Aalto University Magazine 12 focuses on the social significance of universities
The theme is illuminated by Provost Ilkka Niemel盲. He notes that Otaniemi is already a significant innovation concentration for Europe, but points out that universities play a role that is much more complex than merely serving as a provider of the basic building blocks for innovation. 鈥淚nnovation is often refined into success via a complex route that involves many different actors. An innovation concentration needs attractive venues for encounters and doing things together. A university campus can offer these.鈥
The main article Feelers out to the future probes the social significance of universities. President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences IVA Bj枚rn Nilsson, Dean Alfons Sauquet from Spain's ESADE Business School and Aalto University Professor Yrj枚 Neuvo debate the issue.
Aalto University's November week of celebration is covered extensively in this issue. The cover photo features the installation Enlightenment, which illuminated the lobby of Otakaari 1, and its creators. The authors and interview subjects of the articles include several VIP guests who participated in the World Cultural Council's science awards ceremony and the Aalto University Academic Summit conference. Among other people, Nobel laureate Edmond H. Fischer and Millennium Technology Prize winner Stuart Parkin will discuss their work.
Docent and Valmet's Vice President of Strategy Marita Niemel盲 talks about her career path in the Who column, while the In there piece looks at Tanzania, where a team from Aalto and their corporate partners went to explore new business opportunities as part of the project New Global.
Aalto University Magazine is distributed on campus. An electronic facsimile is available on and English-language translations of some articles are posted on .
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New Academy Research Fellows and Academy Projects
A total of 44 Aalto researchers received Academy Research Fellowship and Academy Project funding from the Research Council of Finland 鈥 congratulations to all!
FITech Network University's new project increases the network鈥檚 capabilities in continuous learning
FITech's new FITech FORWARD project aims to develop the member universities鈥 ability to create offerings of continuous learning and micro-credentials to meet the current skill needs in the field of technology. Besides Aalto University, also Tampere University, University of Oulu, and University of Vaasa are involved in the project.
Applications are now open for FITech autumn courses
Apply now for over 160 courses offered by Finnish universities of technology.