The Aalto Sustainability Action Booster (Booster) expense grant model aims to bring the promotion of sustainable development into student life outside of courses, in student-led activities that emphasise experiential learning. Students themselves own the whole process of projects from ideation to implementation, which develops among other things their skills in project management, time management and budgeting. Students also learn to take responsibility. In addition, multidisciplinary cooperation between students from different fields teaches them to combine different perspectives and make compromises. Generally, negotiation skills, empathy and teamwork skills develop significantly.
Individuals and teams can apply for grants ranging from 500 to 5,000 euros at any time. Additionally, at pre-announced times (in 2025: 19 Sep.–19 Oct.), there is also the possibility to apply for a larger grant of up to 10,000 euros. This larger grant can be awarded to exceptionally well-justified projects. The application is open now!
The expense grants awarded by the Booster are intended to support students' sustainability ideas by covering costs arising from them. The aim is to promote all the values important ÄûÃʵ¼º½ University: creativity, entrepreneurship, an experimental culture and sustainable development. All Aalto students can apply for the grant regardless of their school or department and at any time.
‘It has been observed that taking concrete action and actually doing things can alleviate, for example, environmental anxiety that many may feel at this time. Students have reported that participating in projects enabled by the grant has increased their sense of meaningfulness and community,’ says Sustainability Action Booster project manager Jasmin Järvinen. The project was awarded by the UN’s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) network for student engagement in New York in the summer of 2025.
The current Aalto alumni, then business student Emma Rosenberg, worked in the Sustainability Action Booster project as a trainee in 2023. At that time, Emma, another trainee and Jasmin (Järvinen) worked to get the Sustainable Action Booster sustainability initiative ready so that communication about it could begin.
Emma says that the projects that received expense grants during the first year were very diverse. ‘We handled smaller expense grants for smaller projects nimbly, and larger amounts were handled in the steering group even then.’ The projects have been very varied also since that first year.
‘One of the first projects to receive funding was Be(e) Involved. The main aim of the project is to introduce students to the world of bees and deepen their understanding of pollinators in ecosystems. That project felt really communal, and it was nice when it was carried out in Otaniemi. The Aalto Repair & Rewear network and workshop series, which taught how to extend the life of clothes, also stuck in my mind. Many small everyday things were supported, which I think is a very good thing because often small ideas can develop into bigger things over time,’ Emma says.
Jasmin Järvinen says that the Sustainable Action Booster annually hires student trainees to assist in the Booster's activities. ‘This ensures student-centredness and accessible procedures. Booster trainees, in turn, gain knowledge of sustainability communication, community engagement, strategic planning and visual storytelling. The internship prepares students to lead sustainable development change in different fields and geographical areas.’
Read more and apply for funding for your sustainability ideas, from €500–10,000, now!
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Explore all funded projects:
Funded activities | Aalto University
Keep an eye on Aalto's open positions. Two university trainees are being sought at Aalto University with 50% working hours (possibility for increased working hours in summer) still during the autumn semester!
Come and get to know the sustainability community and find your own way to act: Sustainability Action Expo 7 Oct. 2025:
Sustainability Action Expo: Student-led actions & community building | Aalto University
Sustainability Action Booster grant is on a mission to empower students to unleash their creative ideas and implement their own sustainability actions. Whether you have a small project idea or a wild vision for sustainability - apply funding from us!
Aalto University's purpose is to shape a sustainable future. At Aalto, we create solutions that enable well-being within the planetary boundaries.
