Towards a sustainable, digitalised world. Creating business from technology Career opportunities in a global setting

Transcription

1 Towards a sustainable, digitalised world Creating business from technology Career opportunities in a global setting 1

2 We are looking for Trainees and thesis workers We offer challenging tasks in a wide range of high quality research projects. Working at VTT will provide you an insight into your chosen industry and the world of international research. You can build your career based on your own interests and your competence profile. While completing your Master s thesis you will get the full support of the experts in your research team. The duration of a traineeship typically varies from a few months to a year. VTT will open many doors for your future. We expect passion for learning and personal development, and an open-minded attitude towards new technology. You are an active person with good teamwork and communication skills. We appreciate well-performed studies in an applicable field of science, technology, or business. Welcome to a workplace where you can learn something new every day! The door to your career at the leading edge of technology development is open at The secret behind VTT s success are our skilled employees. Continuous personnel development combined with a creative atmosphere makes us a forerunner of technology and innovation. We offer plenty of international work opportunities and encourage employee mobility. VTT is an excellent environment for anyone pursuing post-graduate studies. Well-being of our employees and good personnel management are of prime interest for us. Flexible working hours and the possibility for remote work enable a healthy work-life balance. VTT offers a competitive salary and good personnel benefits. We have modern facilities, up-to-date equipment, and several unique research environments to support first-class performance.

3 From Academia to Industry, a Journey of Surprises Research covering all researcher profiles at VTT If, three years ago, someone would have told me that I would be leaving my academic world for an adventure in the land of startups, I would probably have laughed at the idea. I m certainly not laughing now. Actually, I have a satisfied smile on my face. I was invited to come to VTT as an Ercim post-doctoral fellow, and arrived in Oulu in 2006, without knowing what to expect. I have to admit, I was slightly worried by the way Finns often portray themselves as a rather shy and taciturn people. I was in for a big surprise! What I found at VTT was a very warm, smart and hard-working team of people who received me with open arms and many interesting challenges. So much so that I ditched my previous plans and stayed here to work as a Senior Research Scientist in the Quality of Service Technologies team. During the not-quite three years I have spent here, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of research projects, ranging from pie-in-the-sky strategic research to applied customer projects, in which the technology I had been working on for years before was actually deployed in an industrial application. VTT provides an interesting, high-quality environment for doing research, in between academia and industry. Here, researchers can shape themselves into the kind of scientist they want to be, with excellent guidance as necessary. For me, it s time for a new adventure, as my career at VTT is now moving on to new challenges as a technology entrepreneur. I will be applying some of my experience gained here and elsewhere, in an industrial setting as part of a VTT spin-off company. For those of you developing or about to develop your careers at VTT, I wish you the best of luck; you will not find a better place to realize your full potential. Martin Varela Rico Senior Research Scientist Already working in the dream team s 6 Technology Manager Iiro Salkari is happy with the new opportunities VTT provides. s 7 One step ahead Research Scientist Anna Viljakainen focuses on media of the future. s 7 Research Scientist Karoliina Salminen is working on her doctoral thesis in a global environment. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is a globally networked multitechnological contract research organisation. VTT provides high-end technology solutions and innovation services. We enhance our customers competitiveness, thereby creating prerequisites for society s sustainable development and for employment and wellbeing. Key figures 2,700 employees Turnover M % of income from abroad 6,200 customers Our people 29 nationalities 77% with a higher university degree of whom 24% doctoral or licentiate degree 161 foreign visiting research scientists Results Over the past 20 years our people have created 1,000 domestic and 1,899 foreign patent applications 2,300 notifications of inventions 49,700 scientific publications a range of spin-off companies On the map Headquartered in the metropolitan area of Helsinki in Otaniemi, nominated as Europe s most competitive and creative region. Other locations in Finland: Oulu, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Rajamäki, Turku, Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Vaasa, Kajaani, Raahe Locations abroad: Silicon Valley (California, USA), Shanghai (China), Tokyo (Japan), St. Petersburg (Russia), Seoul (South Korea), Brussels (Belgium) Survey shows VTT is the most sought-after employer If students of technology or natural sciences were asked to name their dream workplace, they would choose VTT. VTT has emerged as the top choice in students wish lists on previous occasions too, but now it is also No. 1 among fresh graduates and young professionals in the field. Survey respondents listed the interesting nature of the work and the workplace atmosphere as the primary criteria for employer desirability. The Employer Image 2009 survey was carried out by T-Media. Nearly 20,000 students or recent graduates of Finnish universities and polytechnics responded to the survey. This is how the respondents characterised VTT as an employer: Innovation, multi-tasking, building the future (male, age 21) Challenging research (male, age 34) Fascinating projects for sure (male, age 28) Up with the times (female, age 26) Safe and reliable (male, age 32) Expertise (female, age 46) A positive image, I would love to be involved! (male) 3

4 Wonder land of applied m VTT s research palette encompasses a wide range of fields from biomaterials to the forest and chemical industries. One of the most interesting fields of research is applied material research, a standard-bearer for sustainability, whose results are widely harnessed in different areas of society. Are you looking to do cutting-edge research in your field? Do you get a kick out of seeing the results of your work in improved solutions and products? And would you be averse to saving natural resources in the process? If so, applied material science may well be your cup of tea. When it comes to research topics, we almost have an overabundance, laughs Anne Ritschkoff, Vice President, Strategic Research. The field of applied material research is as wide as it is long. Material research, particularly in nanomaterials and functional material technologies, enables the development of new products with improved properties for different industries. The know-how is being applied in areas such as emerging energy technologies and built environments, says Ritschkoff. Material research also enables the development of high added value, high performance products based on renewable resources. The scientific leading edge of the research is in cross-disciplinary applications, the implementation of which requires strong competencies in chemistry, physics and biology, alongside materials technology. Applying material technology to serve the needs of the forest industry provides a good example of current research activity. Biomass-based products and materials developed at VTT aim at increasing the degree of processing and supporting the competitiveness of companies. Developing biocomposites Tampere-based VTT Research Scientist Heidi Grankvist, who has an M.Sc. (Eng.) in Materials Technology, is occupied with practical Bioplastics including various pulp-based solutions are an example of the biomaterial breakthroughs of the future. research in the field. In my work I deal with natural materials, by processing and testing them; among other things, our team studies natural fibre composites. One of our goals is to replace Anne Ritschkoff, 50, Vice President, Strategic Research Ph.D., Biology sets the direction for research on applied materials has been working at VTT since 1987 oil-based plastics with bio-based materials. Grankvist wound up at VTT the same way as many of her colleagues. A summer job became a diploma thesis assignment and later a researcher s career. You know, I really have enjoyed my work a lot! I feel comfortable both as researcher and as project manager, where I get to run the show. The work is very challenging, and you learn something new and get better every day. The tasks involved with my job are very diverse: I prepare research plans, write publications and reports, participate in the processing of plastics and work in the laboratory on material analyses. Our projects 4

5 aterial research Heidi Grankvist, 28, Research Scientist M.Sc. (Tech.), Material technology specialises in biomaterials and their processing has been working at VTT since 2007 represent a broad range from basic research to EU projects and customer orders. Sustainability through research The significance of eco-efficiency and the importance of low-resource solutions will increase in the near future. According to estimates, by the year 2040 a majority of material flows in circulation will be recycled. Research in itself is the best and fastest way to sustainability, as it allows us to have a hand in product properties and also related processes and value chains, Ritschkoff points out. VTT aims to meet the challenge of a recycling society by actively steering its research in a direction where these requirements can be met. In the future, the amount of waste can be reduced, for example by applying right from the start a product design process that allows discarded materials and components to be separated and reused. Product designing will have an increasingly important role in product development. Towards a sustainable, digitalised world VTT s research spearheads cover specific areas which will be undergoing major business transitions or radical technology changes. In selected strategic areas, VTT is at the cutting edge of research on a global scale. VTT s research vision is directed by two major trends: digitalisation and sustainable development. Futureoriented strategic research is targeted at selected commercially exploitable focus areas. Current spearhead programmes include: Industrial biomaterials Renewing of forest cluster and bioeconomy based wellbeing eengineering Digital product process as a success factor for technology industries Digital world and ubiquitous computing Open smart spaces Printed intelligence Facilitating the economic production of new smart products Successful customers are our passion All the new knowledge created through our research is systematically utilised in our customer projects. VTT co-operates with more than 6,000 customers in Finland and worldwide. The most important impact of our work is the enhanced competitiveness and success of our customers. Our aim is to be a strategically important partner for our customers. All contract research that we do is highly confidential. Therefore we can only disclose a small fraction of the results of our customer projects. Find some examples at 5

6 One entrance, many options What s the rallying point for anyone interested in global business, the future of the media industry, or humantechnology interaction? The answer is a job in an internationally networked innovation organisation. VTT offers fascinating opportunities for anyone with a passion for learning and an open mind towards new technology. Good overview of the industry VTT has always provided new opportunities to throw oneself into, says Iiro Salkari. During his eight years, he has built his career at a breathtaking pace. With a M.Sc. (Eng.), majoring in industrial engineering and management, he originally came in as a researcher. Step by step he worked his way up, first becoming a team leader and then technology manager, his current post, where he heads the Business and Technology Management knowledge centre. In practice, Salkari s days are taken up with generating ideas, preparing projects and managing the big picture. VTT operates in almost all of the technology areas covered by Finnish industry. Many of the projects involve cross-border collaboration, and many of the customers are international. My work gives me a good overview of what s going on in industry and technology. I learn a lot through the work itself, both from our own experts and our customers. If we were completely confined to the research desk, our outlook on things would not be nearly as broad. Salkari s knowledge centre mainly works within and around the themes of innovation management, corporate and network strategies, industry services and development of business networks. The knowledge centre produces contract research as well as knowledge for general application by companies. The actual research work is often done independently, but requires seamless cooperation with the rest of the team. The atmosphere at VTT is in many ways open and encourages diversity, which you need when you re in the innovations business, says Salkari. Business research is relevant as long as it can be applied in practice. It is important to get companies excited about new ideas and get them to join challenging projects. As the work involves plenty of close collaboration with customers, networking skills are a must. 62 per cent of all VTT recruits are either degree students or fresh graduates. At our knowledge centre, the educational backgrounds of people vary from industrial engineering to business studies and behavioural sciences. A socialble nature and a basic interest in different technologies are the key, says Salkari. Networks expanded through training As a technology manager, Salkari is at the helm of an expert organisation. The way you manage needs to be consistent and justifiable. Through my work I m able to gain solid experience of managing a modern networked organisation. Nobody needs to be a natural-born leader. Leadership is something you can build up through training and experience. Alongside his work, Salkari has studied for a special qualification in management. I ve found the studies to be interesting and important, too, not least because it has allowed me to become networked with new colleagues and also with the senior management of our organisation. The discussions I ve had have been stimulating, and hearing the views and insights of seasoned veterans is invaluable. I feel privileged for having had the opportunity to work under many fine managers, and for the range of challenges I ve encountered. Iiro Salkari, 34, Technology Manager M.Sc. (Tech.), Industrial engineering and management heads the knowledge centre of Business and Technology Management has been working at VTT since

7 Research focus on media of the future Anna Viljakainen is busy predicting what Finnish media and advertising will look like in But don t expect to see her beside a crystal ball; her vision is based on a scientific study completed at the turn of the year. Viljakainen works in the Media Technologies knowledge centre, where she examines media industry development trends, including innovative technologies, media and marketing channels and new advertising formats. She also builds business model roadmaps for players in the media industry. Viljakainen, an M.Sc. in Economics, studied international business, and she found herself at VTT really by chance. Previously, I was unaware that media research is part of VTT s work. A job announcement on the web caught my eye, and it sounded just perfect for me. I had previously worked at a magazine publisher and a market research body serving the Finnish media. In her everyday work, Viljakainen is involved with top experts in various fields. International research projects give you a chance to look at things from the standpoint of other markets, and to discuss very openly with different players in the media business the key challenges common to the entire industry, she reports enthusiastically. As an independent research body with a broad view of the big picture at an international scale, we set our sights further into the future and try to find solutions for creating new business out of technology. Viljakainen has established contacts with experts in the field both at VTT and within the YEAR (Young European Associated Researchers) network. VTT was one of the founding members of YEAR in Participation in the network is most useful for me professionally. To have your own contacts with other research institutes is very beneficial when you are searching for new projects, partners and financers. Through YEAR I have also gained many good friends all over Europe. In Finland, Viljakainen is involved in the activities of VTT Young Professionals, where ideas are exchanged and project concepts developed, as in a think tank but also where young researchers can meet and have fun, as with YEAR. But let s get back to the future outlook: what challenges will the media have to face in the coming years? The conventional media are not faring particularly well in the competition with their web-based rivals. They need to modernise and become more interactive, as this what consumers and advertisers are looking for. Otherwise it will be difficult, especially for printed media, to retain its market share, says Viljakainen. Anna Viljakainen, 33, Research Scientist M.Sc. (Econ.), International business specialises in media industry development trends has been working at VTT since 2008 Thesis preparation boosted by international researcher exchange Although Karoliina Salminen M.Sc. (Tech.) is preparing her doctoral thesis, she hasn t spent much time locked away in quiet seclusion. Over the past three years she has been working in Tampere, Oxford and Paris. She specialises in human-technology interaction in remotely operated machine systems. As a VTT researcher, she has been involved in ITER, a significant global science project whose objective is to design and build an experimental fusion reactor in France. Salminen and her colleagues from Finland, the UK and France are involved in PREFIT, or Preparation of Remote Handling Engineers for ITER, an expert training programme funded by the European Union. The programme involves university studies in the partnering countries, and each researcher prepares his/her doctoral thesis on a separate topic. Salminen became involved with PREFIT through her contacts established at VTT. I worked on my French language skills when I was an exchange student earlier on, and so the researcher exchange simply seemed a natural continuation of this. The work abroad was done at local research centres. While in the UK, Salminen became familiar with the JET experimental fusion reactor. To see JET s operation first-hand was very useful for the project. In France, I worked at the French Atomic Energy Commission s robotics unit. Within the researcher exchange, I was able to be part of an entity that was genuinely large-scale and international. Working there was rewarding, both in terms of research topics and getting familiar with local working environments and procedures. You can t grasp the true essence of things on short work trips. Working abroad is in many ways different from working in Finland and at VTT. Elsewhere, corporate cultures can really be quite hierarchical. I have to say I enjoy VTT s relaxed and flexible atmosphere. The work is free and independent. Young researchers are treated equally here, enjoying as much trust as their more seasoned colleagues. At VTT, you can take on projects that you find fascinating, and your work gives you opportunities to participate in top-level international projects, says Salminen. She has been happy with VTT s support of her post-graduate studies. VTT takes steps to encourage you in your doctoral thesis work, and this includes making sure you have up-to-date information on things. In certain cases, you can even change your own job description to some extent, with your supervisor s help, so that the work done in different projects supports your doctoral thesis work directly. Karoliina Salminen, 28, Research Scientist M.Sc. (Tech.), Electrical engineering specialises in remotely operated machine systems and is working on her doctoral thesis has been working at VTT since

8 VTT s key technology fields Applied materials Bio- and chemical processes Energy ICT Industrial systems Microtechnologies and electronics Technology in the community Business research VTT creates business from technology VTT is an internationally acknowledged research organisation with an excellent record in cooperating with global market leaders in various businesses. Our expertise in high-end technology combined with an understanding of global business makes us an ideal partner for all research and development needs. As a workplace VTT provides new challenges and excellent development possibilities. Join VTT for an outlook on technological development and open a gateway to industrial and scientific networks worldwide. For more information on our career opportunities: VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND P.O. Box 1000 FI VTT, Finland Tel Technology partnership Technology and Strategic Product and service IPR and Assessments, testing, market foresight research development licensing inspection, certification Technology and innovation management