Aalto University

Part of our Profiled Universities

Location: Espoo, Finland

Focus Area: Multidisciplinary education, entrepreneurial activities and bold commitment to sustainability and creativity. ‘Together we find impactful solutions to the pressing global problems and aim for a change’.

Expertise: Multidisciplinary teaching of Circular EconomyCircular EconomyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature.

Key Projects: 

Education / Teaching

Aalto University’s new Bioinnovation Centre will be a multidisciplinary research and learning center accelerating transition to a circular bioeconomy and creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth in Finland. As part of the new Bioinnovation Centre, a multidisciplinary doctoral program will be established using the viewpoints of technology, art, design and economics in examining and solving challenges of the circular economy (more information).

An international Master’s degree programme, Creative sustainability, brings together students from the fields of design, business, and chemical engineering. In this programme, multidisciplinary student teams work together to increase their understanding of different disciplines, enabling a holistic, systems thinking approach to work towards solutions for pressing sustainability matters. Creative Sustainability is also offered to all Master students at Aalto University as a Minor, to help broaden sustainability knowledge and get acquainted with a multidisciplinary approach during one’s own Master's studies.

Find out more about the circular economy education at Aalto University through the course catalogue.

Research, Influence and Leadership

Finland’s biggest, international, and annual sustainability science conference, Sustainability Science Days, is organised together with Aalto University’s Solutions for Sustainability and The University of Helsinki’s, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science. This unique conference corresponds to the high demands and growing megatrends of sustainability science and highlights the multidisciplinary cooperation between universities, scientific leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders. Innovation, student projects, experimental culture and impact

Aalto University’s Designs for a Cooler Planet event showcases radical ideas and creative prototypes every September. Join the event to see what happens when scientists and designers work together, across disciplines, to come up with ideas for a more sustainable future. The exhibitions and the seminars are open to everyone. The event is part of the official program of Helsinki Design Week.

Connect with: 

Michael Hummel, Assoc. Professor of Biopolymer Chemistry and Engineering, Director of the Bioinnovation Center, Aalto University (michael.hummel@aalto.fi)

Find out more: 

• Read more about Aalto University’s strategy and how we are shaping a sustainable future: Our strategy

• Browse Aalto University’s circular economy courses at the course catalogue.

• Find impactful research and activity information through Aalto University’s research portal: research.aalto.fi

• Get to know Aalto University Student Union’s sustainable values and student life: Sustainable AYY