Aalto University

24/01/2025

Despite the great potential of AI in sparking innovation and enhancing decision-making and productivity, studies show that up to 80 percent of companies are reporting a failure to benefit from it. Too often, we look for reasons in the technology itself.

A new study from Aalto University suggests we’re overlooking a key factor: the people using it.

'AI adoption isn’t just a technological challenge — it’s a leadership one,' explains Assistant Professor Natalia Vuori. 'Success hinges on understanding trust and addressing emotions, and making employees feel excited about using and experimenting with AI.”

Successful uptake of new technology is a matter of emotions — and with the vast majority of companies saying they’re failing to capitalise on its potential, managers need to know how to deal with them, say researchers from Aalto University.

22/01/2025

Remember when mobile phones were cool? 📟

We asked some people on campus what their first phone was, and – no surprise – most of them had a Nokia. Model, colour, antenna or not, it’s easy to remember details of something so lifechanging and legendary. 📞

The Nokia Design Archive, brought to you by Aalto University, opens the door to never-before-seen material, from the raw ideas behind iconic designs to fascinating concepts that never made it past the drawing board. 💡✨

Whether you’re a design enthusiast, tech nerd, or simply curious about how visions turn into reality, we invite you to discover Nokia’s journey as a global design and tech pioneer: https://www.aalto.fi/en/nokia-design-archive?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_own&utm_campaign=nokia_design_archive

Fun fact: The company originally began as a pulp mill! Nokia is also known for rubber boots and tyres – still loved popular products today. 🥾

Nokia Design Archive has been made possible by donations from Microsoft Mobile Oy and designers. Use of archive materials is permitted for research, education and museum purposes and when attribution is included. Please visit the archive site for more details.

21/01/2025

A cell phone inspired by a banana, a wearable device with unknown purpose, and a futuristic pocket watch designed for the 2002 film Minority Report.

Fast Company's article unveils five cool gadgets from the Nokia Design Archive – items you may have never seen before but absolutely should check out! 👇

These are just a few examples of the treasures found in The Nokia Design Archive, a collection of over 700 curated items, including photographs, presentations, designs, advertisements, and much more. The full, uncurated archive holds over 20,000 items and 950 GB of digital files.

Take a deep breath and take a trip down memory lane in the archive: https://www.aalto.fi/en/nokia-design-archive?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_own&utm_campaign=nokia_design_archive
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Nokia Design Archive has been made possible by donations from Microsoft Mobile Oy and designers. Use of archive materials is permitted for research, education and museum purposes and when attribution is included. Please visit the archive site for more details.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91261837/5-of-nokias-coolest-gadgets-pulled-straight-from-its-archive

Nokia's new Design Archive catalogs over two decades of Nokia design history, ranging from sketches and mock-ups to never-before-seen prototypes.

15/01/2025

Tididiidii, the 90s are calling – pick up your Nokia phone! ☎️

From the first fully portable mobile phone in 1987 to the Y2K tech boom, we still feel Nokia's legacy today in how we connect with one another.

Now, this legacy is preserved in one place – the Nokia Design Archive – a window into Finnish tech and design excellence, inviting you to explore decades of innovation, from sketches and prototypes to technological breakthroughs.

More than just a device, Nokia pioneered multifunctional designs, shaping how we communicate.

Whether you’re a design enthusiast, tech nerd, or simply curious about how visions turn into reality, we invite you to discover Nokia’s journey as a global design and tech pioneer: https://www.aalto.fi/en/nokia-design-archive?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_own&utm_campaign=nokia_design_archive
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Nokia Design Archive is brought to you by Aalto University and has been made possible by donations from Microsoft Mobile Oy and designers. Use of archive materials is permitted with attribution for research and education purposes. Please visit the archive site for more details.

14/01/2025

Toivotko vuodelle 2025 uusia ajatuksia ja uuden oppimista? Manifesting fresh ideas and new ways of thinking for 2025?

🔭 Tarkastele maailmankaikkeutta aivan uusilla taajuuksilla! Syksyn supersuositut Tähtitiistai -luennot ovat nyt katsottavissa tallenteina. Metsähovin radio-observatorion 50-vuotisjuhlavuoden kunniaksi pidetty luentosarja käsittelee muun muassa mustien aukkojen tutkimusta sekä siitä, mitä aurinkotutkimus voi kertoa tulevaisuudestamme maapallolla.

Katso tallenteet linkistä! 👇

💡TEDxAalto University lecture recordings invite you to explore how unseen and unexpected connections can lead to real, lasting change. Hear from leading experts and innovators discussing a variety of topics, such as the value of learning from failure, how to lead with emotional intelligence, and how helping others can improve your own life.

Watch the recordings, link in the comments! 👇

Katso luentojen ja tapahtumien tallenteita.

10/01/2025

Have you seen these iconic signs transformed around Helsinki? What are they all about? 🤔

We have teamed up with some of our friends in the Helsinki capital region in honour of our 15th birthday to light up your January. You can experience these light installations live until 12.1. ✨

Aaltonians, past and present, are everywhere in our society, and the university is nothing without the people, who are constantly creating a better future for us all. 💛

We’re celebrating our anniversary by launching a fundraising campaign, A! Sign of Change, to ensure that education, research and innovation in arts, science, technology, and business will prosper and support Finland's overall success for generations. ⭐

The government funding accounts for 54 per cent of Aalto's total funding. The remaining half is obtained from other sources, which is why all donations are valuable. If you want to know more about the fundraising campaign and university funding, read more: https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/aalto-university-launches-fundraising-campaign-with-aim-of-raising-eu30-million-as-university?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_own

Spot the installations at these locations! 👇

Amos Rex
Kaapelitehdas
Kauppakeskus AINOA
Helsingin Päärautatieasema
Ravintola Savoy
Suvilahti
Tallberg
Finavia

09/01/2025

Yesterday, old friends and new came together to celebrate 15 years of Aalto. 🎉

The festivities included discussions with fellow Aaltonians, quizzes, delicious cake, and a disco – because isn't that what turning 15 is all about?

The day was filled with wonderful reminders of all the incredible achievements and experiences we’ve shared: from Finland's first satellite and innovative sustainable materials aimed at the well-being of us and the planet, to Aalto Junior and the vibrant, student-driven startup culture.

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think about Aalto University? 👇

📸: Kristian Presnal (1,2,3,4,7,8) & Pinja Valja (5,6,9)

09/01/2025

Voiko tekoälyn hallusinointi olla hyödyllistä ja mitä tekoälyn ja kvanttitietokoneen yhdistäminen voisi tarkoittaa? Tule mukaan Tieteen päiville loppuviikosta ja ota selvää!

Jouko Lampinen on tekoälypaneelin puheenjohtaja lauantaina 11. tammikuuta. Hän kertoo, että hallusinaatioita, tekoälyn virheitä, pidetään yksinomaan negatiivisena asiana. M***a hänen mukaansa tutkijat voisivat hyödyntää hallusinaatioita esimerkiksi ideoinnissa.

”Jos tekoäly olisi erehtymätön, voisiko se olla luova? Luovuudessa tarvitaan itsereflektiota, jotta voidaan tietää, onko jokin asia oikein vai väärin. Tätä tekoäly ei hallitse.”

Ennakkotiedoista poiketen tekoäly ei osallistu keskusteluun. Jouko Lampinen kertoo miksi.

”Annoin tekoälylle nimen Antero, m***a se osaa tehdä vain johdannon, kolme pointtia ja yhteenvedon. Jos kysyn Anterolta, mitä mieltä hän on, hän vain pälpättää. Se ei tuo keskusteluun lisäarvoa.”

Tekoälyn sijaan keskusteluun osallistuvat filosofi Lauri Järvilehto, aivotutkija Mikko Sams ja tekoälytutkija Laura Ruotsalainen.

Ja toisaalta, tulevaisuudessa tekoälyn ja kvanttitietokoneen yhdistäminen voi mahdollistaa tehokkaamman kone- ja syväoppimisen.

”Tämä parantaisi tekoälyä huomattavasti”, sanoo Nina Granqvist, joka osallistuu kvanttiteknologioita koskevaan paneeliin 10. tammikuuta yhdessä puheenjohtaja Jukka Pekolan sekä Himadri Majumdarin, Sabrina Maniscalcon ja Charles Marcusin kanssa.

Myös radikaali luovuus, luontokato, museot, piirtäminen ja aivotutkimus ovat esillä Tieteen päivillä. Lisäksi aaltolaisia on mukana järjestämässä Tieteiden yötä Helsingissä. Siellä voi muun muassa sukeltaa polarisaation teemoihin, rakentaa oman satelliitin tai tutustua hämähäkinseitin kaltaisiin materiaaleihin.

Lue lisää Tieteen päivistä täältä https://tieteenpaivat.fi/fi

📷: Lasse Lecklin ja Jaakko Kahilaniemi

08/01/2025

Have you ever wondered why and how fields as diverse as business, science, technology, and arts coexist under one university?

Fifteen years ago, Aalto University set out on a mission to redefine higher education in Finland. In 2010, three institutions – Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics, and University of Art and Design Helsinki – came together to form a unique multidisciplinary university.

'Anniversaries are special things. They remind us to reflect on the past: the successes, the lessons learned, the obstacles we’ve overcome. At the same time, they invite us to think about the future and where we’re headed,' President Ilkka Niemelä says.

This is what Aalto is all about – the research and studies, vibrant events, lively campus, and the passionate people who bring it all to life.

Congratulations to us on fifteen years of adventures – and here’s to many more to come! 🎉

Read more about the early days of Aalto: https://www.aalto.fi/en/aalto-university/history?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_own

07/01/2025

Haluatko jakaa osaamistasi ja kokemustasi opiskelijalle? Tule mentoriksi! 🤩
Mentorina saat uusia näkökulmia ja opit uutta! Olet suureksi hyödyksi uraansa pohtivalle maisteri- tai tohtoriopiskelijalle.

Miten ohjelma toimii:
🫵 Ilmoittaudu mentoriksi
✌️ Saat opiskelijalta mentorointipyynnön mentorointialustalla ja mentoriparit muodostetaan
💼 Työelämään ja uraan liittyvät tapaamiset noin kerran kuukaudessa
⏳ Kesto tammikuusta kesäkuulle

”Mentorointikeskustelut ovat antoisia sekä mentorille että aktorille, koska ne auttavat kumpaakin jäsentämään omia ajatuksiaan.” Mentori 2024

Lue lisää ja ilmoittaudu mentoriehdokkaasi 16.1. mennessä www.aalto.fi/mentorointi



Want to share your experience and knowledge with a student? Become a mentor! 🤩
It's a great chance to learn and gain new insights! Your help will be invaluable to a master’s or doctoral student, reflecting on their future career.

How it works:
🫵 Sign up as mentor
✌️ Mentor request from students and matching student and mentor pairs
💼 One-to-one mentoring meetings approximately once a month focusing on career and working life
⏳ Duration from January to June

Read more and sign up as mentor candidate by 16 January www.aalto.fi/mentoring

02/01/2025

Breaking news to kick off the new year! 💎

Our researchers have developed a groundbreaking infrared photodiode that dramatically boosts sensor responsivity. It efficiently captures infrared photons across a wide range of wavelengths and can be seamlessly manufactured using existing facilities. This innovation has potential applications in technologies like remote controls, self-driving cars, and more.

‘It took us eight years from the idea to proof-of-concept, but the timing couldn’t be better. Infrared sensing is now an essential part of everyday life,’ says Professor Hele Savin.

Congratulations to the team for this incredible achievement! 👏

Read more!

New innovation significantly boosts sensor responsivity

31/12/2024

Countdown to 2025 has begun, but let’s take a moment to process what happened in 2024 at Aalto University! 🌟 We’ve had a fantastic year with compelling stories and breakthroughs in the fields of arts, science and business.

🌱 Urban greenery, such as parks, are more than just decoration. They help mitigate the climate crisis and adapt to its extremes, safeguard nature’s biodiversity, maintain and develop community services and improve people's health and wellbeing.

💚 Developed by our researchers Noora Yau, Anna Semi, and Konrad Klockars, these eco-friendly crystals bring a unique magic to fashion. Unlike traditional glitter made from toxic plastics, these crystals made from biodegradable nanocellulose break down harmlessly.

🪣 A sauna dock is floating in the Otaniemi water, by the blades of old wind turbines, for which our students’ start-up Reverlast develops sustainable reuse-solutions.

💪 Light-controlled artificial muscles could revolutionise the development of active textiles or soft robotics. Doctoral researcher Zahra Madani explains, that in the future we might see clothes that adapt and adjust to changes in light or temperature when we go outdoors – like jackets that automatically tighten when it's cold or loosen when it’s warm.

🔭 Revealing the secrets of space for decades, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Aalto University’s Metsähovi Radio Observatory!

💧 NPharvest is an Aalto born project discovering ways to convert waste water into eco-friendly fertilizers.

💓 According to our researchers we use the word ‘love’ in a wide range of contexts — from sexual adoration to parental love or the love of nature. Yet, when we look at where love “lights up” our brains, the similarities are more surprising than the differences.

📖 We’re offering a free, open-to-all online course on radical creativity! Join us to explore, expand, and apply your creativity to tackle real-world challenges, no matter your background.

Photos: Mikko Raskinen, (4) Bryan Saragosa, (6) Jaakko Kahilaniemi

30/12/2024

The application period to Aalto’s master’s programmes ended on 27 December 2024. The study programmes attracted a diverse array of applicants from across the globe, representing 127 nationalities.

In total, we received 13 076 applications from 8 642 applicants – thank you to everyone who applied! ❤️‍🔥

Find more interesting statistics about the application round here:

Master’s programmes attract a diverse array of applicants from across the globe, representing 127 nationalities

20/12/2024

Season's Greetings! Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta! God jul och gott nytt år!

Easing into the holiday season. Thank you for this year and see you in 2025. 🩵

The beauty of our campus in its wintery form captured by Sonya Akulshina.

20/12/2024

As the holiday season approaches, many of us try to minimise gift-buying stress by ordering online. With the rise of e-commerce, the demand for packaging materials is growing – along with concerns about their environmental impact and sustainability.

💚 Smarter solutions are on the horizon – we’re developing the packaging materials of the future designed to balance convenience with sustainability. Check out these Aalto-born examples!

Bubbles with Benefits (1-2)

👉 It’s not plastic, it’s fantastic! The Bubbles with Benefits project focuses on 100% bio-based, plastic-free bubble wraps and packing foams. These cellulose-based materials are customisable, and prove that sustainability doesn’t have to look boring.

Woamy (3-4)

👉 Inspired by nature, Team Woamy has developed biofoam – a biodegradable, recyclable material designed for sustainable packaging. Perfect for protecting delicate items like glass, it combines innovation and elegance, offering a luxurious alternative to traditional plastic foams.

FOLD (5-6)

👉 Aalto University Bioinnovation Center has been collaborating with VTT and other Finnish industry partners to develop ecological packaging using origami folding. Light as a weather but strong as steel, this cardboard turns into stylish alternatives to plastic, combining elegance with strength.

📸: Bryan Saragosa (2), Markus Joutsela (3) & Anne Kinnunen (6)

19/12/2024

Suomalaisten korkeakoulujen yhteisen Opin.fi-palvelun beta-vaihe on päättynyt. Kiitos teille yli 13 000 oppijalle, jotka kokeilitte palvelua tänä syksynä!

Nyt palvelun kehitystyö jatkuu saadun palautteen pohjalta, ja huhtikuussa 2025 Opin.fi aukeaa jälleen kaikille oppimisesta ja itsensä kehittämisestä kiinnostuneille. Tulevaisuudessa palvelusta löytyvät paitsi Aalto-yliopiston myös muiden suomalaisten korkeakoulujen kaikille avoimet opinnot.

Lue lisää: https://www.aalto.fi/fi/uutiset/opinfi-palvelun-beta-vaihe-on-paattynyt-kiitos-jokaiselle-palvelua-kokeilleelle?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_own

19/12/2024

Mistakes happen, and even more so in the quantum world. But monitoring those tiny quantum errors is now very slow, inefficient, and expensive.

‘Currently, these errors are read from a quantum processor by bringing the information through cables from -273 degrees Celsius to room temperature for processing by a normal computer,’ says Mikko Möttönen.

When the conventional computer figures out what kind of error it is, the control pulse travels back along similar cables.

Möttönen has proposed a novel solution for quantum error correction and has received a grant from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation to develop it. The initial aim is to build separate components, and to get at least two such separate devices to work together with the qubit at low temperatures.

‘In the longer term, the idea is to build an autonomous quantum processor.’

Good luck with the new project, the whole Quantum Computing and Devices (QCD) research team!

https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/researchers-aim-to-correct-quantum-errors-at-super-cold-temperatures-instead-of-room-temperature?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_own

18/12/2024

“Uudistaminen on tulevaisuuskyvykkyyden varmistamista – jatkuvasti muuttuva pelikenttä, jossa tekemisen kautta etsitään oikeaa suuntaa ja edetään kohti haluttuja lopputuloksia.”

Uudistajat-podcastissa lehtori Satu Rekonen keskustelee asiantuntijavieraidensa kanssa siitä, mitä organisaatioiden uudistaminen todella edellyttää – niin johtajilta kuin työyhteisöiltä. Edellä mainittu Tiina Tuuloksen ajatus tiivistää hyvin uudistamisen perusajatuksen.

Kuuntele, miten
💡 Olli Salo (McKinsey & Company) korostaa kokonaisvaltaisen muutoksen merkitystä.
💡 Marika Parvinen (OP Ryhmä) nostaa esiin osallistavan kulttuurin ja johtajuuden keskeisen roolin uudistamisessa.
💡 Charlotte Guillou (WithSecure) painottaa muutosvastarinnan syiden ymmärtämisen tärkeyttä.
💡 Tiina Tuulos (Futurice) avaa vuorovaikutuksen ja yhteiskehittämisen keskeistä roolia uudistumisessa.

Uusia jaksoja julkaistaan perjantaisin, ja luvassa on vielä viisi inspiroivaa keskustelua uusien asiantuntijavieraiden kanssa. Kuuntele Spotifyssä ja Apple Podcastissa. Tutustu podcastiin ja löydä inspiraatiota omalle uudistamisen matkallesi 🎧

Miltä uudistaminen eri työympäristöissä näyttää, mitä se käytännössä tarkoittaa ja mitä se vaatii meiltä ihmisiltä? Kuuntele Uudistajat-podcastia.