Boosting the world’s bioeconomy by developing new bio-based materials with Aalto University and VTT, companies, and research organizations through a shared passion to create a sustainable future and a belief in innovations based on solid scientific foundations.
Key Research Area: Materials and natural resources
Materials research ranges from the performance and design of materials, condensed-matter and materials physics, textiles, nanotechnology, bio-based materials, and mechanics to the sustainable use of natural resources.
Our expertise in the area of materials covers a wide range of fields: from the performance and design of materials, condensed-matter and materials physics, nanoscience and nanotechnology, mechanics and materials to the sustainable use and processing of natural resources.
Also, our materials research contributes to diverse applications in ICT, energy and health technologies, textile design for fashion industry, bio-based product and arts design, and many other areas of industry.
Materials Research at Aalto University
The materials research at Aalto University is well-established in excellence.
- Publications in materials science at Aalto are cited 55% more than the world average (MNCS 1.55);
- 17.8% of our publications belong to the most cited 10% in the world (Top 10 = 17.8%);
- Aalto hosts two Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence and over ten ongoing ERC grants related to materials research.
- The annual budget of the materials related research at Aalto is 75 million euros, from which one-third comes from external sources, such as the EU, Finnish ministries, and foundations.
The Aalto Networking Platform promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations and communication, inside and outside Aalto University, to advance the field of materials science and its applications.
Upcoming events
Designs for a Cooler Planet 2025 exhibition
Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition presents visionary cross-disciplinary work. Come explore prototypes, experiments and solutions.
Legacy Awakens: An inspiring journey through science and design
What happens when scientific expertise meets creative hands-on design in materials research? In what ways can these different approaches inform each other? Why is collaboration, in all its various forms, so meaningful? The seminar is organized by the Aalto University Bioinnovation Center to celebrate the long career of Aalto Distinguished Professor Tapani Vuorinen as a researcher, educator, and industry partner.
Shaping Tomorrow with Smart and Living Materials
Welcome to explore future materials inspired by natureLatest news in this area
Aalto University launches Inventors program to turn science into impact
The new training program in the field of chemical engineering empowers researchers to explore entrepreneurial pathways and the commercial potential of their work.
Everyday choices: Viktar Asadchy, how do you control light?
This Associate Professor of Electromagnetics manipulates and directs light with materials.
Wool electronics and orange peel clothing being created in Bioinnovation Center
Doctoral researchers at Aalto University Bioinnovation Center discuss accelerating the sustainable bioeconomy, the importance of collaboration and bold entrepreneurial dreams.
Daniel Langerreiter received Magnus Ehrnrooth award for the best doctoral dissertation in chemistry
The Finnish Science Society awarded distinguished researchers and high school teachers at its annual celebration.Flagships and Centres of Excellence
The LIBER Centre of Excellence
LIBER aims to create dynamic and soft hybrid materials with a capability to learn, adapt or response to the environment. LIBER combines eight research groups with expertise on molecular self-assembly, soft robotics, surfaces and interfaces, genetic engineering of proteins, biotechnological production of engineered biomolecules, and computational modelling.
GRAPHENE Flagship
The Graphene Flagship represents a new form of joint, coordinated research on an unprecedented scale, forming Europe's biggest ever research initiative.
The Graphene Flagship is tasked with bringing together academic and industrial researchers to take graphene from the realm of academic laboratories into European society in the space of 10 years, thus generating economic growth, new jobs and new opportunities.
BATCircle aims at improving the manufacturing processes of battery chemicals and the mining and metals industries and to increase the recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
Cross- and trans-disciplinary networks and initiatives
The Test Site
The Test Site is a student-led network of practical sustainability at Aalto University.
AaltoTEXTILES is a network linking all textile-material related activities within design, technology and business at Aalto University
Infrastructure
OtaNano
OtaNano is Finland's national research infrastructure for micro-, nano-, and quantum technologies
Aalto Ice and Wave Tank
Aalto Ice and Wave Tank is a multipurpose basin ideally suited for testing ships and other maritime structures in ice conditions.
Arts infra Workshops
At the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, hands-on learning is essential. Our students have access to one of the finest workshop environment in the world, with a very high workshop to student ratio.
Learn more about our research equipment
Aalto Electronics-ICT - Electronics test facilities
School of Electrical Engineering offers 4 electronic test facilities
Featured research bodies and courses
Bio2Future PhD Summer School - bioeconomy courses for postgraduates
Aalto University has launched a summer school to support PhD students who are studying bioeconomy-related subjects. Bio2Future offers 1-2 high-level postgraduate courses each summer in a range of current subject areas.
Group approaches research with an attitude, where making, acting and engaging play important roles.
CHEMARTS website
Carbon Lane -project
Carbon Lane (CarLa) is an EIT Climate-KIC funded project which takes place during 2019. The project explores practical carbon drawdown solutions for urban green areas
Ioncell-F
Ioncell-F technology developed at Aalto University in collaboration with the University of Helsinki converts wood into textiles without any harmful chemicals.
Our departments in this area
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering
We study system-level dynamic functions of the human brain, mind and body.
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems
Enabling bio and circular economy
Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering
Sustainable future with high performance products
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science
World-class materials research
Department of Built Environment
Water resources, spatial data, sustainable asset management and safe transportation.
Department of Civil Engineering
The Department of Civil Engineering aims to build the structures of tomorrow through research, education and collaboration.
Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering is a leading multidisciplinary research establishment with strong industrial ties and impact on industry and society alike.
Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation is an ecosystem where scientists and engineers from different fields of microsystems, electrical engineering and automation work together to solve the most challenging scientific problems.
Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering
Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering (ELE) conducts research and arranges related teaching courses in the fields of electromagnetics, micro and nanotechnology, radio engineering, and space technology.
Aalto Design Research
Aalto Design Research is a leading centre of excellence of enquiry in and through design.
Fashion/Textile Futures
The Fashion/Textile Futures research group explores new perspectives on human-centered design research. The group approaches research in the field of fashion, clothing and textiles in multi-faceted ways.
Contact
Maryam Borghei
Manager, Materials and Natural Resources Key research area, Aalto Networking Platform