Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation grants over €1,2 million for future solutions developed at Tampere University
The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (JAES) has awarded a total of €1,247,000 to two projects at Tampere University. The funded projects are working at the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences.
Aromatic hydrocarbons, which are released from products such as paints, solvents, and hygiene products, significantly impact fine particle levels in air.
JAES granted the research group led by Academy Research Fellow Siddharth Iyer €768,000. The group is investigating how these hydrocarbons react with air and promote harmful particle formation. Such particles affect both health and the climate. The research integrates modeling and lab experiments. The results will enable predicting air quality and climate change more precisely and they will support policy development.
Assistant Professor of Computational Physics Matti Javanainen’s research group is developing a method that combines computational and experimental tools to investigate the structure and function of protein foams. The group received a €479,000 grant for a Proof of Concept project.
As the food system transitions from animal-based to plant-based and synthetic alternatives, preserving the sensory qualities of familiar products – like foaming – is essential. While current technology allows the modification of such properties, molecular-level understanding is still lacking. Javanainen’s group is developing a method that combines computational and experimental tools to explore the structure and behaviour of protein foams. The goal is to enable the precise tuning of foaming properties for the food and materials industries.
Javanainen established his research group in September 2024. The consortium includes Senior Researcher Samuli Ollila from VTT as a partner whose role focuses on protein production for measurements and the validation of predictions.
“We need an understanding of the structure of the protein layer that forms on the surface of air bubbles in foam. In this project, my research group is conducting molecular dynamics simulations using super computers to create a model of this structure. Experimental data measured by several research partners is used to validate the model. Potential applications could be found in the food industry, cosmetics, or even biodegradable fire-extinguishing foams,” Javanainen explains.
Three grants for young research leaders
In this round, JAES prominently featured young research group leaders who are conducting high-level scientific research. Three such leaders received grants, which together account for 24% of the funding in this application round. Their research topics included aromatic hydrocarbons, protein foams, and ultrasound-guided 3D printing.
In May, JAES granted €8.3 million in funding to 12 initiatives in the fields of technology, art, and culture. The funded projects highlight basic research, new technologies, and societally relevant themes.
