A unique joint effort – Aalto University receives €9 million in donations to accelerate the energy transition

Aalto University will receive donations totaling 9 million euros from ABB, Fortum, St1 and the Walter Ahlström Foundation. The donations will be used to establish four new professorships in the field of energy. At the same time, the donations support a new competence centre, House of Energy Transition, that Aalto is establishing.

"The transition to clean energy is as big a transformation for society as digitalisation. No single invention will suffice; we have to rethink the entire energy system", says Professor Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio, who leads the new competence centre.

The entire value chain under one roof

More than forty professors and their research groups work on energy across Aalto’s schools, the largest number of energy researchers among Finnish universities. With expertise spanning the entire energy value chain under one roof, Aalto’s research and education are highly relevant to society and industry and can be put into practice rapidly.

The House of Energy Transition will further strengthen Aalto University’s multidisciplinary collaboration, with the four new professorships bringing the critical expertise needed to accelerate the energy transition. A well-managed and sustainable energy transition supports Finland’s competitiveness, sustainable growth and the creation of innovations.

ABB’s 1.5-million-euro donation will support the establishment of a professorship in power electronics. Breakthroughs and experts in power electronics are crucial for Finnish and European industry, for delivering a sustainable energy transition, and for the operational reliability of the transport and energy sectors.

"We want to be part of building the House of Energy Transition because breakthrough solutions for the green transition require strong partnerships between industry, academia and research institutes. Collaboration also strengthens Finland’s competitive position and secures ABB’s leading role as a pioneer in electrical technology and energy-efficient solutions in the future", says Peter Lindgren, Business Line Manager of LV System Drives at ABB Oy.

Fortum donates  1.5 million euros to Aalto University to establish a new professorship in energy strategy. The aim of the professorship is to identify bottlenecks related to the energy transition, bring together the researchers and stakeholders needed to solve them, and support industry and society in taking the necessary actions.

"The electrification of society is progressing, but it is slowed by geopolitical challenges, climate issues and pressures on competitiveness. At the same time, the balance of our energy system is no longer a given. To clarify this uncertainty and find new solutions, we need new knowledge and insights from the actors and supporters of the House of Energy Transition. In our role, Fortum serves as a reliable producer of Nordic energy and a long-term expert in the energy sector", says Fortum’s CEO Markus Rauramo.

The energy transition requires broad collaboration

St1 donates 3 million euros to Aalto University. The donation will support the establishment of a professorship in energy strategy and a professorship in new energy technologies. 

"St1's energy transition relies not only on existing technologies but also on the development and scaling of new energy solutions, which requires new expertise, continuous innovation, and above all a comprehensive energy strategy. That is why our donation to Aalto University is directed at professorships focused on the core themes of the energy transition, advancing a sustainable and just transformation of the energy system in collaboration with companies and various stakeholders", says St1’s CEO Henrikki Talvitie.

The Walter Ahlström Foundation’s 3-million-euro donation is directed to a professorship in sustainable industry, with a strong understanding of sustainability at its core and integrated into industrial production and competitive industry.

"For generations, the Walter Ahlström Foundation has supported visionary work for the benefit of Finnish industry and the future. Now Finland and the world have only a couple of decades to develop the technologies and create the markets needed for industrial transformation in order to stop environmental pollution and the overconsumption of natural resources in time. Aalto has an important role to play in finding solutions, which is why we wanted to accelerate the work with this donation", says Professor Markku Wilenius, Chair of the Board of the Walter Ahlström Foundation.

Aalto University will launch the recruitments for the new professors and the operations of the House of Energy Transition during this year.

"We are extremely grateful for these significant donations to accelerate the energy transition. We want to advance a sustainable future through broad collaboration, and we also invite new donors to join us", says Aalto University’s President Ilkka Niemelä.

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ABB is technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). ABB.com

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Fortum is a Nordic energy company. We generate and deliver reliable energy to our customers and the Nordic energy system while at the same time helping industries decarbonise their processes and grow. Our core operations comprise efficient and best-in-class low-carbon power generation, customer services, and heating and cooling. Fortum’s power generation is already 99% from renewable or nuclear sources with one of the lowest specific CO2-emissions in Europe. We are guided by our ambitious SBTi-validated emission reduction targets on our way towards net-zero by 2040. For our ~4,500 employees, we commit to be a safe and inspiring workplace. Fortum's share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Fortum.com

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St1 is an energy transition company with the vision to be the leading producer and seller of CO₂-aware energy. St1 operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the United Kingdom. St1’s energy portfolio encompasses oil products, biogas, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel (HVO) and solar power. Furthermore, St1 is advancing various major energy transition projects, including transition investments at the oil refinery in Gothenburg. St1 has 1,150 retail stations in Finland, Sweden and Norway. St1’s retail network offers marketplaces with fuels, growing number of EV charging and biogas filling points for heavy-duty transport as well as car wash, alongside stand-alone convenience stores and restaurants. St1 has more than 1,000 employees. St1.com

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Walter Ahlström established the foundation bearing his name in 1926 to support the postgraduate education of young Master of Science graduates in engineering. The Foundation awards grants to talented young professionals in the fields of forest industry, electrical engineering, power engineering and metal industry. In recent years, the Foundation has focused on supporting doctoral research through incentive grants. Through its funding, the Foundation aims to support high-quality research and, in particular, research pathways that also lead to innovation. Funding decisions emphasise the broad applicability of research topics and results within Finnish industry and business. Walter Ahlström Foundation homepage

Contacts:

Aalto University:

Ilkka Niemelä
President, Aalto University
president@aalto.fi

Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio
Professor, Aalto University
annukka.santasalo@aalto.fi
tel. +358 50 304 4482

ABB:

Peter Lindgren
LV System Drives Business Line Manager, ABB Finland
tel. +358 50 332 2736

Satu Perälampi
Country Communications Manager
ABB Finland
tel. +358 50 332 3850

Fortum:

Fortum News Desk
tel. +358 40 198 2843 (Mon-Fri, 9:00–16:00 GMT+2)

St1:

Liisa Joenpolvi
Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs St1 Nordic
tel. +358 10 557 2419

Walter Ahlström Foundation:

Markku Wilenius
Professor, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Walter Ahlström Foundation
markku.wilenius@utu.fi