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VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

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VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
Teknologiska forskningscentralen VTT Ab

Main building of VTT in Otaniemi, Espoo
Osakeyhtiö overview
Formed16 January 1942; 82 years ago (1942-01-16)
HeadquartersTekniikantie 21, Otaniemi, Espoo[1]
MottoBeyond the obvious
Employees2,213 (VTT Group 31 December 2022)[2]
Annual budget261 M€ (VTT Group 2022)[3]
Osakeyhtiö executives
  • Antti Vasara, President & CEO
  • Aaro Cantell, Chairman
Parent departmentMinistry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Child agencies
  • VTT Ventures Ltd[4]
  • VTT International Ltd[4]
  • VTT SenseWay Oy[4]
  • VTT Holding Oy[4]
Websitewww.vttresearch.com

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is a state-owned and controlled non-profit limited liability company.[5] VTT is the largest research and technology company and research centre conducting applied research in Finland. It provides research and innovation services and information for domestic and international customers and partners, both in private and public sectors.[6]

VTT is part of Finland's innovation system and operates under the mandate of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.[7]

History

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Technical Research Institute of Finland (VTL) (1942–1972)

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VTT – then called the Technical Research Institute of Finland (VTL) – was founded on 16 January 1942 by President Risto Ryti’s decree. Its mission was to engage in technical research for the benefit of science and society as a whole. Construction started immediately, and the research institute was completed in autumn 1943. The volume of the building was 20,000 cubic metres, and seven of VTT’s first ten laboratories were placed in the building.[8] After the war, VTT expanded rapidly and was particularly occupied with the quality assurance of war compensation products.[8]

In 1950, the research institute comprised 15 laboratories. The state bought the land of Otaniemi Manor in 1949, and in 1955 the laboratory of mining technology moved to Otaniemi as the first VTT laboratory.[8]

In the 1960s, VTT grew to be the largest research institute in Finland,[9] employing more than 400 people.[10] VTT was an internationally recognised research centre.[9]

In the 1970s, the research institute underwent extensive modernisation, such as simplifying the administration and expanding the testing activities to research.[11]

Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) (1972–2009)

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In March 1972, the Technical Research Institute of Finland changed its name to Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT, Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus, National Technical Research Centre).[8] VTT received new tasks due to the strong growth and diversification of industrial activities. It also participated in research related to the restructuring of society. The activities focused on technology research and the associated development work.[11]

In 1990, VTT had almost 6,000 cubic metres of underground laboratory space in Otaniemi and 15,000 square metres excavated at a depth exceeding 20 metres.[12]

In June 2007, the Ministerial Working Group on Administration and Regional Development supported the proposal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to launch the preparatory work for transforming VTT into a state enterprise in early 2009.[13]

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (2010–2014)

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A new name was introduced in 2010: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.[8] VTT was divided structurally into groups. In addition to the parent company VTT, the new VTT Group consisted of three subsidiaries: VTT Expert Services Ltd, VTT Ventures Ltd and VTT International Ltd.[14] VTT Memsfab Ltd started its operations in 2011.[15]

In 2012, VTT had more than 3,000 employees.[10]

In January 2014, VTT reformed its organisation and divided its operations into three business areas:[16]

  • Knowledge Intensive Products and Services,
  • Smart Industry and Energy Systems; and
  • Solutions for Natural Resources and the Environment.

In May 2014, the Government proposed that VTT would be made a limited liability company and that Mikes and VTT would be merged. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, VTT operated in a very businesslike manner: it received about 70 per cent of its income from commissions assigned by companies and research funding open to competition.[17]

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (2015–)

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In January 2015, the Centre for Metrology (MIKES) was merged with VTT, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland became a limited liability company. The company’s field of activity was defined as applied research in technology, taking research results to practical use, and operating as a national metrology institute. As a limited liability company, VTT was able to react more easily to changes in the customers and the environment, and to operate more freely in the financial markets.[6] Bioruukki, a research centre for the bioeconomy and circular economy, was established in Kivenlahti, Espoo. Its aim was to overcome the ‘valley of death’ associated with the commercialisation of inventions.[18]

In January 2018, VTT sold Labtium Ltd and VTT Expert Services Ltd, which provided testing, inspection and certification services, to Eurofins Scientific Group.[19] In May, it was announced that VTT would start coordinating a European consortium of more than 10 million euros to develop commercial applications for high-temperature SOFC fuel cell technology.[20]

In 2019, VTT launched its own incubator activities, VTT Launchpad, through which it provided support for research teams in setting up businesses.[21] In December, VTT established a unit focusing on autonomous mobility in Turku, VTT Senseway.[22]

In May 2020, VTT announced that it would acquire Finland’s first quantum computer. Its aim was to build a 50-qubit quantum computer.[23] The Finnish IQM Finland Oy, which works with quantum computing, was selected as the supplier of the quantum computer.[24]

On 30 October 2024, it was reported that VTT was selected as the first-ever foreign partner to join an ARPA-E research program funded by the United States Department of Energy. In the program VTT, together with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, aim to accelerate the commercial use of fusion energy. The collaboration focuses on solving the challenges of materials needed in extreme conditions.[25]

Organization

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VTT’s head office is located in Otaniemi, Espoo. The President and CEO is Antti Vasara, DSc (Tech.).[26] In addition to Espoo, VTT has offices in Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kuopio, Tampere and Oulu.[1]

In 2022, VTT has four subsidiaries:[4]

  • VTT Ventures Ltd
  • VTT International Ltd
  • VTT SenseWay Oy
  • VTT Holding Oy

VTT also has five key initiatives, which it calls the technologies of exponential hope and growth[27]

  • biotechnology in food production,
  • quantum technology,
  • optimising the use of material,
  • small nuclear reactors and
  • chemical plastics recycling

VTT’s activities and impact

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VTT receives research funding from the state to perform its basic task, but the state-funded research activities are separated from the company’s market-based activities.[17]

Partners

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Some of VTT's partners:

  • Fazer has licensed an oats technology developed by VTT, which makes it possible to utilise the health improving properties of oat.[28]
  • VTT and Rolls-Royce are designing the first-generation remotely controlled and autonomous ships.[29]
  • In autumn 2020, a multidisciplinary research project was launched in Finland to investigate the spread of COVID-19 in the air. The research results of the joint project of VTT, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the University of Tampere were expected to be completed in early 2021.[30]
  • VTT is involved in the L3Pilot project, which is part of the EU's Horizon 2020 programme, in which extensive road tests are carried out on robot cars. The project comprises 34 organisations and is led by the German Volkswagen Group.[31]
  • VTT delivers components for the French ITER experimental fusion reactor using fusion power.[32]
  • VTT has studied sisu – a Finnish concept that denotes a unique blend of hardiness, phlegmatic determination and gritty courage – with the University of Helsinki Department of Psychology. The study focused on the essence and significance of sisu in areas such as coping and well-being at work.[33]
  • VTT and Finnish Textile and Fashion have drawn up a policy on how to develop the value chain of the textile industry in Finland.[34]

Examples of research results

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  • In 2014, VTT announced that it had produced a highly accurate hyperspectral camera to detect the precursors of skin cancer earlier than before.[35] The health technology company Revenio began commercialising the technology the following year.[36]
  • In 2015, it was reported that VTT had succeeded in developing hybrid yeasts to create new flavours in lager and to speed up the manufacturing process.[37]
  • In 2015, VTT announced that it had developed a sensor that can be attached to food packaging, which detects the spoilage of food by searching for ethanol accumulated in the packaging.[38]
  • In 2015, VTT conducted a study for the Finnish Air Force, which made it possible to extend the lifespan of Hornet’s high-pressure turbine wings while saving about 2.7 million euros.[39]
  • Electric buses developed by VTT were introduced in Helsinki Regional Transport Authority in Espoo in 2015 and Helsinki in 2016.[40]
  • VTT has formulated an Ecocity concept tailored to address the unique requirements of developing countries and emerging economies. Prominent reference examples include Ecocity Miaofeng in China, EcoNBC in Egypt, EcoGrad in St. Petersburg, Russia, UN Gigiri in Kenya, and MUF2013 in Tanzania.[41]
  • In 2016, VTT said that it had developed a mobile application and a small accessory to detect the user’s heart arrhythmias. The product may also help prevent strokes.[42]
  • MetsäSpring textile fibres use ionic solutions to process yarn from bleached coniferous pulp.[18]
  • The Biocelsol technology developed by VTT and Tampere University of Technology uses enzymes to improve the dissolution of cellulose. The end result is similar to cotton.[18]

VTT’s spin-offs

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Spin-off companies have emerged from VTT’s research results, including

  • Dispelix that develops lenses for augmented reality (AR) glasses[43]
  • GrainSense, which has developed a wireless, hand-held device for measuring grain quality[44]
  • Infinited Fibre Company, which manufactures new textile fibre from old textiles or recycled paper[18]
  • Iscent, which produces packaging and printing technologies[45]
  • Origin By Ocean aims to solve the problem of eutrophication by collecting algae from the sea and using its molecules to make emulsifiers for the food industry[18]
  • Paptic, which has commercialised the plastic-like paper material developed at VTT. The material can be used to replace, for example, traditional plastic bags[46]
  • Solar Foods, which produces protein from the air[23]
  • Spinnova, transforming cellulosic fiber into fiber for the textile industry
  • Volare, which refines food industry waste and black soldier flies into protein for fish feed and pet food markets, and insect oils for the cosmetics industry.[47]

Commercialised VTT innovations

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VTT’s research results have also generated products.

  • The eniferBio company produces fish feed with the help of a Pekilo mycoprotein found in VTT’s microbial culture collection.[27]
  • Goodwiller and VTT have developed a Promilless alcohol test for private use, which can be used to measure the blood alcohol content from saliva.[48]
  • Salofa has commercialised the world’s only rapid test for blue-green algae developed by VTT and the University of Turku.[49]

Recognition

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  • In October 2020, VTT won the Impact Expected category in an innovation competition for European research institutes in Brussels with an innovation that enabled the production of egg white protein without chickens or eggs. The method utilised a decomposer fungus refined in the laboratory.[50]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Contact us | VTT". www.vttresearch.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Annual and sustainability report 2022" (PDF). VTT. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Annual and sustainability report 2022" (PDF). VTT. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "VTT as a company". www.vttresearch.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  5. ^ "VTT Technical Research Centre Act Amending The Eu And The Centre For Metrology Limited Company".
  6. ^ a b Virtanen, Sofia (5 January 2015). "Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT on nyt osakeyhtiö". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  7. ^ "VTT Ventures Ltd". www.vttventures.fi. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e Peltonen, Kari (11 July 2020). "Valtiollinen tutkimuslaitos syntyi Neuvostoliiton tuhoisien pommituksien sivutuotteena – insinöörit veivät VTT:ssä voiton kemisteistä". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Wegelius, Edvard (1903 - 1993)". kansallisbiografia.fi. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b Lukkari, Jukka (16 January 2012). "VTT täyttää 70 vuotta tänään". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Jauho, Pekka (1923 - 2015)". kansallisbiografia.fi. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  12. ^ Jukka, Gröndahl (8 May 1990). "Paksu kallioseinä pienentää lämmityskuluja yli viidenneksen Työntekijät haluavat maan alle lisää valoa ja väriä". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  13. ^ Karvonen, Tuomas (8 June 2007). "VTT kuoriutuu liikelaitokseksi 2009". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  14. ^ "VTT jakaantuu tytäryhtiöihin". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  15. ^ Kauppalehti. "VTT Memsfab Oy". Kauppalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  16. ^ Tivi (4 January 2014). "VTT uudistui - nämä ovat kolme uutta kivijalkaa". Tivi (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  17. ^ a b Vehviläinen, Maija (28 May 2014). "VTT:stä tehdään osakeyhtiö". Kauppalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  18. ^ a b c d e "HS Ympäristö | Vanha painotalo Espoossa kätkee sisäänsä VTT:n kiinnostavimmat hankkeet – täällä on syntymässä ratkaisuja Suomen ja kestävän maailman tulevaisuuteen". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 1 January 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  19. ^ Alkio, Jyrki (2 January 2018). "VTT ei enää testaa - Jättilaboratorio ostaa toiminnot: "Kehittäminen ei ole tarkoituksenmukaista"". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  20. ^ Kankare, Matti (7 May 2018). ""Eurooppa on tässä aivan huipulla" – VTT sai merkittävän roolin EU:n polttokennotutkimuksesta". Talouselämä (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Analyysi | Tiedestartupin täytyy syleillä kaupallisuutta. Pääomasijoittajien mukaan juuri tiedeyhteisön asenne on usein ongelma". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 15 April 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  22. ^ "VTT perustaa tytäryhtiön Turkuun". Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). 1 November 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Teknologia | Viisi teknologiaa, jotka pelastavat maailman ja Suomen: VTT:n toimitusjohtaja listaa asiat, joihin meidän nyt pitäisi panostaa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 17 July 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Teknologia | Suomen ensimmäisen kvanttitietokoneen toimittaa kotimainen IQM". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 16 November 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Finnish VTT in historic collaboration with US entities – commercial fusion energy closer than ever". Cision News. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Organisation | VTT". www.vttresearch.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Ruoka | Maapallo ei enää kestä tehomaataloutta – Alkamassa on solumaatalouden aikakausi, josta toivotaan ratkaisuja ihmiskunnan suurimpiin ongelmiin". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 3 January 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Fazer luottaa kauraan – uusia satsauksia jalostukseen". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 10 June 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  29. ^ "VTT ja Rolls-Royce yhteistyöhön etäohjattavien laivojen kehittämisessä". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 14 November 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  30. ^ STT (18 September 2020). "Suomalainen tutkimushanke selvittää koronan leviämistä ilmateitse". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  31. ^ Kainulainen, Jari (26 September 2017). "Robottiautojen laajat tietestit alkavat Euroopassa – VTT mukana". Kauppalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Tamperelaisessa teollisuushallissa on kehitetty tekniikkaa, joka voi vielä pelastaa maailman öljykriisiltä ja ydinjätteiltä". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 14 January 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  33. ^ HS, Joonas Laitinen (12 February 2020). "Suomalaistutkimus: Sisu johtaa pahimmillaan synkille poluille". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Tekstiiliteollisuus | Suomessa on monta nousevaa kestävien tekstiilikuitujen valmistajaa, mutta alan tuntijoiden mielestä se ei vielä riitä". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 18 August 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  35. ^ "VTT kehitti huipputarkan kameran ihosyövän havaitsemiseen - visiona jokapojan älyranneke". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 26 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  36. ^ Talouselämä (21 January 2015). "Revenio käy ihosyövän kimppuun - lisensoi VTT:ltä seulontateknologiaa". Talouselämä (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  37. ^ "Aivan uudenlaisia makuja – keksittiinkö mullistus oluen tuotantoon?". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 5 March 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  38. ^ "VTT:n anturi tunnistaa pilaantuneen ruuan". Maaseudun Tulevaisuus (in Finnish). 5 May 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  39. ^ Talouselämä (15 December 2015). "Säästö lähes 100-kertainen - Suomessa keksittiin keino Hornetien eliniän pidentämiseen". Talouselämä (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  40. ^ Holopainen, Simo (8 April 2015). "Suomalainen sähköbussi päästi ennen vain yhden, harvinaisen äänen - sitten sekin vaikeni". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  41. ^ Antuña-Rozado, C., García-Navarro, J., Reda, F. and Tuominen, P. (2016): Methodologies Developed for EcoCity Related Projects: New Borg El Arab, an Egyptian Case Study. Energies 2016, 9(8), 631.
  42. ^ Luotola, Janne (21 June 2016). "VTT sai puhelimen havaitsemaan rytmihäiriöt". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  43. ^ Lappalainen, Elina (2 November 2018). "Älylasit mullistava Dispelixin näyttö valmis massatuotantoon - keräsi 12 miljoonan rahoituspotin". Talouselämä (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  44. ^ Lappalainen, Elina (8 February 2018). "Viljamittari kertoo sadon arvon jo pellolla". Talouselämä (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  45. ^ Peltonen, Kari (23 August 2012). "Hologrammeja ilman lisäaineita". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  46. ^ Mäntylä, Juha-Matti (23 February 2017). "Talouselämän kuumimmat startupit: Paptic on pakkausten Gore-Tex, ostoslistalla paperikone". Talouselämä (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  47. ^ Pekkonen, Sanna (17 June 2021). "Hyönteisteollisuuden uusi lupaus: Tämä yritys aikoo tehdä kärpäsen toukista proteiinia lemmikeille ja kaloille". Talouselämä (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  48. ^ "Takana kostea ilta ja edessä ajomatka? Ajokuntoa ei tarvitse enää arvuutella, sen voi mitata syljestä". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2 October 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  49. ^ Setälä, Niina (31 July 2019). "SSS: Suomalainen sinilevämyrkkyjen pikatesti kiinnostaa myös USA:n armeijaa – "Olemme viime kuukausina myyneet kymmeniätuhansia sinilevätestejä"". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  50. ^ "Innovaatiot | Kananmunan valkuainen ilman kananmunaa toi voiton innovaatiokilpailussa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 30 October 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
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