The CRECE project, coordinated by the Finland Futures Research Centre, supports Cuba in the provision of regionally relevant multidisciplinary education in sustainable energy engineering and renewable energy development. This is done in order to ensure that Cuban higher education institutions (HEIs) are better equipped and able to provide high-quality experts for the ever-growing societal and energy sector development needs. The Cuban energy sector is undergoing a state-led transformation. So far, this “Energy Revolution” has improved energy efficiency but harnessing renewable energy (RE) resources is still lagging far behind. In order to attract investors, meet the government's RE targets, and reduce CO2 emissions and environmental pollution from fossil fuels, Cuba needs national expertise and experts in RE development. CRECE answers this call by training skilled experts and enabling cross-sectoral and regional cooperation possibilities. Cuban partners will be better equipped to conduct international-level energy related research and provide sustainable energy experts to the growing labour market needs.

Team

Noora Vähäkari, Mika Korkeakoski, Osku Haapasaari, Jyrki Luukkanen

The TAITASMART project, a research and development project of the University of Helsinki aims to develop a climate-smart landscape framework in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, to take into account both the needs of climate adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable agriculture supported by ecosystem services. For this purpose, the project will study land cover changes, land-atmosphere interactions, soil-crop system functioning, and climate smart landscapes for sustainable development, and build capacity in climate-smart practices.

Team

Petri Pellikka, Laura Alakukku, Timo Vesala

Mining consists of a long chain of actions starting from exploring suitable mineral deposits, building up the mine infrastructure and finally initiating and conducting the production. Every step has own environmental concerns. Besides the environmentally adverse effects, mine production may affect nearby population and pollute the working environment. The main categories of particles in mines are mineral dust, combustion products of explosives and diesel engine emissions. Both mineral dust and diesel engine emissions have serious health concerns. This project focuses on different issues in mining environments, which help in making the future mines more sustainable and environmentally sound.

Team

Jorma Keskinen, Topi Rönkkö, Panu Karjalainen, Sampo Saari, D.Sc. (Tech.), Antti Rostedt, Jenni Alanen Ernesto Gramsch Hilkka Timonen

The main objective of the ValBio3D project is to develop sustainable and 100% biobased composites based on agroindustrial residues, addressing the bioeconomy of the future. Sub Goals: 1. Develop novel routes for production of a bioplastic based on agroindustrial residues 2. Develop processes for production of sustainable nanofibres suitable as reinforcement of bioplastics in structured biocomposites and as a main component in bioapplications 3. Develop novel routes for functionalizing nanofibres and bioplastic for optimal adhesion in the biocompounds 4. Develop prototype biocomposites based on 3D (bio)printing as a novel technology 5. Perform a lifecycleassessment (LCA) of biocomposites

Team

Dr. Maria Christina Area, Dr. Gustavo Ciudad, Heli Kangas, Dr. Claudia Schirp, Dr. Gary Chinga Carrasco, Isabel Quispe, Marcelo Miguel Melnechuk, Gorm Bruland

The overall objective of the project is to support Higher Education Institutions in Tanzania, Mozambique and Ethiopia to provide education that promotes sustainable socio-economic development. Application of renewable energy and adoption of energy-efficient lighting products and systems have the great potential to reduce the increasing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Tanzania, Mozambique, and Ethiopia have large potential of renewable energy and energy saving by applying energy efficient techniques. The project will support the development of much needed technical expertise and experience in the field of energy efficient lighting.

Team

Pramod Bhusal

The main aim of this interdisciplinary research project is to enhance the understanding on the long-term impacts and effectiveness of Educational Programmes implemented in Natural Protected Areas as a biodiversity conservation strategy - including impacts on Local Environmental Knowledge. To do so, particular Educational Programmes implemented in Protected Areas in Finland and Madagascar have been selected as case studies context, providing a socio-ecological system approach, including human-wildlife conflicts, and also local community participation and LEK integration possibilities.

Team

Dr. Mar Cabeza, Dr. Aili Pyhälä

Improving our understanding of human-environment relations, and particularly of human motivations, rationale and management regimes, is paramount to the success of any biodiversity conservation initiative involving local communities. By comparing approaches, challenges and successes across case study sites, this research aims to identify those contextual settings, socio-cultural traits, incentives, and practical tools that best foster optimum long-term integration of biodiversity conservation and local wellbeing.

Team

Anita Heim; Attila Paksi; Aina Brias; Marketta Vuola; Mohammad Mozumder

The project is yet to begin (April 2017) The project, INDO-NORDEN, is drafted in response to the Science and Technology call of the INNO INDIGO partnership programme (IPP) on Biobased Energy. The proposed project aims to address both subtopics of the call, Biofuels and From waste to energy with research partners from India, Finland and Estonia. The EU and India share common objectives in enhancing energy security, promoting energy efficiency and energy safety, and the pursuit of sustainable development of clean and renewable energy source. The main objective of INDO-NORDEN is to investigate, evaluate and develop efficient processes and land use practices of transforming forest and agricultural biomass, agricultural residues and farm waste into clean fuels (solid, liquid or gas), by thermochemical or biochemical conversions.

Team

Dr. N.J. Shurpali UEF Kuopio Finland, Dr. Binod Parameswaran National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Trivandrum India, Dr. Merlin Raud Estonian University of Life Sciences Tarttu Estonia.

The main purpose of this project is to improve the capacity of IMD to produce air quality forecasts and –modeling and to increase the preparedness to mitigate climate change related risks in the future.

Team

Consulting HKH-HYCOS project and its Regional Flood information System (RFIS) and National Flood Information System (NFIS) in Data management and Quality Control (QC) functions for meteorological and hydrological data.

Team

Antti Hyvärinen, Sami Kiesiläinen, Irma Ylikangas