Review for Donors 2020 the Demand for Economics Experts Is Growing Rapidly, Both in Finland and Internationally
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Review for donors 2020 The demand for economics experts is growing rapidly, both in Finland and internationally. Research in the field can often be directly utilised in both public and private decision-making. By donating, we support the strengthening of the role of economists and international networking in solving societal challenge. Petteri Karttunen Chairman of the Saastamoinen Foundation Board of Directors Text Photos Marjukka Puolakka Unto Rautio: covers, p. 16 Aalto is a forerunner in Riikka Hopiavaara: p. 10–11 Mika Huisman: p. 2, 17 Aalto University Janne Lehtinen: p. 3 its key areas and at the Mikko Raskinen: p. 5, 7, 11, 23 forefront of developing Visual design Aleksi Poutanen: p. 6, 12 Safa Hovinen / Merkitys Lasse Lecklin: p. 7, 15 solutions that create a Adolfo Vera: p. 9 more sustainable future Print Eeva Suorlahti: p. 9 Unigrafia Oy Tuomas Uusheimo: p. 17 for Finland and the whole 2020 Aki-Pekka Sinikoski: p. 17 of humanity. Assi Lindholm: p. 20, 22 Jaakko Kahilaniemi: p. 21 Dear donor, THANK YOU for participating in building a better world with us. The story of Aalto University began in 2010 when three universities merged to create a societally embedded, innovative research uni- versity. Aalto was given a national mission to strengthen Finland’s innovation capacity through first-class research and education. In only ten years, Aalto has already had major success in fulfilling this mission. Aalto has brought together science, art, technology and the economy, and we have become a pioneer in our key areas. Donors play an essential role in Aalto’s success story. In 2010, a solid capital basis was established for the university through dona- tions by private individuals, foundations, companies and other com- munities. The continuous, unwavering support provided by donors has contributed significantly to Aalto’s success from then on. In ten years, we have turned our campus into a world-class collaboration hub and grown into one of Europe’s most international universities. The world around us is changing at an unprecedented pace – it is undergoing a global sustainability crisis, and there are huge tech- nological disruptions and transformations of how we work. Higher education too, will change as demand and competition increases, digitalisation progresses, and financial pressure builds up. In the past months, the coronavirus pandemic has challenged and united the academic community in the battle against the spread of the virus and in solving the problems it causes for humans and society. At Aalto, we are strongly involved in providing solutions to overcome the crisis through our areas of expertise. Right now, universities are needed to lead the way and meet glob- al challenges more than ever. Aalto is at the forefront of developing solutions that create a more sustainable future for Finland and the whole of humanity. As a donor, the importance of your role in ena- bling our mission keeps increasing. Thank you for joining us in these efforts. Mikko Kosonen Chairman of the Aalto University Board Building a common future Within the past ten years, Aalto University has TODAY, Aalto to make long-term investments as required and developed into a University is a to find sustainable solutions for loan financing. multidisciplinary unique concen- This has made it possible to develop the campus community of bold tration of science, in a more economically sustainable manner, actors solving big art, technology while also ensuring that the university has societal challenges. and business – resources for its main tasks. Donors play an a global leader The School of Arts, Design and Architecture essential role in in its key focus moved to the Otaniemi campus in summer 2018 Aalto’s success story. areas and one of and the School of Business in early 2019, bring- the most interna- ing the university’s main functions to the same tional universi- campus. ties in Europe. ‘We have had major development steps, re- When Aalto University was established, newals and challenges along the way but Aalto significant donations from private individuals, community has kept working passionately, in foundations, companies and other communities, open collaboration, and with a positive attitude as well as the associated matching funding pro- towards getting things done’, Niemelä adds vided by the government, created a solid capital proudly. basis for the university. Between 2015–2017, the The multidisciplinary Aalto community state also supported the fundraising activities of game changers wants to be worthy of their of higher education institutions with an oppor- promises to donors. tunity to receive matching funding. Donations received in this fundraising campaign and the Pioneering research with impact matching funding, as well as donations received Right from the beginning, the new univer- after the campaign, have further strengthened sity was given a special national mission; to the university’s potential for top research and strengthen Finland’s innovation capacity teaching. through first-class research, artistic activities ‘Without the donations, we would not be and education. With strong and determined here now. They have allowed a long-term devel- effort from all involved, the university has risen opment of the university and evened out unex- to the challenge. pected fluctuations in public funding. For that, Within ten years, Aalto University has be- we would like to express our warm thanks to all come one of the world’s top universities under the donors’, says President Ilkka Niemelä. the age of 50 and is a pioneer in its key areas: The key idea of Aalto University is to enable ICT and digitalisation, materials, art and design, multidisciplinary and innovative cooperation; business, energy solutions, living environments, to make Aalto a place where science and art and health and well-being. meet technology and business. This has also ‘We want to be involved in solving big global required significant investments in campus de- challenges’, says Niemelä. velopment. The strong balance sheet created by Nearly 150 start-ups are already operating in the donation capital has enabled the university the A Grid Centre established in the heart of the 4 AALTO UNIVERSITY We want to be involved in solving big global challenges. Ilkka Niemelä President of Aalto University campus. The university offers leading expertise, Complex challenges ahead an extensive network of partners, research During the past ten years, Aalto University has infrastructure and new perspectives for the come a long way and wants to continue being future, enabled by top research. The coopera- a pioneer in the future. It is not easy, as the tion has been fruitful too as the networks devel- world around us is changing at an accelerating oped around Aalto create nearly 100 start-ups rate, and many global challenges are becoming annually. increasingly complex. Work-related competence is also integrated Finland needs more international experts. into teaching. For example, Aalto has more than Also demand for higher education is increasing, 50 professor of practice positions, for which we particularly in Aalto University’s areas of edu- have received significant donations. cation. Moreover, there is a growing interest in Consisting of six schools, the Aalto Univer- Aalto from potential students, and the number sity campus offers students multidisciplinary of applicants is increasing. studies and encounters in art, technology and ‘We are prepared to take responsibility, but business. if we want to maintain the quality of education Niemelä adds, ‘The guiding light in the and research, more investments are needed. As development of teaching is that the student and the situation in public finances is rather tense, learning are placed at the heart of all activities. I hope that in the future we will work in even The Aalto Online Learning programme intro- closer cooperation with the donors’, Niemelä duces new teaching and learning methods based says. on digitalisation. Significant investments have Niemelä concludes with this pledge, ‘We also been made in the well-being of students’. promise to be worthy of your trust and to work hard for the good of Finnish society and towards a more sustainable future.’ 5 REVIEW FOR DONORS Bioproducts will revolutionise forestry in Finland Aalto University is working on new biobased super materials. Research is conducted on wood biomass Biobased materials are to find a replacement for oil- the key to the sustainable use and more efficient based textiles and plastics. recycling of textiles. The Wood biomass is also an Ioncell® method can be unparalleled raw material used to spin cellulose for product innovations. and recycled materials such as textile waste into The golden egg has been high-quality textile fibres. uncovered. 6 AALTO UNIVERSITY Aalto University Vice President Janne Laine and Dean for the School of Chemical Engineering Kristiina Kruus. N near future, microcrystalline cellulose In Finland, we have the advantage of knowing I may replace some of the fat in cheese, pro- the material well’, says Kristiina Kruus, Dean vide additional fibre in the morning porridge, of the Aalto University School of Chemical fortify animal feed or even prevent diseases in Engineering. production animals. It may also replace plastic in packaging materials and oil-based synthetic AaltoCell™ will revolutionise the market fibres in textiles. Currently, small amounts of microcrystalline A new production method developed at cellulose are manufactured worldwide mainly Aalto University under the leadership of Pro- for medical applications but the patented fessor Olli Dahl opens up entirely new markets AaltoCell™ technology could revolutionise for micro crystalline cellulose (MCC). With the everything. Even just one factory using the tech- help of AaltoCellTM technology, it will be pos- nology may double the current MCC production sible to manufacture microcrystalline cellulose in the world. much more economically and ecologically. ‘The greatness of the AaltoCell™ technology ‘We have huge opportunities in our hands. is that it can produce microcrystalline cellulose Cellulose is a renewable and biodegradable with high capacity in existing pulp mills.