About us
We take on the responsibility of providing world-class knowledge in all aspects of mechanical engineering, including engineering materials, manufacturing and production systems, structural design, mechanical system performance, and energy conversion and systems.
We are also responsible for our part in Aalto University’s mission to educate the next generation of engineers and leaders. Our dedicated staff combines commitment, competence, and care to offer education that allows our partners — the students — to flourish and develop the skills required to address industrial and societal needs as entrepreneurs and innovators.
Our approach involves the systematic application of scientific knowledge, complemented by experimental methods and digital platforms for monitoring, simulation, and control. These tools are used to shape a safe and efficient future in the spheres of materials, manufacturing, structures, products, machines, marine applications, energy flows, and systems.
The department’s multidisciplinary research focuses on arctic technology, sustainable energy vectors, and the digital twin world. In the field of education, we emphasise engineering mechanics and energy science and technology.
Our department
The Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering is an academic community of 300 professionals led by 30 tenure track professors. Half of us represent nationalities other than Finnish, and one in five are women.
Research and education in our fields of study depends not only on the expertise and technical competence of our staff, but also on the quality of our experimental infrastructure. At the core are the laboratories hosted by our research groups, equipped with a range of devices suited to their fields of study.
Beyond individual groups’ laboratories are large-scale facilities that rank among the world’s best in their field of operation: Aalto Design Factory, Aalto Ice and Wave Tank, Aalto Industrial Internet Campus, and ADDLAB. The department is also a proud participant in two collaborative infrastructures of excellence.
In terms of education, our work results in approximately 20 Doctor of Science (Tech.) degrees and XXX Master of Science (Tech.) degrees every year.
Peer-reviewed international publications are an important research output: the department produces 250 publications annually, 15 % of which are in the top 10 % for publication impact.
We operate on an annual budget of roughly 20 million euros, half of which is secured through external competitive funding. Applied research is normally carried out in close partnership with a wide array of industrial stakeholders, which highlights the department’s history of strong links to domestically and internationally leading companies.
Our research and education generate growing impact that can be seen in business and society. Rapidly growing spin-off companies are born every few years, supported by approximately five international patent applications and 20 invention disclosures every year.
Research groups
Learn more about our research and fields of study.
Energy Conversion and Systems
In Energy Conversion and Systems research group at the Department of Mechanical Engineering our mission is to educate game-changing energy and HVAC engineers and researchers, to support industries and communities in their decarbonization and green energy transition processes, to make world top class research and to actively communicate research findings to general public and focus on active publishing in high quality scientific journals.
Marine and Arctic Technology
We focus on the behaviour of ships and structures in normal and extreme environments. We do our research by considering the safety of maritime transportation, as well as the experiences the marine environment can offer to cruise vessel passengers.
Materials to Products
Materials to Products research group at the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics
Mechatronics design aims to enhance the performance of machines, improve their price-performance ratio and increase functionality.
