Research projects 14

The two-year FinCEAL pilot project aimed to enhance cooperation between research and science policy communities in Finland, Europe, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean by networking the Finnish research community and by supporting their participation in bi-regional research projects and science policy processes. FinCEAL was an initiative funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and implemented by UniPID, the Finnish University Partnership for International Development. FinCEAL activities were focused on the following thematic areas, derived from the European Union's bi-regional science, technology and innovation policy processes: Africa – Food Security, Information Society, Health, Climate Change and Renewable Energy; LAC – ICT for Societal Challenges, Bioeconomy, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Health.

Team

Eva Kagiri, Kajsa Ekroos, Melissa Plath

  • Head of research Kai Savolainen
  • Language n/a

NANOSOLUTIONS seeks to identify and elaborate the characteristics of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) that determine their biological hazard potential. It will help develop a safety classification model for ENM based on an understanding of their interactions with living organisms, benefiting industry and enabling innovation.The NANOSOLUTIONS project was created to develop a safety classification for engineered nanomaterials (ENM) based on an understanding of their interactions with living organisms at molecular, cellular and organism levels. The human body uses natural nanomaterials, such as proteins and other molecules, to control the body�s many systems and processes.

Team

Dario Greco, Harri Alenius, Riitta Lahesmaa, Roland Grafström, Kai Savolainen

  • Head of research Edith Rodriguez
  • Language n/a

The PRASDES Project develops sustainable services in the four participating National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in the following five areas: 1. Weather, climate and hydrology data management systems 2. Climate and Water services production systems 3. Hydrological services production systems 4. Information and Communication systems 5. Financial sustainability of services

Team

  • Head of research Matti Latva-aho
  • Language n/a

In this project, we aim at developing a new theory for the new generation of electric power systems, also known as smart grids. Such a technology uses the information and communication technologies to exchange data within the grid, allowing for interactions between its elements as well as the humans who also play an important role. These interactions form a network structure among the diverse system elements based on fixed rules (e.g. physical laws) and adaptive relation rules guided by the available (estimated, filtered and/or processed) information (e.g. human behavior). Therefore, we need to go further than the simple analysis of the technology and thus we should include the human interactions with the power grid to have a proper picture of its dynamics.

Team

Pedro Nardelli, Florian Kühnlenz

The project between University of La Molina and University of Turku, Finland aims to improve the higher education on Food Sciences and to strengthen the research, development and innovation environment concerning sustainable utilization of indigenous food crops in Peru.

Team

Jaakko Korpela, Jukka-Pekka Suomela

  • Head of research Jyri-Pekka Mikkola
  • Language n/a

Our work is related to the use of macroalgae as a renewable feedstock for the production of valuable chemicals and/or biofuels. Our goal is to select optimal processes in order to add value to marine biomass, which can lead the production of valuable chemicals and/or biofuels. In Finland we are focused on chemical treatments for algae, that mainly stand for deconstruction of the biomass matrix which can selectively separate carbohydrates, which consequently can be further processed for biofuels production. Chilean collaborators are mainly focused on biotechnological processes, on the development of new enzymes for degradation of algae carbohydrates and new microorganisms capable to ferment particular monomers into bioethanol.

Team

Ricardo Pezoa, Päivi Mäki-Arvela, Jyri-Pekka Mikkola

The HEI-ICI project (between Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and University of Helsinki) aims at developing a national systematic and validated quality model for teacher's in-service training in Higher Education Institutions in Peru. The second aim of the project is to enhance the network of universities in Peru (RPU) in educational development and in providing in-service training for teachers and pedagogical teaching companions (acompañantes pedagógicos) to finally empower educators of all levels with a special attention to the children among indigenous people.

Team

Dr Jari Lavonen, Dr Heidi Krzywacki, MA Päivi Virtanen, Dr Arja Haapakorpi, Dr Juan Carlos Llorente, MA Patricia Escobar Cáceres, Dr Carmen Diaz Bazo

  • Head of research Pirjo Virtanen / Sidney da Silva Facundes
  • Language n/a

Os objetivos e metas da pesquisa são os seguintes: 1) Objetivo Geral a. Reconstruir a história dos povos aruák antes do contato com os não-índios e depois do contato na Bácia Purus; 2) Objetivos específicos a. Pesquisar a organização política no passado e hoje. b. Pesquisar os processos corporais e educação ligados às negociações interétnicas. c. Comparar líderes e porta-vozes no passado e hoje. d. Pesquisar a participação nas organizações indígenas e na política indígena. e. Determinar o papel histórico das línguas indígenas nas mudanças sofridas. f. Tornar os conhecimentos do passado obtidos através da pesquisa acessíveis aos povos estudados através da publicação de dicionários, livros de ensino de escrita e conversa, e coletâneas de mitos história.

Team

Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen, Sidney da Silva Facundes

  • Head of research Monica Silenzi (MINCYT Argentina)
  • Language n/a

The present ALCUE NET proposal (Latin America, Caribbean and European Union Network on Research and Innovation) outlines a Research and Innovation policy support project aimed at supporting the international Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy and Innovation Union Flagship Initiative. It will do so by promoting bi-regional and bilateral partnerships for jointly societal challenges, working to develop the attractiveness of Europe in the world, and by promoting the establishment of a level-playing field in Research and Innovation. Additionally it will also work to reinforce the external dimension of the European Research Area (ERA), enhance the cooperation of EU Member States and Associated Countries with third countries in the Framework Programme, contribute to the implementation of the Strategic European Framework for International STI Cooperation and of the initiatives of the Strategic Forum for International Cooperation (SFIC).

Team

Maria Lima Toivanen

  • Head of research Prof. Kai Savolainen
  • Language n/a

BRASINOEU is a Marie Curie Action inside the IRSES program (International Research Staff Exchange Scheme). The scope of this project is to address issues related to the safety of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) and nanotechnologies, and to assure the implementation of safety in ENM design and the development of applications incorporating ENM. The goals are reached through joint activities of an international team with a proven expertise in material science and toxicology and capable of facing the complex issues of toxicity of ENM. Through the exchange of Early and Experienced Researchers from Europe and Brazil and China we can reach a global approach, also highly important when aiming at achieving international standards on safety of ENM. The complementarity of the groups involved in the project will help to develop new professional and scientific horizontal connections through the global exchange of researchers, who will be trained in complementary disciplines and learn a variety of techniques necessary to address the complex issues of the interaction of ENM with biological matter and tools for the design of ENM and devices incorporating them

Team

Kai Savolainen, Harri Alenius, Hannu Norppa, Julia Catalan (and other researches from the Nanosafety Research Centre at FIOH).