Nokia donates virtual technology to Aalto University

Nokia's donation complements Aalto's virtual production technology with, among others, a giant touch screen wall and mobile laser projectors, which can be used, for example, to create smart virtual sceneries and model experimental environments.

'Nokia's donation is a significant addition to Aalto's virtual production technology. It will enable us to provide new types of learning opportunities and research environments. The donation also includes a sound system, which we can utilise in sound design projects and events,' says Ari Kivimäki, Head of Partnerships at Aalto Studios.

The equipment donated by Nokia has been used at the company’s visitor centre for five years.

'We are grateful to Nokia for this donation, which provides us with interesting technology and promotes teaching and research in fields that utilise virtual technology,' says Aalto University President Ilkka Niemelä.

Long-term collaboration

For decades, Nokia has been an important partner for Aalto and the institutions of higher education that proceeded it. At present Aalto and Nokia have about 20 ongoing research projects involving professors and postdoctoral researchers, as well as doctoral students and master's students. These projects include topics such as 5G technology, signal processing, antenna technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, the internet of things, mobile cloud services, and materials.

Nokia is also an important employer of Aalto alumni and students. The Nokia funding will help in the completion of about 20 master's theses and two doctoral dissertations each year. In addition, the Nokia Foundation awards about 15 grants for doctoral studies and research at Aalto.

Nokia donated EUR 500 000 to Aalto University's field of technology in the Finnish government's matching funding campaign, which ended this June. The donation is used to fund doctoral programmes in quantum technology and 6G technology.

This article was first published on 5 September by Aalto University.