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This year’s seed fund proposals addressed Unite!’s key focus areas: Sustainable Energy, Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0, Entrepreneurship, Engineering Biology and Biotechnology, Space, Cybersecurity, and Sustainable Cities & Water. 

In total, 41 applications were received, and 30 were selected for funding. Aalto is involved in 15 of these projects and coordinates one. Read on to learn more about each of the projects involving Aalto.

Research and Phd Projects

Physics-Informed AI for Configuration of Hydrogen Infrastructure in Energy Systems (PAIRH2)

Overall coordinator: Aalto University

This project develops an AI-powered optimisation framework for designing Green Hydrogen Infrastructure (GHI), tackling Europe’s challenge of balancing where and when hydrogen is produced and consumed. To address uncertain demand, the framework will test multiple scenarios to guide planning and design. The work combines Aalto University’s expertise in AI and optimisation, UPC’s strengths in energy system modelling and analysis, and Politecnico di Torino’s experience in hydrogen networks, techno-economics, and scenario evaluation.

Aalto coordinator: Zhengmao Li, Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Electrical Engineering and Automation, School of Electrical Engineering.

Aalto Participant: Zhineng Fei, Researcher, Electrical Engineering and Automation, School of Electrical Engineering.

Aalto Participant: Xueyong Jia, Researcher, Electrical Engineering and Automation,  School of Electrical Engineering.

Advancing Research on Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems through a Tri-University Collaboration (ARES-APW)

Overall coordinator: Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (WUST)

This project advances research on energy storage materials for electrochemical systems, with a focus on Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. Responding to the urgent need for sustainable, high-performance, and cost-effective solutions, the tri-university consortium will share expertise in chemistry, materials science, and engineering while promoting researcher mobility. The team will investigate carbon-based composite materials using innovative analytical techniques and study their performance under stress, paving the way for safer, more reliable real-world applications.

Aalto local coordinator: Yaolin Xu, Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), Department of Applied Physics, School of Science.

Flood-Resilient Urban Rivers: A Collaborative Approach to Restoration

Overall coordinator: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC)

As urban populations grow and climate change accelerates, the risk of river flooding is rising, often worsened by past interventions that disrupted natural ecosystems. This project brings together an international team to explore how river restoration and Nature-Based Solutions can support more flood-resilient urban river management. We aim to synthesise best practices, establish a virtual centre of excellence, and develop a research roadmap. We will do this through workshops, field visits, academic exchange, and conference sessions. 

Aalto local coordinator: Juha Järvelä, Staff Scientist, Water and Environmental Engineering, Department of Built Environment, School of Engineering.

Quiet City for Life Quality (Q-Q City)

Overall coordinator: TU Graz

Q-Q City aims to close the gap between academics, designers, and policymakers to accelerate the inclusion of new noise and vibration control technologies into sustainable city design and policies. The proposed project will provide a solid foundation to develop sustainable control mechanisms and strategies at a local level (in Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden), thereby providing blueprints that can be further explored at a European level. The topic of this proposal is linked with acoustic and vibration control (i.e., to address United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11) for promoting inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.

Aalto Local Coordinator: Tapio Lokki, Professor, Acoustics Lab, Department of Information and Communications Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering.

ColibrAI: Research Lab and Network for Co-liberative Development of AI

Overall coordinator: KTH

The ColibrAI project aims to lay the foundation for a long-term research agenda on community-centric AI by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and cultivating a culture of critical engagement with AI development. The project seeks to challenge dominant AI narratives, which often reinforce power imbalances, by focusing on practical interventions that empower marginalised groups to actively shape AI policies, practices, and governance.

Aalto local coordinator and participant: Andrea Botero, Associate Professor, Department of Design, School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

NAnostrucTured wood composites towards fiRE safe, energy-efficient, and near zero emission BUILDings (NAT-RE-BUILD)

Overall Coordinator: KTH

Improving energy efficiency in buildings is essential to achieving the EU’s ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. In this project, KTH, Aalto, and Politecnico di Torino are joining forces to advance research in wood nanotechnology for fire-safe, energy-efficient buildings with near-zero emissions. The collaboration brings together the expertise of three research groups, includes joint supervision of junior researchers, supports project-oriented research visits, and organises open seminars. The results will be published jointly and serve as the foundation for a 2026 EIC Pathfinder project application.

Aalto Local coordinator: Eero Kontturi, Academic, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemistry.

VASC-NET - Developing an Inter-Institutional Unite! Network in Sustainable Biomedical Engineering Through Research Collaboration and Joint Student Mentorship on Human Vascularized Organoids

Overall Coordinator: TU Graz

Our dedicated interdisciplinary partnership aims to drive innovation in tissue engineering by developing human vascularized organoids for precision medicine, high-throughput drug screening, and disease modelling. Achieving this breakthrough will improve biomedical research while reducing the reliance on animal models in preclinical testing. An important educational component is the training and exchange opportunities for PhD students, giving access to state-of-the-art research and diverse high-end technologies in tissue engineering. 

Aalto Local Coordinator: Dr. Maja Vuckovac, Department of Applied Physics, Soft Adhesion and Interfaces Group, School of Science.

Aalto Participant: Dr. Maryam Borghei, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science.

Teaching and Learning Projects

VASC-NET - Teaching and Learning

Overall Coordinator: TU Graz

This project explores the potential for an online European Unite! Master’s course or track in tissue engineering. It will assess whether training Master’s students in advanced tissue engineering can support future dual-degree programs across partner universities. Building on an established inter-institutional network of dedicated scientists from six partner universities, the project seeks to integrate high-level research with education through sustained, multidisciplinary collaboration. Students in biomedical, bioengineering, and biotechnology fields will benefit from exposure to cutting-edge technologies, while exchanges and joint mentoring enhance mobility and collaboration across Europe.

Aalto Local Coordinator: Dr. Maja Vuckovac, Department of Applied Physics, Soft Adhesion and Interfaces Group, School of Science.

Aalto Participant: Dr. Maryam Borghei, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science.

Blue Urbanism in European Port cities and Operational Resilient Territories (BLUEPORT)

Overall Coordinator: KTH

BLUEPORT is a collaborative teaching and learning initiative to explore waterlines, climate risks, and port infrastructure. The project develops multidisciplinary pedagogical modules combining virtual collaboration with on-site activities, integrating urban design, photography, architecture, and environmental sciences. Students will engage in site-specific fieldwork, interdisciplinary projects, and online knowledge-sharing to envision resilient futures for European port cities and landscapes. The initiative includes teacher mobility, student exchanges, field trips, performative actions, and the creation of an online repository, with the long-term aim of establishing teaching exchange modules for future joint or dual-degree Master’s programs.

Aalto Local Coordinator: Donald Weber, Associate Professor in Photography, Department of Art and Media, School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Safe and Sustainable E-Rotors

Overall Coordinator: Politecnico di Torino

This project aims to train young engineers in designing safe and sustainable systems using data-driven methods, predictive maintenance, and component recycling—key aspects of Industry 4.0, 5.0, and AI. Rotors, as safety-critical systems, serve as ideal test cases for this multidisciplinary training. Master’s students will be introduced to digital modelling, testing, and monitoring of rotating systems through tutorials, live experiments, and industrial presentations. The project aims to create a new teaching module, open to multiple Master’s programs, integrating expertise in product development, system design, signal processing, diagnosis, AI, mechatronics, and computer science within Industry 5.0. 

Aalto Local Coordinator: Raine Viitala, Assistant Professor, Dept of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering.

Aalto Participant: Sven Bossuyt, Associate Professor, Dept of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering. 

AI Tools in Education and Research

Overall Coordinator: Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (WUST)

This project aims to equip current and future educators and researchers with practical skills in using generative AI tools in teaching and research. By developing innovative, interdisciplinary courses and hands-on training, the project addresses daily applications of AI—from lesson planning and student assessment to data analysis and visualisation—while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and open science practices. It also considers the legal and ethical challenges of AI in education. We aim to build radically creative interdisciplinary courses that provide practical training in AI for both teaching and research, promoting Open Science principles, and supporting the development of European AI tools that are accessible, transparent, collaborative, and legitimate.

Aalto Local Coordinator: Tomi Kauppinen, Head of Aalto Online Learning and Docent (Associate Prof.), School of Science.

Aalto Participant: Rubén Vicente-Saez, Research Manager, School of Science. 

Improvement of Exchange in Civil Engineering

Overall coordinator: TU Darmstadt

This project aims to build a network of teachers within Unite! to enhance international mobility for Civil Engineering students, starting at the Bachelor’s level. It prepares students for international Master’s programs while supporting professionals with a global perspective on engineering and planning. The initiative is expected to increase the appeal of Bachelor’s programs and strengthen Master’s programs by attracting students already experienced in mobility. Its first step involves exchanges between deans and study coordinators, leading to jointly developed module catalogues that align Bachelor courses across compatible Unite! universities.

Aalto Local Coordinator: Luc St-Pierre, Associate Professor, ENG EME Materials to Products, School of Engineering.

Emerging Technologies in Printed and Flexible Electronics (PrintElec - Unite!)

Overall coordinator: Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (WUST)

This project addresses the growing need for specialised skills in emerging electronic devices and their applications in Industry 4.0 and Energy, ranging from healthcare to industrial production and home appliance management, especially for the Internet of Things. It aims to foster scientific cooperation and knowledge exchange in printed and flexible electronics, with the long-term goal of creating a collaborative short programme such as a BIP, summer/winter school, or virtual course—for Unite! Master’s students. The collaboration will map shared teaching methods, develop virtual and physical learning spaces, build sustainable networks, and connect with companies, laying the groundwork for future sustainable Master’s Joint Programmes.

Aalto local coordinator: Caterina Soldano, Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, School of Electrical Engineering.

Synergies in Developing Educational material for lightweight bioproducts used as disposable products and wastewater treatment solutions – SynBIOsis

Overall coordinator: KTH

Plastic pollution from lightweight products is rising, especially in cities, underscoring the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop sustainable alternatives. This project proposes a teaching-driven network that develops shared modules and interdisciplinary courses on lightweight bioproducts. It will equip students with the skills to address environmental challenges. A key focus of SynBIOsis is harmonising methodologies to create a structured educational roadmap, strengthening future European project proposals and attracting wider stakeholder participation. The project aims to build a long-term, sustainable teaching collaboration within Unite!.

Aalto local coordinator: Bruno D. Mattos, Senior Scientist, Dept. Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering.

Student Projects

Unite! E3 – European Energy Excursion

Overall Coordinator: TU Graz

The Unite! E3 project will organise an international “energy excursion” that brings together students from across the Unite! Alliance to explore the European energy sector. The first excursion will see up to 40 students visit companies, energy-related projects and institutions across Europe. The initiative aims to foster interdisciplinary and cross-border collaboration, strengthen students’ professional networks, and deepen their understanding of the technical, economic, and political challenges of the energy transition. The long-term vision is that the excursion will be a recurring event. 

Aalto Local Coordinator and participant: Ostovar Ravari Shaghayegh, Researcher,  ENG EME Energy Conversion and Systems, School of Engineering.

Aalto Local Coordinator and participant: Muhammad Farooqi, Researcher, ELEC DICE Internet Technologies, School of Electrical Engineering.