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A strategic corporate partnership is a mutual, long-term commitment and investment in cooperation between Aalto University and a company in creating solutions for a sustainable future.

Through cooperation, our strategic partners have an insight into the latest knowledge and research in their fields. They may be able to discover emerging, potentially disruptive technologies for strengthening an existing business or developing new business ideas. A partnership enables a continuous dialogue with Aalto’s researchers and students, the future talents of different industries.

Strategic partners play an important role in developing the quality of Aalto’s research and education. Partnerships provide us with valuable insights into the business sector, its expertise and needs for talent and innovation. Through cooperation with companies, we can better develop our operations to meet the future requirements of business.

Cutting-edge expertise

Research projects with our strategic partners require cutting-edge expertise, taking advantage of Aalto’s multidisciplinary approach. The research collaboration can involve professors and postdoctoral researchers as well as doctoral and master's students from different fields at Aalto. Learn more about Aalto's key research areas here.

Each strategic partnership has a steering group that meets a few times annually. Also, the top management at Aalto and the company meet yearly to discuss the collaboration and its future development. Strategic partnerships are coordinated by Aalto’s key account managers from the corporate relations team.

Creating impact together  

In 2023, Aalto was ranked 21st in university-industry ranking globally (Leiden Ranking University Collaboration). Read more about Aalto's rankings here.

Strategic cooperation provides unique conditions for scientific breakthroughs and innovation. Together with our partners, we join forces in multidisciplinary research projects for developing sustainable solutions for business.

Educational cooperation includes master's thesis projects and study project courses solving real-life business challenges. Business-funded doctoral and master’s theses have also proven to be an effective way of recruiting future talents to companies.

The partnership with ABB is a good example of a prosperous long-term collaboration that involves all six schools of the university. Our students complete about five doctoral degrees, four bachelor's degrees and 20-30 master's theses for ABB each year. Over the years, numerous patents have also been secured in collaboration projects.