02.10.2008

Communications technology and biorefineries attract new FiDiPro professors

Tekes has appointed four new FiDiPro professors. They come from Canada, the United States and Germany. Two of the professors will work at Tampere University of Technology, one at Åbo Akademi University in Turku and one at Helsinki University of Technology.

The projects focus on bioinformatics, wireless networks, low-energy wood construction, as well as development of novel biorefinery concepts.

The Finland Distinguished Professor Programme is a joint funding programme of the Academy of Finland and Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.

"The FiDiPro professors will bring top-class competence and international networks with them," says Erja Ämmälahti, Senior Technology Adviser at Tekes.

According to Ämmälahti, Finland's high level of competence in information and communications technology is attractive, and research groups within the sector have already received a good number of FiDiPro professors.

"Furthermore, there are already a few FiDiPro projects associated with Tekes' Biorefine programme, bringing a new aspect to the use of biomass," says Ämmälahti.

The projects now chosen will also support the Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation being launched in Finland. Two of the projects will bring additional competence to the forest cluster, and the objective is that most upcoming projects should also have a clear link with the Strategic Centres.

Praise for the research environment

To date, 46 top researchers have been appointed to the FiDiPro programme. Tekes is funding 18 projects and the Academy of Finland is funding 28 projects for an aggregate total of EUR 36.4 million.

Several FiDiPro professors who have already started their work gave praise to the standard of the Finnish research infrastructure at a seminar arranged in Helsinki in August. The Polish professor Jacek Dobaczewski, who is working in Jyväskylä, emphasised that it is important to be able to tell one's home university that you are going to an excellent research environment representing a high standard of science.

Professor Tadashi Matsumoto , who works at the Centre of Wireless Communications in Oulu, is also satisfied with the offering of the FiDiPro programme.

"The programme allows me to work with smart people and gives access to excellent research resources," said the Japanese professor. In Oulu, Professor Matsumoto is developing distributed telecommunications networks. The project has spawned more extensive co-operation between Finland and Japan, with Prof. Matsumoto planning international student exchange and a Dual Degree programme.

Long-term co-operation

The FiDiPro programme is a joint form of funding between the Academy of Finland and Tekes, allowing foreign or long-term expatriate Finnish top researchers to work in Finland for two to five years. The programme is aimed at achieving long-term international collaboration to strengthen Finnish scientific and technological knowledge and know-how. The first FiDiPro professors began their work at the beginning of 2007.

Additional information

Senior Technology Adviser
Erja Ämmälahti
Tel. +358 10 60 55422
erja.ammalahti(at)tekes.fi

Director
Mika Aalto
Tel. +358 10 605 5886
mika.aalto(at)tekes.fi

www.fidipro.fi

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

New FiDiPro, Finland Distinguished Professor Programme projects funded by Tekes

Prof. Stuart Alan Kauffman, University of Calgary, Canada
FiDiPro project: "Modelling and Reverse Engineering of Delayed Stochastic Models of Genetic Regulatory Networks"
The subject of the FiDiPro research project is the development of delayed stochastic models of genetic regulatory networks. The project focuses on modelling the dynamics of genetic regulatory networks based on gene expression data at the single molecule level.
The expertise of Professor Kauffman in the fields of theoretical biology, complexity and systems biology and the competence of the research group led by Professor Olli Yli-Harja serve each other very well. The research results are expected to enhance our understanding of gene networks dynamics including in the case of diseases, namely cancer. The results can be utilised to better understand the appearance of cancer, its progression and predicting the effects of differentiation therapy on patients. The long term goal is the development of personalized medicine, where doctors can choose the best treatment for each patient.
Finnish host: Tampere University of Technology, Department of Signal Processing, Ph.D., Prof. Olli Yli-Harja

* * *

Prof. Stefan Winter, Technische Universität München, Germany
FiDiPro project: "Innovative Timber Structures Technology - energy efficient and sustainable use of wood in building construction and the building stock - from materials to constructions"
Energy saving goals and environmental aspects have made low-energy building interesting for industry and the construction sector. However, in Finland there is a lack of research for developing wooden low-energy houses in the sectors of technical specification, business concept development and standardization. TKK is inviting Professor Stefan Winter from TU München to bring know how of wooden low-energy wooden construction that is common in Central Europe.
Prof. Winter is a globally acknowledged researcher and developer of modern timber construction. His expertise will create a platform of general research information, on which wooden low-energy housing areas can be implemented and related products commercialized.
Finnish host: Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Forest Products Technology, D.Sc., Prof. Matti Kairi

* * *

Prof. William James Frederick, Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
FiDiPro project: "Novel Processes in Pulp Mill - Biorefineries"
The FiDiPro project deals with future pulp mills, producing value added novel products besides the pulp, i.e. forest biorefineries. Biorefinery concepts need significant research and development effort before being in the state of commercialization. In addition, new ideas for by-products from pulp mill streams arise regularly. This project focuses on deeper understanding of a number of potential processes in future pulp mill - biorefineries. It paves the way for the development of full scale biorefinery concepts. Processes being studied include liquefaction of biomasses by hydrothermolysis and other pyrolysis methods, novel utilization options for black liquor and other pulp mill by-product streams, i.e. the components of black liquor, wood residues (bark and hog fuel), turpentine, tall oil, etc., and alternative pulping and chemical recovery technologies for future biorefineries. The project will have direct connections to the most significant biorefinery concept development projects in the Nordic Countries as well as in North America.
Finnish host: Åbo Akademi, Process Chemistry Centre, Ph.D., Prof. Mikko Hupa

* * *

Prof. Atef Z. Elsherbeni, University of Mississippi, United States
FiDiPro project:  "Applied Electromagnetic Systems for Advances Future Wireless Electronics"
In the future, wireless features is expected in many products such as intelligent packages, house hold guidance and in several medical applications. However, the wireless part of the product is not allowed to be big and dominating thus further miniaturization is required. At the same time the requirements of low cost and high volume is strong. Practically this can be satisfied only with new methods of manufacturing such as printable electronics. The final goal of the FiDiPro project is to have tools and applicable results of electromagnetic behaviour of new production materials for miniaturized low power high efficiency wireless sensors and systems. Finally the results of research work will be demonstrated in real products.
Finnish host: Tampere University of Technology, Department of Electronics, Ph.D., Prof. Lauri Sydänheimo

Print