Press releases
Carbon-based radicals at the frontier of solar cell technology
Could a single unpaired electron change the future of solar energy?

The real reasons Endurance sank – study finds Shackleton knew of ship’s shortcomings
A world-first study reveals the famed polar explorer was aware of worrying structural shortcomings in the ill-fated ship – Endurance was not designed for compressive ice conditions – yet it set sail anyway.

Rapid growth of solar power in Finland could crash summer electricity prices – new study warns of economic risks
Finland must rethink its power market to safeguard clean energy investments.

Invisible triumph: how a Finnish invention powers modern microelectronics
Atomic layer deposition (ALD), developed in Finland, is a semiconductor manufacturing method at the heart of modern technology, enabling ever-smaller computers, smartphones, and everyday devices.

Researchers Unlock a Stronger, Greener Way to Bond Wood: Finnish pulp fiber could be used to bond wood for the construction industry
Researchers at Aalto University have developed a groundbreaking wood bonding method using primarily pulp fibers from Finnish forestry. The resulting bonding interface is twice as strong as natural wood while highly resistant to water. This breakthrough could transform sustainable construction by reducing reliance on petroleum-based adhesives.

Designs for a Cooler Planet awarded with a prestigious Helsinki Design Award
Designs for a Cooler Planet, Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition showcasing the latest experiments, innovations, and prototypes by students and researchers, has received the prestigious Helsinki Design Award. The nearly two-month-long exhibition is now open on Aalto University’s campus, Espoo.

New machine learning method offers better predictions of future disease risk
Predictions for developing common diseases were more accurate than before.

ELLIS Institute Finland welcomes 9 new professors as principal investigators and PS Fellows
Institute's first recruitment brings nine leading researchers to Finland

TexirC project meeting held at Valmet’s Fiber Technology Center
August 18, 2025 – The results meeting of the TexirC project took place at Valmet’s Fiber Technology Center.

Annual meeting of textile chemistry group held
August 8, 2025 – The Textile Chemistry Group convened its Annual Meeting on Friday, August 8, bringing together researchers, doctoral candidates, master’s students, and interns to share their latest work in advancing sustainable textile technologies. The meeting was inaugurated and chaired by Professor Ali Tehrani, Head of the Textile Chemistry Group, who welcomed all members and emphasized the importance of collaborative research in shaping the future of the textile industry.

Half of highly educated immigrants find employment through Espoo and Aalto’s collaboration
The exceptional employment outcomes are the result of collaboration, in which service design research has played a key role.

Satellite images reveal the positive effects of restoration in the northern hemisphere peatlands
Satellite data spanning over 20 years shows that the temperature and albedo of restored peatlands begin to resemble those of intact peatlands within about a decade
New quantum record: Transmon qubit coherence reaches millisecond threshold
The result foreshadows a leap in computational capabilities, with researchers now inviting experts around the globe to reproduce the groundbreaking measurement.

Study: 70% of emissions from new buildings come from construction – and this is often overlooked
While energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy have reduced the life cycle emissions of new buildings, emissions from construction have not decreased. Preserving green areas and prioritizing timber construction would make construction more sustainable, researchers emphasize.

LGBTQ-Friendly Firms More Innovative
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.

A revolution for R&D with the missing link of machine learning — project envisions human-AI expert teams to solve grand challenges
Samuel Kaski receives ERC Advanced Grant to develop new machine learning that is robust, generalisable and engages human experts.

Doctoral thesis: Finland’s civil defence shelters protect nearly everyone – but hotter summers may test their limits
Built over decades, Finland’s civil defence shelter system covers almost the entire population and has cost the equivalent of three years of defence spending.

Rising sea could erase a significant portion of coastal habitats in Finland
More than a fifth of coastal meadows and sandy beaches may disappear by the turn of the century.

Groundbreaking grant model supporting student sustainability projects wins award in New York
Sustainability Action Booster grant model, developed by Aalto University, has received a prestigious international recognition from an UN-affiliated educational initiative. The model funds students' own experiments, ideas, and prototypes, and is now being praised for its bold, student-centered approach.
Five things everyone should know about the materials powering the green transition
The green transition depends on more than just clean energy — it requires a massive, complex supply of critical raw materials, especially metals and minerals. From mining and refining to recycling and innovation, here are five key things everyone should know about the materials powering a sustainable future.
