Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
The Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS) brings together extensive expertise in natural sciences and the major branches of engineering. We are renowned for our cutting-edge research activities that not only encompass basic research in natural sciences and applied research in the fields of engineering but also bring measurable added value to our industry partners. We maintain high international standards of excellence and have access to world-class research infrastructures.
We have a major responsibility in delivering technology and engineering content to students at Tampere University and are actively engaged in national collaboration in the fields of engineering. Our degree programmes are closely connected to research and specifically designed to give students valuable insights into the working world and make a positive impact on society. We develop our English-taught international bachelor’s and master’s programmes to meet a multicultural society’s need for expertise. We encourage our students to contribute to the development of education and are committed to building to a strong sense of community across the University.
The Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS) is made up of three units: Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Materials Science and Environmental Engineering. We have a strong research profile and conduct both fundamental research in natural sciences and applied research in the fields of engineering. The Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering unit undertakes research in areas including automation, control and systems theory, hydraulics, industrial informatics, machine design and product development, mechatronics, production engineering and robotics. The Physics unit carries out research in aerosol physics, computational physics and photonics. The Materials Science and Environmental Engineering unit brings together expertise in bio- and circular economy, chemistry and advanced materials, and materials science.
Our research staff, one third of which are non-Finnish nationals, have a consistently high success rate in securing major grants, which helps to steer our research and enhance the impact we deliver for society. We receive research funding from the EU, the Academy of Finland, Business Finland as well as domestic and international companies, communities and foundations. Supported by our state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment, our internationally recognised staff carry out high-quality research across a broad spectrum of topics. We publish about 500 scientific papers, confer 30 doctoral degrees and create 20 inventions on an annual basis.
We build and maintain strategic partnerships and collaborations with research institutions and companies. We foster a culture of collaboration that allows us to effectively respond to the changing needs of society, industry and business for new knowledge and expertise. If you are interested in collaborating with us, please get in touch with our research staff, vice dean for research or research specialist.
Research units
Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering
The research of the Automation and Mechanical Engineering Unit focuses on automation, innovative product development, design and modelling, advanced manufacturing and robotics to develop new solutions that meet industry needs.
Physics
The research priority areas of the Physics Unit are aerosol physics, computational physics and photonics. We carry out research that meets international standards of excellence and develop innovative new technologies.
Materials Science and Environmental Engineering
The unit enforce sustainable development as materials science combines natural sciences and engineering expertise in collaboration with industry, chemistry focuses on new functional materials and technologies based on them and core of environmental technology is on bio- and circular economy technologies and processes.
Our research highlights
We receive research funding from the EU, the Academy of Finland, Business Finland, companies in Finland and abroad, communities, and foundations.
EU funding
The European Research Council (ERC) runs a highly competitive and prestigious grant scheme. Our Faculty is home to four researchers who have received a coveted ERC grant:
- Professor Micrea Guina, AMETIST: Advanced III-V Materials and Processes Enabling Ultrahigh-efficiency (50%) Photovoltaics (ERC-2015-AdG, Physics)
- Associate Professor (Tenure Track) Matti Rissanen, ADAPT: Autoxidation of Anthropogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (AVOC) as a Source of Urban Air Pollution (ERC-2020-CoG, Physics)
- Research director Timo Laaksonen, PADRE: Photoactivatable Drug Releasing Implants (ERC-2020-CoG, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering, joint-project: University of Helsinki 60 %, Tampere University 40 %)
- Associate Professor (Tenure Track) Humeyra Caglayan, aQUARiUM: QUAntum nanophotonics in Rolled-Up Metamaterials (ERC-2018-StG, Physics)
- Associate Professor (Tenure Track) Robert Fickler, TWISTION: Twisted Ions - A novel tool for quantum science (ERC-2020-StG, Physics)
Completed projects:
- Professor Arri Priimägi, PHOTOTUNE: Tunable Photonic Structures via Photomechanical Actuation (ERC-2015-StG, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering) and OPTOSENSE: Optical sensing of relative humidity using photoswitchable molecules (ERC-2017-PoC, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) have a mission to enhance the competitiveness of EU member states by bringing together leading universities, research institutions and companies. We coordinate six high-profile EU projects:
- AMPLITUDE: Advanced Multimodal Photonics Laser Imaging Tool for Urothelial Diagnosis in Endoscopy (Physics)
- contact person Senior Research Fellow Regina Gumenyuk
- BL2F: Black Liquor to Fuel (Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- contact person Industry Professor Tero Joronen
- PULSE: High-Power Ultrafast Lasers using Tapered Double-Clad Fiber (Physics)
- contact person Senior Research Fellow Regina Gumenyuk
- MORE: Educating Europe's Future Engineers in Next Generation Heavy Duty Mobile Machinery: Artificial Intelligence driven Robotisation, Energy Efficiency and Process Optimisation (Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering)
- contact person Associate Professor (Tenure Track) Reza Ghabcheloo
- OPMO: Operation monitoring of mineral crushing machinery (Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- contact person Professor Arto Lehtovaara
- TRINITY DIH (Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering)
- contact person Professor Minna Lanz
Academy of Finland funding
The Finnish Flagship Programme pools together expertise to establish world-class research clusters and increase the quality and impact of Finnish research. The faculty coordinates one of the Academy of Finland's flagships and is involved in the other as a partner:
- PREIN: Photonics Research and Innovation (Physics, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- Tampere University, Aalto University, University of Eastern Finland, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
- contact person Professor Goëry Genty
- ACCC: Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (Physics)
- University of Helsinki, Tampere University, Finnish Meteorological Institute, and University of Eastern Finland
- contact person Professor Miikka Dal Maso
The Academy of Finland’s Centres of Excellence (CoE) are at the very cutting edge of science in their fields. A CoE is a research and training network that has a clearly defined set of research objectives and is run under a joint management. The faculty is a member of two Centres of Excellence:
- LIBER: Centre of Excellence in Life-inspired Hybrid Materials, 2022–2029 (Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- Aalto University and Tampere University
- contact person Professor Arri Priimägi
- VILMA: Centre of Excellence in Virtual laboratory for molecular level atmospheric transformations, 2022–2029 (Physics)
- University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland, Aalto University, and Tampere University
- contact person Associate Professor (Tenure Track) Matti Rissanen
The Strategic Research Council (SRC) supports high-quality research that delivers impact for society. We are carrying out one SRC-funded research project:
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- CICAT2025: Circular economy catalysts: From Innovation to Business Ecosystems (Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- contact persons Professor Leena Aarikka-Strenroos and Associate Professor (tenure track) Marika Kokko
Completed projects:
- EL-TRAN: Transition towards a resource-efficient and climate neutral electrical energy system (Automation and Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- contact persons Professors Pami Aalto and Matti Vilkko
The Academy of Finland grants competitive funding to Finnish universities to support them in strengthening their research profiles (Profi). The fields represented by our Faculty have a central role in the overall research profile of Tampere University. Our research in these fields has been further strengthened with funding awarded by the Academy of Finland under the Profi call:
- Profi 4: Circular economy (Physics, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- contact person Professor Jukka Rintala
- Profi 6: TAU Imaging Research Platform (Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering and Tampere Microscopy Center)
- contact person Professor Minnamari Vippola
Completed projects:
- Profi 1: Intelligent machines (Automation and Mechanical Engineering)
- contact person Professor Matti Vilkko
- Profi 2: Intelligent machines (Automation and Mechanical Engineering) and Photonics (Physics, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- contact persons Professors Matti Vilkko (Intelligent machines) and Martti Kauranen (Photonics)
- contact persons Professors Matti Vilkko (Intelligent machines) and Martti Kauranen (Photonics)
The Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS) has a significant responsibility in engineering education at Tampere University. ENS coordinates the university-wide Committee on Engineering Education that issues guidelines governing education in the fields of engineering across the University and encourages related discussion.
ENS offers MSc and doctoral programmes where students can specialise in mechanical engineering, automation technology, materials science or a range of fields that combine engineering and natural sciences, such as physics, chemistry, applied mathematics, environmental engineering, energy technology and biotechnology. In addition, we offer a unique degree programme that contains the MSc degree in Technology combined with subject teacher qualifications in mathematical sciences. We offer five English-language master’s programmes and introduced Finland’s first English-language bachelor’s programme in engineering, the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Science and Engineering, in 2016.
We make our education broadly available outside of Tampere, too. We have provided MSc-level education in mechanical engineering in Seinäjoki, Finland, since 2003 and are set to launch a master’s programme in automation technology in Eastern Finland in 2021. Besides offering degree programmes, we are active members of the Finnish Institute of Technology (FiTech). FiTech serves as a platform through which we promote continuous learning and offer a range of free courses and modules, for example, to adult learners.
Degree Programmes
The Faculty offers six degree programmes in Finnish and two in English: - Automation Engineering - Environmental, Energy and Bioengineering - Engineering and Natural Sciences - Materials Engineering - Mathematical Sciences and Teacher Education - Mechanical Engineering
Contact information of Study services
- General address of study matters: ens.opiskelu.tau [at] tuni.fi (for M.Sc and B.Sc students)
- Email address for doctoral students: ens.doc.tau [at] tuni.fi
- Guidance and counselling services in faculty: contact information
Our advanced research infrastructures comprise the range of facilities, resources and services that are necessary for conducting high-quality research. Please visit the web pages of our research units to read more about their state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and find their contact information.
National research infrastructures and international infrastructure memberships
World-class research infrastructures selected for Finland’s national roadmap are funded by the Academy of Finland, Finnish higher education institutions and EU. The faculty is a member of several infrastructure consortia.
- FinnLight - Finnish National Infrastructure for Light-Based Technologies (Physics, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering)
- University of Tampere, University of Eastern Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.
- Contact person professor Goëry Genty
- INAR RI - Integrated Atmospheric and Earth System Science Research Infrastructure (Physics)
- University of Helsinki, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finnish Environment Institute, University of Tampere
- Contact person professor Jorma Keskinen
- Roadmap for Finnish research infrastructures
- ACTRIS-FI - Aerosols, Clouds and Trace gases Research Infrastructure (Physics)
- University of Helsinki, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, University of Eastern Finland and University of Tampere.
- Contact person professor Jorma Keskinen
- Roadmap for European research infrastructures
- CSC | PRACE (Physics) together with other Finnish higher education institutions
- Contact person Professor Esa Räsänen
- FSRUO | MAX IV (Physics) together with Aalto University, and the Universities of Helsinki, Eastern Finland, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Turku.
- Contact person Professor Mika Valden
- HIP | FAIR | CERN (Physics, Automation and Mechanical Engineering) together with Aalto University, the Universities of Helsinki and Jyväskylä, and Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT
- Contact persons Associate Professor (tenure track) Teemu Ojanen and Associate Professor (tenure track) Roel Pieters
Contact information
Welcome to Hervanta campus and campus map.
Management of the Faculty
Support Team of the Management
Head of Units and the Staff
General e-mail addresses of the faculty
- General matters of the Faculty: ens.tau [at] tuni.fi
- Study matters of the Faculty: ens.opiskelu.tau [at] tuni.fi