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Aalto University's recognition awards for 2025 were announced at the opening ceremony of the academic year on 2 September. The awards are granted annually to community members for their outstanding work for the success of the university, and decisions on the winners are made based on proposals from the community.

At the event, the new Aalto Distinguished Professor was announced as well. Professor Otto Toivanen’s research focuses particularly particularly on innovation policy, inventors and the effects of invention at the individual level, the regulation of companies and markets (e.g., R&D subsidies), and competition in its various forms, particularly cartels and collusion between companies. He acted as the Helsinki Graduate School of Economics’ (Helsinki GSE) first academic director in 2018–2025. 

Research Impact: Doctoral education pilots and the Ellis Institute Finland

The additional funding allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture to the doctoral training pilot is a significant contribution to the growing need for researchers. Researchers and service personnel joined forces both at Aalto and with other universities and organisations. The joint effort widely highlighted doctoral education and attracted more than 4,000 applicants for 178 positions at Aalto.

The ELLIS Institute Finland is a leading initiative that positions Finland as a major European AI hub. It draws top researchers across disciplines, attracting industry interest and creating a thriving ecosystem of experts and collaborators, thereby strengthening Finland's role in the field.

Education Impact: Aalto University Junior

Aalto University Junior reaches more than 30,000 schoolchildren across Finland every year, enhancing interest in art, technology and business. It inspires young people to learn, makes the university known to future generations of students, and is part of lifewide learning. The activities also encourage children from immigrant backgrounds and offer the experience that higher education is available to all ambitious young people. 

Innovation Impact: Jaan Praks and satellite research

Professor Jaan Praks and his colleagues have been key creators in growing the Finnish cluster of space expertise into a leading player in Europe. Their efforts have brought the European Space Agency's (ESA) innovation programme to Finland and supported the growth of over 200 companies in the field. The expertise generated through groundbreaking collaborative projects between researchers and students convinces both government and corporate customers world-wide. 

Act of the Year: Launch of Marsio, the university's open-to-all meeting place

The Marsio building, located at the heart of the campus in Otaniemi, is a meeting and event venue open to everyone, serving as a centre for advanced technology that supports multidisciplinary research, art and education. Many university actors worked together to develop the ground floor events and services, making the university more open and accessible than ever before. 

The series of science and art event series at Marsio will continue through autumn 2025. The events are open to all and organised in collaboration with the City of Espoo, Saastamoinen Foundation and Aalto University. At the same time, the multiuse and events venue on the ground floor of Marsio will be named Saastamoinen Foundation Stage.

Community Award: Students' Tempaus campaign

For more than a hundred years, the student community has raised important and topical issues for the attention of the general public with its campaign. This time, the students wanted to emphasise the value and significance of volunteer work for our society.

During the week, the students carried out almost a hundred student-led projects, from blood donation and animal welfare to event production and renovation. The goal of 2,000 volunteer hours was almost doubled, with 1,600 participants completing 3,844 hours of volunteer work in a week. Awesome collective power of students indeed!

Success Enabler: Science-IT and Aalto's very own AI tool

The Science-IT group ensures that researchers have access to world-class computational science infrastructure services. They employ agile work methods, also embracing the computational capacity requirements necessary for teaching modern AI methods.

Aalto AI Assistant, a common artificial intelligence tool for all Aaltonians, now speeds up the work and learning of both staff and students. The service relies heavily on Aalto values and Code of Conduct, as well as the responsible and safe use of artificial intelligence. The use of the university's own data sources brings unique added value to the service.

Warm congratulations to all!

Photo Mikko Raskinen, Aalto University