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The funding is applied for the ongoing profiling actions to support Aalto's potential to carry out reforms outlined in the Strategy 2020.

The Academy of Finland has been allocated 50 M€ to be granted to 14 Finnish universities to strengthen their research profiles. The call was a continuation from January 2015 and November 2015 (Profi-1 and Profi-2), where Aalto University was awarded 13.6 M€ and 12 M€ respectively, out of a total sum of 50 M€ in both calls. With Profi-1 and Profi-2 funding Aalto has strengthened its four core research areas: ICT and digitalization (abbreviated as ICT), Materials and sustainable use of natural resources (MAT), Arts and design knowledge building (ART) and Global business dynamics (BUS); and three cross-cutting research areas: Advanced energy solutions (ENE), Human-centered living environments (LIV) and Health and wellbeing (H&W). In the current Profi-3 call, Aalto University focused on developing research activities that support the growth of the Aalto innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurial activities. The main themes having the highest potential to boost future economic growth in Finland were identified as Digital technology ecosystems (supporting Aalto's key research areas ICT, BUS, and ART), Sustainable production and consumption (BUS, ART, MAT), and a narrower but highly timely Marine and Arctic Technology (LIV, ART, MAT). The measures to strengthen theses themes, for which the funding was applied, were fixed-term professor-level recruitments, development of strategic partnerships with leading international universities, setting up two new multidisciplinary research platforms, and development of research-based innovation ecosystem through postdocs and doctoral students collaborating with companies.

The application was drafted in a broad community process headed by the vice president for research and innovations. All Aalto professors were invited to participate in two professors´ meetings to discuss the application contents, and a wiki page was available for feedback and community discussion.

– I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all our professors, who participated in drafting the application, for a sizable contribution in a very tight schedule. The extensive work resulted in a comprehensive application, which hopefully will be successful, and also serve us in our strategic planning, says Vice President Tuija Pulkkinen.

– The outcomes of this process will also be utilized when the university’s strategy is further specified and supplemented.

The Academy of Finland will decide on the funding in May 2017. The funding period will begin in April 2017 and end in August 2021.