival.
Text Marjukka Puolakka Illustration Tuomas Kärkkäinen
The wolverine is making a comeback in Southern Finland. Previously eradicated by hunting, today around 400 members of the species live in Finland, mostly in the coniferous forests of Eastern Finland and the fell regions of northern Lapland.
Researchers at Aalto University have, for the first time, mapped the wolverine’s distribution across all of Finland by combining satellite imagery, field data and snow track surveys. This kind of integrated mapping method is globally unique in wildlife research.
‘The population in Eastern Finland is doing well enough that wolverines are beginning to spread southward in search of suitable habitats. Traditionally, they inhabit coniferous forests, but our research found that they also thrive in mixed and broadleaf-dominated forests, especially in large, unfragmented woodland areas,’ says Pinja-Emilia Lämsä, a doctoral researcher at Aalto University.
Solitary and wide-ranging, wolverines avoid recently logged areas but may use forests that were harvested a decade or more ago. They also prefer areas with mature but not overly dense tree cover.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), combined national forest inventory data based on remote sensing and fieldwork with snow track surveys carried out by hunters and nature enthusiasts along wildlife triangle routes. The researchers compared
wolverine habitat use between 2009–2010 and 2018–2021.
Finland is known for its extensive and long-standing environmental monitoring data. Systematic forest inventories have been conducted for over a century, and there is a long tradition of citizen science-based wildlife surveys.
‘Remote sensing is a powerful tool for tracking animal distributions across large areas. The data used in this study covers the entire country, with forests divided into 16-by-16 metre squares, allowing us to closely analyse their structure,’ says Miina Rautiainen, a professor of remote sensing at Aalto. Remote sensing refers to collecting data from a distance – via satellites, aircraft or drones – by measuring how different surfaces reflect electromagnetic radiation across various wavelengths. Field observations remain a key part of interpreting remote sensing data in natural environments.
Adapting to snowless winters
While the study confirms that Finland’s wolverine population is growing, the species – the largest mustelid in Europe – remains at risk. It is critically endangered because of its low genetic diversity and fragmented distribution. Understanding its habitat preferences is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
‘Forestry significantly affects forest structure. To safeguard wolverine habitats, we should favour mixed forests and preserve large, continuous forest areas. Our findings suggest that Finland’s broadleaf-dominated mixed forests may be more important to the wolverine than previously assumed,’ Lämsä notes. Lämsä is a wildlife ecologist whose doctoral research focuses on studying the habitats of Finnish mustelids via remote sensing. After the wolverine, she will study the pine marten, stoat and least weasel.
‘Before my PhD, I worked as a field biologist identifying species in the wild. Now, using remote sensing, I can monitor habitat changes from my computer – while also challenging myself with mathematical problems,’ she says.
To researchers, the wolverine is a fascinating subject. Curious and intelligent, it adapts to changing environmental conditions and a wide range of food sources. Finland’s smallest large carnivore scavenges moose carcasses left by wolves and hunts small animals, from hares to frogs. It also preys on reindeer.
A thick snowpack helps this broad-pawed hunter move easily across deep snow when stalking prey.
But climate change and snowless winters pose serious threats. Wolverines often give birth in dens dug into snow and use snow to store food.
‘In southern Finland, the diverse forest structure can help wolverines adapt – for instance, by allowing them to den in coarse woody debris. In the absence of snow, they may also hide their food in cool bogs,’ Lämsä explains.
Monitoring based on snow tracks is becoming increasingly difficult due to shorter snowy periods and thinning snow cover. New methods are needed, especially in coastal areas where winters are already typically snow-poor.
Satellites and the future of ecosystem monitoring
Animal tracking is a new direction for Rautiainen’s remote sensing research group, which has previously focused on vegetation and forest structure in peatlands and forest ecosystems.
‘Remote sensing provides essential tools for monitoring the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. It also helps us assess the success of nature restoration efforts. In the coming years, large peatland restoration projects will be carried out in Finland to meet EU requirements,’ Rautiainen says.
She is pleased with the increasing availability of open-access satellite data for climate and nature monitoring. Satellite imaging technology is also developing rapidly.
Climate change and snowless winters pose serious threats. Wolverines often give birth in dens dug into snow and use snow to store food.
Traditional multispectral sensors use fewer than ten wavelength bands, while hyperspectral instruments can measure hundreds.
‘Hyperspectral satellite imaging will allow even more precise tracking of biodiversity. It’s truly fascinating how satellites orbiting hundreds of kilometres above Earth can give us such detailed insights into the state of nature,’ Rautiainen says.
The study, Wolverines on the Move: A Multi-Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland, was published in Ecology and Evolution on 21 April 2025.
Six new honorary doctors
The ceremonial conferment of degrees is the most prestigious academic celebration at a university. In June 2025, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture held its conferment ceremony, with an exceptionally high number of doctoral graduates: 41 in total. The event also welcomed 59 master’s graduates and six honorary doctors. The school is Aalto’s most international: 27% of the new doctors held a nationality other than Finnish, and this global perspective was also reflected in the honorary doctor nominations.
The new honorary doctors of arts and design 2025 are
/ Ute Meta Bauer, Professor at Nanyang Technological University and Senior Research Fellow at NTU Centre for Contemporary Art, Singapore
/ Ann Light, Professor at the University of Sussex and Malmö University
/ Timo Salminen, cinematographer
/ Joel Sanders, Professor at Yale University and Principal of JSA/MIXdesign
/ Rafaela Seppälä, art collector and Chair of the Tiftö Foundation
/ Kim Simonsson, sculptor
science, art, culture or public life, and
a strong
Doctoral graduates receive a hat as a symbol of scholarship, and master’s graduates are crowned with a laurel wreath. At the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, a unique wreath is designed for each ceremony and handcrafted by the graduate’s chosen wreath-binder.
Text Sini Koskimies
Pictured from left: Kim Simonsson, Ann Light, Ute Meta Bauer, Joel Sanders, Rafaela Seppälä and Timo Salminen. The title of honorary doctor is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to
who have
connection to Aalto University.
Heli Sorjonen
Lasse Lecklin
Origami unfolds in many ways
The word ori means ‘folded’ and kami means ‘paper’ in Japanese. Origami refers to both the traditional Japanese art of paper folding and to the object it produces. At Aalto University, this centuries-old technique finds applications across a variety of disciplines. Here are five examples:
1. Origami at the nanoscale DNA origami merges biology with engineering. It’s a technique for precisely shaping DNA into specific structures. Researchers at Aalto University have developed a method to reshape virus capsid proteins using nanoscale DNA and RNA origami structures, which means they can configure these viral particles into the desired shapes. The diverse DNA origami structures developed at Aalto open up possibilities for vaccine development, targeted drug delivery and photothermal therapy.
2. Educational origami
Children and teens get hands-on with origami in workshops hosted by Aalto University Junior. While learning about the academic world, they might fold a Miura pattern – an extremely efficient fold that NASA has used to pack satellite solar panels. Alongside folding instructions, workshop participants learn about origami’s role in space exploration and discover what the Aalto-1 satellite is all about. They also learn how to study space technology at Aalto.
3. Protective origami
The FOLD and FOLD2 packaging design projects boldly reimagined cardboard as a material, in collaboration with VTT. The first phase produced a machine that folds cardboard into the classic Miura pattern.
Current research is exploring ways to use this folding pattern to create packaging solutions, acoustic elements and layered sandwich structures from cardboard and other materials. Folded cardboard offers an excellent alternative to plastic and styrofoam in packaging. In addition to its versatility and eco-friendliness, this beautiful new material has inspired designers.
FOLD is featured at the Finlandia Hall’s permanent exhibition in the Land of forests section. (Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13 e, Helsinki)
4. Mathematical and artistic origami
Crystal Flowers in Halls of Mirrors is an interdisciplinary course where mathematics meets art and architecture. In 2025, students explored the world of paper folding under the guidance of origami artist Juho Könkkölä. ‘Everything we studied was done by folding,’ he says. Mathematical concepts were explored while experimenting with different folds.
The exhibition Säikeistyksiä (Fibrations) showcases a cloudlike artwork that simulates turbulence as a physical phenomenon, created using numerous curved folds.
The exhibition runs at Heureka Science Centre until 31 December 2025. (see page 8)
Text Tiiu Pohjolainen Illustration Eija
Vehviläinen
5. Textile origami
Not all folding is about creating delicate paper objects. In her doctoral research project Unfold, Mithila Mohan explored how origami can be applied to textiles, like how different materials and weaving techniques can produce fabrics that are not flat and uniform but inherently three-dimensional – almost like sculptures. Repeating origami tessellation patterns serve as templates for folding and shaping the material into selfsupporting structures.
Read more about origami and see pictures on the website: aalto.fi/origami
LGBTQfriendly firms more innovative
The quantity and quality of patents filed by large US firms gets a boost when they score highly across LGBTQ-friendly metrics.
LGBTQ-friendly policies can have a significant impact on innovation in major US firms, according to new research from Aalto University and the University of Vaasa. Existing studies have found a link between profitability and workplace diversity more generally, but this is the first study to specifically examine the link between innovation and sexuality and gender-inclusivity.
The researchers used scores from the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) in conjunction with data from the US Patent and Trademark Office and public databases on patent counts, citations, quality and the number of innovators in a firm to evaluate the relationship between LGBTG-friendliness and innovation.
The findings were notable: for every standard deviation increase in a company’s CEI, the number of patents increased by 20 percent. LGBTQ-friendly firms also demonstrated an almost 25 percent increase in the number of patent citations (an indication of how other companies value the innovativeness of a patent).
‘Our results demonstrate that firms with progressive LGBTQ policies produce more patents, have more patent citations, and have higher innovation quality as measured by patent originality, generality,and internationality,’ says Assistant
Professor Jukka Sihvonen, from the Aalto University School of Business.
The study spans 2003–2017 and was published in the peer-reviewed International Review of Financial Analysis. The research team has also processed additional data up until 2024, with indications that the positive trend may be intensifying over time, notes co-author and doctoral researcher Veda Fatmy of the University of Vaasa.
Findings ‘not just a blue state phenomenon’
A range of analytical methods were used to control for bias, with a link between inclusivity and innovation persisting regardless of the differing political or societal context.
‘It’s not as politically polarised as one might think,’ says Professor Sami Vähämaa of the University of Vaasa, who also led the research. ‘The results get marginally stronger when most conservative states are excluded, but the difference is really minor, and the findings remain largely the same when the most liberal states are left out.’
‘This is not just a blue state phenomenon,’ adds Sihvonen.
With diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) currently a subject of immense controversy in the US, the research brings crucial data to
discussions around the impact of corporate policy in shaping effective business strategies.
‘Innovation is the fuel that drives both growth and profitability. Companies need innovation,’ says Sihvonen. ‘The magnitude of the impacts linked with LGBTQ-friendliness are big – and that means that the economic significance is, too.’
Text Sarah Hudson
Photo Mikko Raskinen
VR game reveals attention challenges – a new way to study ADHD
Virtual reality is opening new avenues for studying ADHD symptoms. In a recent study led by Professor Juha Salmitaival (also known as Salmi) of the University of Oulu, who is a visiting professor at Aalto University, researchers observed distinct differences in children’s brain networks while they played a VR game designed to challenge attention and memory.
Unlike traditional ADHD research, which often uses brain scans during rest or passive tasks, this study used functional MRI to scan the brains of 9–15-year-olds as they completed active tasks in the game, Epeli. Significant differences emerged between children with ADHD and control subjects, especially in the connections between deep brain structures and the cortex –differences not seen at rest.
The findings support the idea that ADHD involves the development of broad brain networks and their interaction with the environment. According to Salmi, our stimulus-rich digital lives may influence how children learn to direct their attention.
While VR is not yet a diagnostic tool, it may help researchers better understand ADHD and develop interventions that aren’t based on medication. The team is also exploring new tools using motion sensors and smart suits.
Rising sea levels threaten coastal biodiversity
Researchers from Aalto University and the Finnish Environment Institute have assessed, for the first time, how sea-level rise could affect coastal habitats in Finland. The findings are alarming: up to 23% of coastal meadows and sandy shores may disappear by 2100.
These coastal habitats are vital for biodiversity –nearly 700 species are found in meadows and sandy beaches alone. The most vulnerable areas are those where land uplift can no longer keep pace with rising seas, such as the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
The study also explored whether habitats could shift inland as sea levels rise. In practice, obstacles such as buildings, roads, steep slopes and unsuitable soils often prevent this. Even when suitable space exists, it’s often used for agriculture or other purposes.
The researchers stress that protecting nature requires proactive land-use planning, the expansion of conservation areas and habitat restoration. Without action, much of Finland’s unique coastal nature could be lost.
The study included researchers from the University of Helsinki, HUS and the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center in France. Developed by Peili Vision, Epeli has already been played by 10,000 children in Finnish schools.
Tuomas Kärkkäinen
Mikko Raskinen
Co-developing knowledge and solutions
Aalto University and Valmet have a long-standing partnership, especially in the areas of circular economy, energy technology and carbon-neutral production. Emerging focus areas include the green transition and artificial intelligence.
Text Paula Haikarainen
Illustration Juuli Miettilä
4 doctoral research projects – Valmet currently funds four doctoral researchers in Aalto’s engineering fields. The collaboration bridges academic expertise and industrial needs.
More than 10 joint research projects are currently underway in the Business Finland–funded Beyond Circularity Program.
Around 50 master’s theses have been completed for Valmet by Aalto students since 2015.
Valmet engages in multidisciplinary collaboration with all of Aalto’s engineering schools. The cooperation includes thesis projects and doctoral studies, course collaboration and joint research initiatives.
At the School of Engineering, shared themes include condition monitoring in paper machine maintenance, digital twins and the metaverse. The aim is to predict maintenance needs based on mathematical models and collected data, and reduce the need for physical sampling.
The company participates in the Aalto International Talent programme, which connects international students with Finnish companies.
Valmet has a dedicated lecture hall at Aalto University’s Undergraduate Centre (Otakaari 1, room U154). With a named hall, Aalto’s partners can support learning by enhancing the quality of teaching facilities while increasing their visibility among students and contributing to employer branding.
281 Aalto alumni currently work at Valmet (source: LinkedIn).
1 Professor of Practice – Mika Karaila, Director of Research at Valmet’s Automation Systems business line, began as a Professor of Practice at Aalto in February 2025.
Mika Karaila comments on the difference between R&D in companies and research at a university:
‘Here, researchers have more freedom, which enables them to think of something new a bit more wildly. Companies often look for small improvements to the current situation, whereas at the university you can look at things on a larger scale and from different perspectives.’
Valmet in brief
/ Over 225 years of industrial history.
/ Produces process industry technology, automation solutions and services, especially for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With automation and flow control solutions, the company serves an even wider customer base in the process industry.
/ Operates in over 40 countries.
/ Over 19,000 employees (2024).
/ Net sales EUR 5.4 billion (2024).
/ Head office in Espoo, Finland.
Doctoral theses
Approximately 250 doctors of technology, business, arts and philosophy graduate from Aalto University each year. The largest number of doctorates is completed in the tech fields.
Aalto University doctoral programmes are designed to be completed in four years when studying full time or in eight years if studying part time.
Doctoral theses can be interdisciplinary: they can include parts from other fields of research, for example, on art in a technology thesis or vice versa.
More accurate snow measurements for decision-making
The snow cover that blankets the Northern Hemisphere during winter is a vital component of the Earth’s climate and water systems. The snow water equivalent (SWE), the amount of water stored in the snowpack, is a key variable for predicting spring floods, managing water resources and understanding climate change.
Accurate SWE data can be obtained through ground-based measurements, but these cover only limited areas. Satellite observations enable global, daily assessments of snow mass. Satellite data has been available since the late 1970s, making it possible to monitor long-term changes in SWE.
‘The problem has been that current satellite-based methods, which rely on microwave measurements, often underestimate deep snowpacks. In my doctoral research, I developed methods that take into account variations in snow density across different regions and seasons,’ says Pinja Venäläinen
She looked at variable snow densities with an established method that combines satellite observations with weather station data. This improves the accuracy of SWE estimates, especially in regions with moderate snow depth, such as Finland. Venäläinen also developed bias-correction techniques for assessing deep snowpacks more reliably.
‘Improved methods provide a more accurate and temporally consistent picture of the snow cover and the amount of water it holds,’ she says. This information is valuable both for daily decision-making and long-term climate monitoring, and is used by hydrologists, climate researchers and environmental authorities, as well as energy and water utilities.
Pinja Venäläinen 19.5.2025: Remote sensing of terrestrial snow water equivalent using
sensors
Text Marjukka Puolakka
There are 3,200 doctoral students representing 95 different nationalities. Approximately 1/3 of them are doctoral researchers working at Aalto.
A clearer model for leadership
Leadership is a skill, but the available theories and models about it generally overlap, and are fragmented or even contradictory. In his doctoral research, Juha Äkräs developed the Integrated Leadership Model (ILM), which brings together the essential perspectives of leadership into a single clear and practical framework.
‘Organisations today operate in increasingly complex environments, where uncertainty, constant change and hybrid work intensify the demands on leadership,’ Äkräs explains. ‘What’s needed is a holistic, context-sensitive and balanced approach. The ILM aims to support this by bridging theory and practice.’
Äkräs tested the ILM using a survey he developed to assess key leadership functions and leadership styles. 883 employees and managers working in expert roles across 7 Finnish organisations participated.
The survey provides a concrete tool for evaluating and developing leadership. It can be used to collect feedback for supervisors, support self-assessments in leadership teams and guide team development processes.
‘Although the empirical research does not yet cover the full measurement of the Integrated Leadership Model, the results demonstrate its practical applicability and provide a solid foundation for further development,’ Äkräs says. ‘The ILM brings clarity and structure to leadership development and offers tools to strengthen leadership capability, improve team performance and build a sustainable leadership culture.’
Juha Äkräs 28.2.2025: Toward an integrated leadership model
Theses online: aaltodoc.aalto.fi shop.aalto.fi
satellite-based radiometer
Let’s keep international talent in the game
The Finnish game industry attracts international talent. In her doctoral research, Solip Park gives voice to the stories and work experiences of migrant game developers in Finland.
Today, roughly 30 percent of the Finnish game industry’s professionals are of immigrant background. Some stay in Finland for a few years, others longer, but few consider Finland their final home.
The game industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving. Networks and personal recommendations strongly influence job placement. ‘The Finnish game industry is male dominated. Most of my interviewees were with people who had 5-15 years in the industry. Several had already worked in multiple countries,’ Solip Park explains.
Game development practices vary by country, company and team. Despite this, new hires are expected to adapt quickly and be productive immediately after moving to Finland. ‘Cultural fit is emphasised in recruitment, but the concept remains vague to many. Does it refer to Finnish working methods, company culture or perhaps team dynamics?’
Unclear expectations and the pressure for instant productivity can reduce diversity and prevent new perspectives from being explored in game development. Park calls for clearer communication in recruitment about what kinds of people companies are looking for and what is expected of them.
The culture of discussion doesn’t suit everyone
Park expresses concern for international junior professionals in the job market, where companies are looking for fully trained top talent and expect immediate productivity. Young graduates are easily left out, despite having the latest technical skills and a strong desire to learn.
‘There is a clear need for more internships and junior programs in the Finnish game industry, as well as closer cooperation with educational institutions,’ Park says.
The Finnish game development culture emphasises shallow hierarchy and participatory decision-making, where solutions are created through consensus rather than top-down control. ‘In small teams, everyone has a chance to influence the game’s content and design, even if it takes more time than in countries that emphasise efficiency, such as the United States or South Korea.’
The pursuit of consensus encourages creative decision-making, which helps the Finnish game industry thrive. However, some migrant developers worry it may delay releases and reduce competitiveness. In addition, not everyone enjoys a discussion-driven work environment, and some seek clearer leadership.
‘Acknowledging the different perspectives and openly communicating with international staff would benefit the cultural diversity of the Finnish game industry.’
Internationality enriches game development
‘The Finnish game industry benefits greatly from a diverse workforce. Different cultural backgrounds enrich the content of games and improve their global appeal,’ says Park.
Park contrasts this with South Korea, where game companies are very homogeneous. The games are successful in the large domestic market but may fail to appeal to wider international audiences.
As part of her research, Park created a web-comic series that illustrates the lives of foreign game professionals in Finland.
Solip Park 12.12.2024: Understanding game work migration: Game expats in Finland See Solip Park’s comics on Instagram @solip.comic
Nita Vera
Solip Park’s thesis includes a web-comic series that illustrates the lives of game professionals in Finland.
What sparked your interest in space?
I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child. My interest in space began when I started reading my brother’s astronomy books. After that, my mother began bringing me all sorts of astronomy books from her conference trips.
I spent every summer vacation lying in a tent in our yard reading – even on our winter holidays, I had to bring ten books along. I still read a lot, but these days it’s not only about astronomy.
You’re currently studying, among other things, the composition of relativistic jets launched by black holes. What exactly are these jets?
Powerful magnetic fields are anchored to black holes or to their surrounding accretion disks – the matter orbiting black holes. These magnetic fields twist into something like a spring, which likely propels some of the orbiting material into jets. The particles in the jets accelerate to nearly the speed of light, and since they travel so fast, they emit radiation. That radio emission is what we detect here on Earth. By analysing the properties of that radiation, we can model the kinds of particles in the jets.
Talvikki Hovatta, what is a relativistic jet?
Senior Scientist Hovatta explores the mysteries of the universe at Aalto University’s Metsähovi Radio Observatory.
Text Ira Matilainen Photo Outi Törmälä
Why hasn’t this been figured out before?
When studying such distant objects, the signals we receive are naturally very weak. We don’t just study the intensity of the light – that is, its brightness – but also its direction, or polarisation. That requires extremely sensitive equipment, and now we’re getting a new, high-quality receiver at Metsähovi that will make this research possible. To determine the composition of the jets, you also need a telescope with ample observation time – which is rare for large telescopes.
What are some common misconceptions about space research?
People often think of black holes as vacuum cleaners in space, heading toward us and sucking everything in. That’s not true. If the Sun were to suddenly become a black hole with the same mass, it wouldn’t suck us in. Life on Earth would end, of course, but our planet would continue orbiting the black hole just as it orbits the Sun now.
Another misconception comes from films like Contact, where Jodie Foster wears headphones to listen to space signals. We don’t listen to space with headphones – the signals go to a computer. That said, at Metsähovi, it is actually possible to listen to those signals, and it’s a lot of fun.
What’s your favourite thing about space?
I’m especially fascinated by black holes. Of course, I also have favourite quasars – ones I’ve been ‘stuck with’ for a long time and where something exciting is happening. One of them is 3C273, the first quasar ever discovered. Even though it’s been extensively studied, I still find it fascinating. I’m currently writing a research paper about it, based on some amazing magnetic field data we collected using the world’s most sensitive millimeter-wavelength telescope array in Chile.
Key figures from Aalto 2024
281 doctoral degrees,
2,257 master’s degrees (including architects and landscape architects), and
80 %
1,731 bachelor’s degrees were completed. of our students are considering starting a business in the future.
Ranked in patent applications in Finland. #3
33, 000
people from all over Finland participated in Aalto University Junior’s activities.
600
courses and programmes for continuous learning with nearly participants.
aalto.fi/en/ lifewide-learning
18,000
Ranked university in Finland. QS World University Rankings
115 #1
With over nationalities in our community, we are among the most international universities in Europe.
285
We produced artistic creations (including publications, exhibitions, and performances).
53,000 m2
16%
Almost of our scientific publications are among the top
10%
of most cited in their field worldwide.
