Our alum Arto Timperi: Chair of TEK advocates expertise, entrepreneurship and internationalisation

Even large companies were once startups

Arto Timperi may be one of the busiest pensioners in Finland. Since stepping down from his role as sales director in the technology sector in 2021, he has kept busy with numerous positions of trust.
In 2024, the long-time TEK activist was asked to become chair of the board. Arto was particularly delighted by the cross-party support he received.

“Cooperation has always been important to me in my work. Instead of building barriers, I always want to get people to pull together. Interdisciplinarity and impartiality are also important values at TEK,” Arto says.

TEK is a professional community and trade union for graduate engineers, architects and others holding a university degree in the field of technology. With over 85,000 members, it is one of Finland's largest trade unions.

Arto's duties as chair essentially resemble running a fairly large business. The union protects the interests, professional development and occupational well-being of its members and promotes the competitiveness of Finnish technology companies both nationally and internationally.

Finnish education must be good at all levels, and high-quality research also promotes exports. That is why we collaborate extensively with universities."

Arto Timperi

“Finnish education must be good at all levels, and high-quality research also promotes exports. That is why we collaborate extensively with universities,” he says.

Arto holds the view that Finland can be revitalised through entrepreneurship.

“We must lay the groundwork for new businesses. Even large companies were once startups – including Nokia and Metso.”

At the dawn of digital technology

Arto holds a doctorate in automation and energy technology and a master's degree in hydraulics and automation. He says he enjoyed his studies and appreciates the fact that students’ skills were put into practice in hands-on projects. The projects and final assignments helped ensure that students were also able to apply in practice what was learned on the courses.

Halfway through his studies, Arto realised that it would be useful to gain some international experience. He first ended up as a summer intern in the Netherlands and then applied for a demanding internship in the United States, focused on digital device designing. Getting the position determined the later steps in his career in many ways.

“My supervisor at the time had previously worked for NASA and had heard about the concept of digital technology. Back then, in the early 1980s, it was something completely new. He wanted me to teach him about it, so I studied it independently and then taught him the same things a couple of days later. Everything went well in the end, and when he changed jobs, I took over his duties,” Arto says.

Later, Arto worked in various automation and hydraulic engineering positions in Finland and abroad. His long-term employers included RAUMA Technology Centre, Plustech, John Deere Forestry, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Metso Minerals and Comatec. He also worked in European fusion energy research and development in Germany.

Tampere should continue to blaze the trail

Arto cares deeply about encouraging and supporting young people, and he has promoted the cause both at TEK and as a long-term mentor. In his view, youth is the future, but experience is also needed. Seasoned professionals often have a lot to offer, but the mechanisms do not always allow them to pass on their experience.

For most people, the motivation for mentoring comes from being able to share their accumulated knowledge for the common good. I feel that I have gained at least as much from mentoring as I have given. I still keep in touch with many of my mentees."

Arto Timperi

“For most people, the motivation for mentoring comes from being able to share their accumulated knowledge for the common good. I feel that I have gained at least as much from mentoring as I have given. I still keep in touch with many of my mentees,” Arto says warmly.

Arto also continues to have warm relations with the City of Tampere and Tampere University. He is a former chair of the TTY Alumni association, and through Tampere Technical Society, he was also involved in establishing the current Tampere University.

“Cooperation between TEK and the university is close, and we strive to further develop it continuously. Cooperation between research and working life is important, as it is a competitive advantage for Finland and it allows us to pursue an international foothold.”

As for Tampere, Arto sees it as an exemplary city where projects tend to succeed and also be completed on schedule.

“I hope Tampere will also continue to blaze the trail going forward,” says Arto.

Text: Tiina Leivo

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