3DPIEZOMEMS
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) support the acceleration of existing microelectronic systems trends including edge computing, robotics & automation, Industry 4.0, mobility, biometrics, and augmented/virtual reality. In these applications, the performance of the current MEMS devices needs to be improved vastly in the field of latency, accuracy, sensitivity, energy efficiency, fail- operational level reliability and miniaturization. However, shortcomings in the current approaches to MEMS design limit the prospects. At the MEMS component level, sensing is achieved by static or resonant motion in mutual or perpendicular directions as the motion being measured. Currently, this directional behaviour require complex designs that adds to costs in manufacturability, increased device sizes and waste.
This project focuses on a disruptive new approach to fabricating MEMS components. The technology, called 3DPiezoMEMS, addresses the problem of simultaneous in- and out-of-plane element motion. This is enabled by depositing piezoelectric aluminium nitride (AlN) on the vertical and horizonal surfaces of a MEMS element, giving the design fully unhindered 3D-motion. Having fully integrated 3D-motion reduces MEMS element complexity, reducing overall the costs and size of MEMS devices. In addition, the use of PiezoMEMS brings significant power reduction for the actuation and sensing due to the intrinsic mechanical-electrical coupling behaviour of piezoelectric materials.
Contact: Pekka Kettunen, Innovation Advisor (ELEC)
A-GATE
Hyperspectral imaging technologies are expected to be used in our daily life, for example, for agriculture, food industry, surveillance, safety, environment and medicine applications. This A- GATE project aims to prepare the commercialisation of our newly-invented miniaturized spectrometers. The project will research the first-of-its-kind low-cost high-efficiency miniaturized hyperspectral imaging array sensors, and then bring industrial utilization and market exploitation to the researched hyperspectral imaging sensors for commercialisation preparation.
Contact: Pekka Kettunen, Innovation Advisor (ELEC)
ARTEMIS
Spatial Audio is a growing industry that enables immersive and interactive audio experiences for more prominent sectors such as virtual and augmented reality, gaming, film, and music. The currently available Spatial Audio recording and encoding tools in the market are expensive. They have low resolution, which limits the adoption of the format as well as the quality of the created content.
Contact: Sami Ala-Luukko, Innovation Advisor (ELEC)
BUBBLES WITH BENEFITS
The demand for protective packaging materials is constantly growing, driven especially by the increasing popularity of E-commerce. However, plastic materials have numerous harmful effects throughout their linear lifecycles. For example, plastic production relies on non-renewable fossil fuels and creates greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. In addition, the majority of plastic waste ends up in the environment, causing significant environmental, economic, and health risks Without changes to the current practices, the global amount of plastic waste is forecasted to triple to over 1040 million tonnes by 2060. To combat the global plastic pollution crisis, there is an urgent and growing need for sustainable alternatives, especially for plastic packaging materials that make up nearly half of the global plastic waste.
Our solution is a sustainable sealed air packaging material (bubble and foam wrap) that provides the benefits of sealed air packaging material without harming the environment. It is completely plastic-free, non-toxic, and biodegradable, and low cost. It does not contribute to the current microplastic crisis as it is cellulose-based and dissolves in water. Our material is flexible, customizable in size/shape/colors, and contains air bubbles that provide superior cushioning for protecting fragile items during storing and delivery. With these features, it has the potential to address the current gap in the market of sustainable protective packaging materials. The demand for protective packaging materials is constantly growing, driven especially by the increasing popularity of E-commerce. However, plastic materials have numerous harmful effects throughout their linear lifecycles. For example, plastic production relies on non-renewable fossil fuels and creates greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. In addition, the majority of plastic waste ends up in the environment, causing significant environmental, economic, and health risks without changes to the current practices, the global amount of plastic waste is forecasted to triple to over 1040 million tonnes by 2060. To combat the global plastic pollution crisis, there is an urgent and growing need for sustainable alternatives, especially for plastic packaging materials that make up nearly half of the global plastic waste.
Our solution is a sustainable sealed air packaging material (bubble and foam wrap) that provides the benefits of sealed air packaging material without harming the environment. It is completely plastic-free, non-toxic, and biodegradable, and low cost. It does not contribute to the current microplastic crisis as it is cellulose-based and dissolves in water. Our material is flexible, customizable in size/shape/colors, and contains air bubbles that provide superior cushioning for protecting fragile items during storing and delivery. With these features, it has the potential to address the current gap in the market of sustainable protective packaging materials.
Contact: Janne Raula, Innovation Advisor (CHEM)
CIRPA
The replacement of oil-based materials with sustainable, recyclable biomaterials is a growing challenge in many areas of business. Also, there is a large need for acoustic treatment of indoor spaces, such as open-plan offices, learning environments, as well as private apartments where increasing amounts of high-quality media content is being created. The Circular Panels R2B-project aims to provide a solution to these problems by producing fully bio-based recyclable indoor acoustic panels that have a surface optimized for acoustic applications and that have design properties that make them competitive as decorative elements.
Contact: Panu Kuosmanen, Innovation Advisor (ENG)
CLOVIC
CloViC is an online web platform enabling remote and collaborative commissioning for system integrators that aims at reducing the time, cost, and energy spent on commissioning intelligent automation systems based on the upcoming open automation standard IEC 61499.
Contact: Juha Siivola, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
COLORIFIC
Colorific is a revolutionary detection tool utilizing innovative nanoswitch technology. Colorific directly captures analytes from samples, producing observable colour changes without pre-processing of the sample. The ability to use a variety of samples, even coloured ones, makes it suitable for quick on-site point-of-care use. Moreover, the sustainable nanoswitch production aligns with environmental goals. This project focuses on harnessing Colorific's nanoswitch technology to address rapid and easy cardiovascular disease detection. Its adaptability allows for the expansion of the technology's impacts beyond healthcare. The overarching vision is to establish a fast, accurate, and versatile testing solution that caters to various needs, including emerging disease diagnostics in healthcare, veterinary diagnostics, and food safety.
Contact: Mikhael Yuryev, Innovation Advisor (CHEM)
CORNEASENSE
The goal of CorneaSense is to develop a diagnostic technology for accurate assessment and improved, precision management of corneal health. Many diseases and injuries of the cornea (outer most layer of the eye) are associated with abnormal changes in the cornea’s water content. Current clinical standards to assess corneal water content are limited to thickness measurements of the central cornea under the assumption that the cornea must expand to make room for increased water. In other words, water content is inferred from thickness and not measured directly. This practice suffers from two key limitations (1) thickness measurements do not account for the significant population variation in corneal thickness thus thickness measurements are, at best, a screening tool. (2) By the time corneal water content becomes apparent via visual assessment or thickness measurements, its often too late to efficiently treat or even save the tissue. Conversely, accurate quantification
The CorneaSense project leverages a decade of corneal measurements at millimeter wave. We have developed a method whereby minute changes in corneal tissue water content are quantified via observation of millimeter wave propagation it bounces around inside the cornea. The features of these echoes are characterized by the cornea’s parameters and careful measurement allows us to provide detection of disease, via confirmation of increased tissue water, much earlier than any existing technology. This will result in conserved sight and improved patient outcomes.
This project will leverage the existing science and funds will be used to create a real time instrument to be used in pilot patient trials.
Contact: Pekka Kettunen, Innovation Advisor (ELEC)
CUREN-M
CuRen-M aims to show proof of feasibility for using copper redox flow batteries to supply large-scale energy storage for various use cases tied directly to the increasing adoption of renewable generators. The technology applies copper as an active material to bring more sustainable and efficient long-term energy storage to the energy market. It improves on the standard lithium and vanadium-based battery systems in terms of cost, reliability, and environmental impact. These advantages lower the costs of integrating renewable energy sources into the existing energy grid to play a role in the decarbonisation of the energy mix. The project will focus on increasing the competitive edge of the technology over current technological competitors through fundamental research and improvements to the operation and use of the technology. In addition, through the construction of a 5 kW / 25 kWh proof of concept system within the project, the system can be tested in applicable use cases to show the technology's viability. Finally, the project aims to evaluate the economic feasibility of this technology and to show proof of feasibility.
Contact: Janne Raula, Innovation Advisor (CHEM)
NATAL MIND / DARING BIRTH DTX
Perinatal mental health (PMH) problems, particularly anxiety, depression and fear of childbirth (FOC), affect expectant mothers, families, and societies worldwide in devastating ways, through pregnancy and birth complications, issues with mother-infant bonding, and declining birth rate, to name but a few. Sadly, these problems go often undiagnosed and untreated. The Daring Birth (DaBi) project addresses the grave need for improved PMH care by prototyping and testing a Digital Therapeutics (DTx) for PMH, i.e. the DaBi solution, which is also expected to serve as a novel digital biomarker for PMH. DaBi solution builds on the research of digital emotion tracking, a scientific affect measurement and self-reporting approach developed at Aalto University. Emotion tracking is essential in treating PMH issues because it enables users to enhance their level of understanding about themselves, a key to emotional awareness and regulation. Emotion tracking is combined with user engaging elements and clinically relevant exercises, and we will study the impact of the DaBi solution on patient-reported PMH outcomes and estimate the cost-reduction potential. The Finnish perinatal care system is the highest ranked globally and offers a unique opportunity for such research, to support our commercialization goals for the European and US markets.
Contact: Juha Siivola, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
HENTOTOUCH
Aalto University's thinTouch project aims to develop a completely new technology for the treatment of a specific brain disease. The invention originated from the Biodesign Finland project, the purpose of which is to identify the needs of healthcare and to develop solutions based on these researches. hentoTouch combines research from different fields of science, creating a completely new concept for the treatment of that disease. The form of treatment is alleviating a huge global health problem that is also currently placing a significant financial burden on health care as well as limited productivity. The aim of the project is to create a solution that offers the opportunity for better treatment results and thus an improved quality of life for patients, as well as significant savings in public funds. In addition, the project will bring Finland to the forefront of the international treatment of this brain disease.
Contact: Ilkka Hyytiäinen, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
INGA - INTELLIGENT INDUCTION OF LABOR
Induction of labor (IOL) is a common obstetric procedure to initiate the childbirth if it does not naturally occur or risks to the mother or fetus have arisen. In 2022, there were 40,5 billion IOL globally. In the western countries, approx. every third childbirth is induced. However, IOL is a challenging process failing in 35% of the cases. Current tools for IOL do not offer features supported by the recent scientific evidence or provide real-time information on the baby’s wellbeing or the IOL progress. Induction failure leads to childbirth complications and increases health care costs. Failed IOL causes over 1,6 billion € cost in the U.S. alone annually, suggesting the global economic burden to be approx. 10 billion €.
We seek to address the challenges and limitations of current tools and techniques for IOL with the Inga project, a novel diagnostic device intended for effective and optimized IOL. The Inga concept enables continuous real-time monitoring of fetal wellbeing and uterine contractions and informed decision making about the IOL management. During the R2B project we intend to assess the functionality of a testing device in both laboratory and clinical environments, and to examine various aspects of the concept, including the most effective combination of IOL methods and fetal wellbeing. The Inga concept has the potential to revolutionize and modernize the field of IOL by providing a safer, more effective, and more convenient method for IOL, which will also lead to better maternal childbirth experience.
Aalto University's Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering will be responsible for the project in cooperation with Helsinki University Hospital. During the research project, our main focus is to investigate the best commercialization route for Inga’s sensor and drug delivery system technologies. In 2022, Inga was selected to the SPARK Finland mentoring program demonstrating the high maturity and promise of the concept.
Contact: Ilkka Hyytäinen, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
LI-AKU-REC
Lithium-Ion batteries are used in rapidly growing quantities everywhere in our daily lives. Recovering materials from used batteries in a safe, environmentally friendly, and economically sustainable manner in a form of black mass is a must to meet the fast-growing market demand for the batteries. Mining more virgin minerals will not satisfy the growing demand alone, but also other material sources are needed. Common expectations are that majority of the battery minerals will be coming from the old, recycled batteries and battery scrap from battery manufacturers.
Channels for recycling old batteries already exist today, but the problem is that the process for capturing valuable metals is very inefficient, costly, and not environmentally sustainable.
Aalto University has been innovating a solution that would greatly improve the efficiency, is ecological, uses no chemicals, and can operate without high heat. Early results show that the innovated solution promises above 70% recovery of Lithium, compared to current solutions that are capable of salvaging roughly only 42% of Lithium from used batteries. This novel solution, Li-Aku-REC process, is being patented and the next step is to build a PoC and prepare for commercialization. This project aims to prepare the solution to be launched for potential customers by offering a novel solution that is needed to support this fast growing global market. In addition, the project intends to give optimum conditions for commercialization preparation of the Li-Aku-REC.
Contact: Panu Kuosmanen, Innovation Advisor (ENG)
MILLISCAN
Millimeter wave imaging is used to search for hidden objects in security screening applications. Millimeter waves penetrate ordinary clothing well and the short wavelength allows adequate resolution for personal inspection applications. The technique can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects. The MilliScan project is developing an imaging method that is much simpler to implement: the technology is based on a dispersive hologram connected to a high-speed integrated millimeter-wave transceiver and neural network. The neural network interprets complex reflection as images in real time.
The technology enables remarkably light mechanical implementation without moving parts, demanding installation work, or long start-up time. In the past, millimeter wave imaging has been used only in the most critical destinations, such as airports. The cost benefit of the new technology is significant, and the commercial outcome of the project is expected to find new markets where millimeter-wave imaging could not previously be introduced due to cost, size, or frequent maintenance required.
Contact: Pekka Kettunen, Innovation Advisor (ELEC)
NANOTHRUST
Compressed air systems are widely used in industry due to, among other things, their ease of use, operational safety and environmental friendliness, and compressed air can be considered one of the basic commodities essential for most industries. However, compressed air is the most expensive energy in industry - in large EU countries, industry uses up to 7-12% of all its electricity to produce compressed air. The project investigates the utilization of waste heat to produce compressed air.
Contact: Pekka Kettunen, Innovation Advisor (ELEC)
NOSORE
The Nosore R2B project investigates the suitability of a measurement sheet based on smart textiles for assessing the risk of pressure ulcers and thus for the prevention of weight wounds.
Contact Ilkka Hyytiäinen, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
OMNIDIRECTIONAL WIRELESS CHARGING
Wireless charging offers a solution to charge mobile and portable devices simply by placing them within the charging area without any need for physical cords. However, current wireless charging technologies require precise alignment between the charging pad and the device or a specific holder, limiting convenience and possibilities to charge multiple devices at the same time. We have introduced a radically new wireless charging technology based on the Aalto University owned non-coherent power combining principle to achieve simple, robust, and efficient charging with fully free positioning capabilities. Our solution provides effectively charge multiple devices without any need for complex control methods or special materials, offering significant benefits of saving production and operational costs. Most importantly, our solution can be easily integrated with existing standards, such as Qi, Qi2, A4WP, etc. This positions our technology to enter the market seamlessly and quickly, particularly as the demand for fully free wireless charging has significantly increased not only in the customer electronics market but also in other market segments, such as industrial, automotive, and healthcare.
Contact: Pekka Kettunen, Innovation Advisor (ELEC)
OTOSCREEN
Addressing hearing loss is crucial due to the expected rise in hearing loss cases, which could lead to a significant economic burden by 2050. Early identification of hearing loss is crucial for effective treatment, reducing costs and functional decline associated with the condition. This project explores solutions that result in earlier intervention. Benefits include efficiency, actionability, and reach, leading to improvements in quality of life, productivity and social inclusion.
Contact: Panu Kuosmanen, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
PCMI
Heat flows as a result of contact between materials with different temperatures. Thermal insulation prevents heat exchange between materials where needed. This makes insulation materials widely important in daily life use for example in electronics, buildings, packaging, etc. There are common insulation materials on the market such as mineral fibers, polystyrene, natural fibers, or rigid foam boards. But majority of these products are fossil-fuel-based, non-biodegradable, or inefficient in controlling temperature. This project introduces a new type of insulation materials as a perfect candidate for self-regulating thermo-packaging. Our insulation is composed of bio-feedstocks and phase change materials (PCM) that can help achieving a more energy-efficient temperature-control via leakage-free phase change processes. Our PCM Insulation (PCMI) can absorb and release extra thermal energy while keeping the temperature constant. PCMI is eco-friendly and reduces carbon footprint compared to traditional insulation packaging such as polystyrene or polyurethane foams. PCMI offers effective thermal protection with a lightweight bio-based origin, significantly preventing temperature fluctuations for example during goods transport and delivery.
Contact: Panu Kuosmanen, Innovation Advisor (ENG)
SPRAYIQ
Every year, an alarming 11 million burn injuries occur worldwide, with 180,000 resulting in death. This issue is particularly devastating in low-income countries, but high-income countries are also significantly affected, especially among children, working-age adults, and the elderly. In addition, chronic wounds like diabetic ulcers afflict a staggering one-fourth of the 460 million people with diabetes worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for improved burn prevention and treatment strategies.
Extensive burns and poorly healing, deep chronic wounds are challenging to treat. Their treatment often requires repeated visits to specialized healthcare, which consumes a lot of healthcare resources. The most important factor in rapid healing is the quality of the new skin as the wound heals. In large burns and chronic wounds, the size and complexity of the wound often prevent the natural healing process.
The WoundSprayIQ device aims to change the way advanced therapies are administered. By analyzing the wound surface and the operator's actions, the WoundSprayIQ enables individualized and accurate administration of advanced wound therapies, including biomaterials, drugs and cellular therapies. In large-area burn wounds, the WoundSprayIQ optimizes therapy dosing to the entire treated surface. In chronic wounds, the WoundSprayIQ device provides accurate control over therapy administration specifically to meet the critical demands of advanced therapy 3D application to produce an effective repair-inducing therapeutic composition and porosity as well as to spatially optimize the distribution of biologically active therapy components throughout the entire treatment volume.
This project aims to research technical challenges and commercialization opportunities for the WoundSprayIQ device. By addressing both aspects, the project will create a comprehensive plan for reaching commercialization readiness.
Contact: Sami Ala-Luukko, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
SMART BUBBLES
Cancer being serious burden on society is one of the most challenging diseases due to its biological complexity. According to the WHO, one in six deaths worldwide is caused by cancer. In Europe, in 2020, more than 560 new cases of cancer were diagnosed per 100,000 people, and cancer mortality was 263 per 100,000 people. The high mortality rate is partly due to the fact that asymptomatic and mild cancer cases are not detected in time. Traditional diagnostic methods are typically based on organ dysfunctions, and advanced molecular imaging techniques are expensive and only available in large hospitals. Our goal is to develop a new technology for molecular imaging diagnostics that would be cheaper and more accessible than current diagnostic technologies and would enable early stage cancer diagnosis for a significantly wider part of the population than at present.
Contact: Janne Raula, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
SYMMGUARD (ROOSA.AI)
SymmGuard utilizes symmetry for making AI robust. The increasing adoption of AI in safety-critical domains, tightening AI regulations and increasing cost of cybersecurity breaches make it imperative to have robust AI. We use symmetry because it is pervasive in nature and often overlooked or not handled correctly by AI. We aim to use public datasets and customer data, with research conducted both independently from and together with pilot customers. We aim to have a tangible effect on the deployment of robust AI. Research-wise, we aim to bring symmetry to the attention of the AI research community as an important guiding principle in the design and application of robust AI solutions. We aim for simple and elegant solutions that can be applied to existing and emerging AI.
Contact: Juha Siivola, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
VISENTOOLS
The visual sensebuilding tools (Visentools) R2B project develops the concepts, designs, and prototypes of the facilitating application and symbolically explicit artifact sets for visual sensebuilding. During the R2B project, the team with the support of advisors will actively test and develop the method, the artifacts, and the facilitation app with real end users of diverse backgrounds. Founded on the most recent design research and cognitive and social neuroscience, the artifact's sizes, shapes, and colors will be designed to inspire intuitive and playful sensebuilding. The concept and pilot design will be done for the digital facilitator application, and the use of various AI algorithms will be explored. The project aims to establish the readiness for commercialization, produce supportive research for proof of concept and relevance, and prepare the founding of a start-up and a first risk funding round. We have an exceptionally experienced multidisciplinary research and a business-focused team composed of Aalto University faculty from the School of Science, School of Art and Design, and the Innovation support unit, partner companies, and start-up advisors, with strong expertise in artifact design, work design, software development, plastic molding, neuroscience, marketing, scaling start-ups, and organization and strategic management.
Contact: Ilkka Hyytiäinen, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
TWINBASE
The aim of the Twinbase project is to commercialize Aalto University's research results in the subject area of digital twins. At the center of the project is a platform customized for the management of digital twins, which we call Twinbase. The platform enables vendor-independent management of digital twins based on standardized ways of describing digital twins. There are several different standards and specifications suitable for describing, and we call their use the digital twin description document method. However, the twin description document method is not yet established, so twin documents are studied both methodically as well as through application to practical digital twins. The applicability of ontologies and identity technologies to the twin document method is also studied and developed, and user interface research is carried out to present the information and functionalities offered by the document method in an optimal way. The project maps pilot customers and ensures the platform's suitability for managing their digital twins. The goal of the project is to prove the usability of the method in practical tests and create a basis for starting business around the platform.
Contact: Panu Kuosmanen, Innovation Advisor (ENG)
URISENS
Urisens is a healthcare technology solution that solves a significant need in elderly and long term care (LTC), screening vital urine parameters renal function and hydration. It takes usually a minimum of 3 days for the caregiver to notice the worsening health for long-term bed patients. The clinician suspects of various clinical conditions, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and infections. Getting the results of lab tests take another day. 4 days passed; still the clinician does not have enough data for diagnosis. The symptoms gets worse and treatment is late.
With Urisens, data collection happens wirelessly and immediately, using a low cost printed sensor system embedded in a diaper. Urinary data and artificial intelligence (AI) assisted analysis generates clinically useful information rapidly, reducing caregiver time spent on patient and other clinical resources. The joint parties are Aalto University and VTT. Urisens applied technology is built on a strong research foundation backed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of clinical experts, researchers, engineers and industry experts. The team has solid experience in health technology research and business development.
Contact: Pekka Kettunen, Innovation Advisor (SCI)
WUUD
Mechanically and chemically modified wood Wuud, is an outstanding solution for exterior and interior claddings. A ready to install cladding product that combines new surface textures and aesthetics, a natural color scale that is well suited for modern architecture, a 50-year service free lifespan and fire proofing.
Contact: Janne Raula, Innovation Advisor (CHEM)