From the Dean. Tuija Pulkkinen Dean

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1 Signal of quality

2 From the Dean At the School of Electrical Engineering, science and engineering meet society. Our portfolio covers fields from natural sciences to engineering and information sciences. In parallel with basic research, we develop ideas and technologies further into innovations and services, making use of the artistic and business expertise at Aalto University. We are experts in systems science: we develop integrated solutions from care of the elderly to space robotics. Energy issues are central at the School of Electrical Engineering. We develop sustainable information technology solutions for wireless devices, information networks, and data centres. New materials based on nanotechnology or improvements in energy efficiency of basic power systems bring new solutions to energy production and transformation, while systems based on smart grids offer tools for energy transport as well as tracking and control of energy consumption. The novel research results and systems solutions require committed researchers, hard-working students, modern research infrastructure, and an excellent support organization all in all a highly talented faculty and staff who work, interact, and have fun together. International recruitments bring us top-class experts who bring with them new ways of operation. On the other hand, the doors of the best research organizations are open for our graduates and faculty. Luckily, new technologies enable us to keep in touch with friends and colleagues across continents and local time zones! Tuija Pulkkinen Dean

3 School of Electrical Engineering Our research focuses on major social issues, such as energy and environment, as well as health and well-being. The technological areas of focus we have chosen are information and communication technology (ICT) and micro and nanotechnology. We work in the fields of electrical engineering, information technology and natural sciences. One of the school s special strengths is linking research with the Finnish and international business sector. Our social influence also enhances the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation. The school boasts world-class research facilities and equipment, such as the Metsähovi Radio Observatory, High Voltage Laboratory and Finnish National Standards Laboratory. The micro and nanotechnology research centre called Micronova has the largest cleanroom facilities in the Nordic countries. Students, staff and faculty Departments: Communications and Networking Electrical Engineering and Automation Micro- and Nanosciences Radio Science and Engineering Signal Processing and Acoustics Units: Metsähovi Radio Observatory Micronova: Aalto Nanofab Bachelor s degree programme majors (in Finnish): Automation and Information Technology Bioinformation Technology Electronics and Electrical Engineering Master s Degree Programmes: Students Finnish Foreign 510 Staff and faculty 678, 55 of whom are professors Finnish 525 Foreign 175 Master s Programme in Automation and Electrical Engineering Master s Programme in Nano and Radio Science Master s Programme in Life Science Technologies Master s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Science CCIS Erasmus Mundus Master s Programme: The Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering opened its doors on 1 January It is based on the Faculty of Electronics, Communications and Automation of the Helsinki University of Technology. Space Science and Technology (SpaceMaster) 3

4 Future energy solutions Issues related to the production of energy will pose major challenges to humankind in the near future. Carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced due to climate change. At the same time, the demand for energy is growing globally. New solar power applications might offer solutions to this problem, believes Hele Savin, Assistant Professor of the Department of Micro- and Nanosciences. Savin began her career in microelectronics. However, she ended up researching solar power, when she noticed that the problems related to it were very similar to those she encountered in microelectronics. New nanotechnology innovations made it possible to manufacture economical, efficient and aesthetic solar cells. For the time being, however, the price of solar cells is relatively high, as cleaning the material used in them silicon is an expensive process. Savin and her team are investigating how the cleaning process could be streamlined. Another challenge presented by solar cells is their decrease in efficiency over time. The European Research Council (ERC) awarded Savin a grant for researching the phenomenon. My dream is to have my technology utilised in as many solar cells as possible. The ERC grant will help me to achieve this goal. Savin, who was appointed Assistant Professor in the Tenure track career system, has gained international experience at the University of California, Berkeley and Fraunhofer ISE (Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems). In addition to specialised expertise, she also gained a lot of new researcher colleagues during her time abroad. Some of them have joined her research group at Aalto University. My dream is to have my technology utilised in as many solar cells as possible. Read more on the university career system: aalto.fi/tenuretrack 4

5 Big things come in small packages Micro and nanotechnology make innovative solutions for the future possible. Topical research subjects include LED technologies, solar cells, metamaterials, micro and nanorobotics and various types of sensors. Energy in focus Energy research is conducted in every department of the School. Research themes are, in particular, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The reliability and high efficiency of energy production, conversion and transmission are key research subjects. Aalto University Tenure track Aalto tenure track offers wellsupported career path aimed at the Professorial level for successful academics. Tenure track is based on the principle of commitment from university and individual to academic career; it has clearly defined expectations, incentives, and assistance in personal development. 5

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7 Sustainable wireless society Towards a wireless sustainable future The world is moving strongly towards a wireless society where mobile communication and mobile Internet are at the centre. ICT in its many forms helps humankind lower its impact on the environment. Yet at the same time, ICT itself consumes an increasing amount of energy to power user devices, fixed and wireless networks, and the data centres in the cloud. Our recent new topical area is cyber security and how to protect society s critical infrastructure from malicious players. My team works on numerous topics related to ICT. At the forefront are topics related to energy-efficient ICT, such as mobile devices that would last much longer on a single charge, how we can make the mobile Internet consume less energy, and holistic approaches to build data centres that would consume less electrical energy and at the same time disseminate excess heat energy to heat buildings. We also investigate means to change the fundamental network sharing principles of the Internet and, e.g., enable a kind of priority lane for short data transfers, says Professor Jukka Manner. At the forefront are topics related to energy-efficient ICT. Netradar opens up the mobile world Netradar.org is a global service for end users launched by Aalto University that uses crowdsourcing to build a picture of the performance of mobile and fixed networks around the world. It shows the real coverage of each mobile operator in the world and the quality of wireless and fixed broadband links, and also presents differences in the devices people carry with them. The user application is available on all major smart phones, tablets and computers. World-class research in ICT is being conducted at the School of Electrical Engineering. The research is closely linked to finding solutions to practical problems. The focus is on, for example, digitalization and services, human-centric living environments, wireless Internet and device usability. School research endeavours to answer how there will be enough energy in the future to meet the growing needs of telecommunications networks. 7

8 Reaching for space At Aalto University, barriers to learning are being broken with bold, groundbreaking projects. Scheduled for launch in 2014, the Aalto-1 satellite is being designed, built and tested primarily by students. Dozens of students are working together to ensure that the systems they designed work flawlessly once the satellite has been launched into orbit. At first, building our own satellite seemed impossible. It has been rewarding to see how it is taking shape day by day. 8

9 Aalto-1 is only slightly larger than a milk carton and weighs just around 4 kilograms. Despite its small size, the satellite will carry three research instruments: a spectrometer developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, a compact radiation monitor jointly developed by the University of Helsinki and University of Turku, and the Finnish Meteorological Institute s electrostatic plasma brake, which is a variant of the idea for an electric solar wind sail. Our satellite will serve as a test platform for research instruments. Our goal is to demonstrate that even a nano-sized satellite can conduct scientific research, explains Maria Komu, one of the students working on the project. The satellite is controlled by an attitude determination and control system, which was implemented by Tuomas Tikka. His final project is the first Master s thesis completed from this project. The system turns and tilts the satellite into different positions as required by the research instruments. The attitude determination and control system has to work flawlessly in order for measurements to be taken correctly. At first, building our own satellite seemed impossible. It has been rewarding to see how it is taking shape day by day, explains Tikka. Joint journey to space Several experts, research institutes and companies have provided assistance to the project. The project has worked in co-operation with, among others, Space Systems Finland, which has made its laboratory facilities available to the project work group. Some project members have also done internships with Berlin Space Technologies. Project partners have provided final project opportunities, design assistance and even jobs to project members. The instruction provided by advisers from research institutes and companies has been a marvellous added benefit. We also get information directly from experienced experts in the field, says Tikka. Nanosatellites involve technological developments, whose results can also be used in other fields. For example, the instruments in the satellite payload, such as the spectrometer, can be used in medicine and industrial processes. The test data and expertise coming from development of the satellite will also have a direct impact on development in other application areas. Designing instruments for use in highly demanding conditions helps us to learn how to make designs for more normal environments, explains researcher Jaan Praks. 9

10 Help for diseases of the nervous system In Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), electrical impulses are applied to specific parts of the brain using electrode implants in the brain. Researchers believe that stimulation releases neurotransmitters, which either excite or slow down the nervous system. In a way, DBS is like a pacemaker for the brain that provides instructions for the brain in regulating the amount of neurotransmitters, says project leader, Professor Mervi Paulasto-Kröckel. She is heading up the joint Aalto University and University of Helsinki research project, which started at the beginning of The project is studying the impact mechanisms of deep brain stimulation and developing sensors, which can more effectively measure neurotransmitters. The long-term goal of the project is to treat Parkinson s disease and other diseases of the nervous system. Paulasto-Kröckel is head of the research group, which focuses on microsystems materials integration and reliability. Health Factory solves problems in the health and wellbeing sector There is a worldwide social demand for expertise in health and well-being technologies. Co-ordinated by the School of Electrical Engineering, Health Factory solves problems in this field together with university stakeholders. New health and well-being sector solutions are also developed by Health Factory to promote the establishment of new enterprises. Health and well-being Health and well-being technology, which also has social significance, is one of the focal areas of the School of Electrical Engineering. The School develops solutions for, among others, neurological research, elderly care, medical imaging and wireless health care services. 10

11 Aalto University for a better world Aalto University is a multidisciplinary scientific and arts community, working in the fields of technology, business and art. It was founded in 2010, when Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Art and Design Helsinki were merged. Faculty and staff: 5 000, 340 of whom are professors Students: , of whom are doctoral students Our goal: By the year 2020, Aalto University will be a worldclass institution of higher education. Aalto University schools: School of Arts, Design and Architecture School of Business School of Chemical Technology School of Electrical Engineering School of Engineering School of Science History: 1849 Technical School of Helsinki (TKK) (1908*) Aalto University School of Sculpture (TaiK) (1973*) Helsinki School of Economics (HSE) (1911*) * founded as a university

12 Aalto University in Finland Information about Finland: Finland is ranked top three in OECD s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), an internationally standardized assessment for skills in science, mathematics and reading. Finland s economy has been one of the strongest in Europe during the global economic slowdown. This strength is due, in part, to a strong technology sector and encouraging environment for entrepreneurship. Finland came second in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index in Only few other countries in the world can match Finland as a safe place to live. As a place to study, work or raise children, Finland is hard to beat. The safe environment is one factor in Finland being ranked as the Number One Country the World, in a study conducted by Newsweek in Facts in brief: Official name: Official languages: Population: GDP: Location: Republic of Finland Finnish (92 %), Swedish (5,5 %) 5,4 million EUR 162 billion GDP per capita: EUR Currency: Time zone: Other: Euro GMT+2 Part of the European Union Finland is a modern Western country located in Northern Europe. It is a great meeting point between east and west. Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering P.O. Box 13000, FI AALTO Helsinki Visiting address Otakaari 5 A, Espoo, Finland (operator) elec@aalto.fi aalto.fi/en elec.aalto.fi/en facebook.com/aaltouniversityschoolofelectricalengineering Photos: Jere Hietala, Sarri Kukkonen, Aalto University communications 12 6 / 2014