South Karelian businesses and organisations have donated a total of 2.1 million euros to LUT Universities. The donation will enable hiring professors of artificial intelligence and particle technology and a senior lecturer focusing on teaching, research, development, and innovations for an early childhood education bachelor's programme.
The professor of artificial intelligence will strengthen LUT's already extensive AI expertise, whereas the particle technology professor will boost separation technology research related to the green transition and circular economy. LAB's senior lecturer will focus on teaching, research, development, and innovations in early childhood education.
The donors include a number of local businesses and other actors. The Etelä-Karjalan Säästöpankkisäätiö foundation donated the largest share.
“This amazing donation shows that businesses and industries in our region are strongly committed to supporting education and research and developing regionally important sectors,” says Rector Juha-Matti Saksa, expressing his gratitude.
Donation allocated to top research
LUT University explores artificial intelligence from the perspectives of technology, business, and social sciences. LUT's software engineering department is already the largest research and education unit in its field in Finland.
The new professorship of artificial intelligence reinforces LUT's AI expertise as a part of software development: its aim is to reinvent software development methods and develop and utilise artificial intelligence agents to produce software more efficiently and at a lower cost.
The particle technology professorship will focus on areas of separation technology where solid particles, such as battery minerals, are separated from liquids. The new professorship complements LUT's current separation technology expertise and supports especially mining, cement, and forest industry businesses and companies developing fluid dynamics and transportation processes. The goal is to create a top international research team in Lappeenranta.
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Growth for companies, new expertise in early childhood education
The new position of senior lecturer focusing on teaching, research, development, and innovation at the LAB University of Applied Sciences aims for research that meets practical needs in early childhood education. The new position addresses the legislation amendments looming in 2030, requiring the retraining of early childhood education professionals. In addition, it aims for the extensive development of work and working conditions in the field.
“The donation helps LAB to build sustainable well-being and develop education in health care and social services based on the needs of the working world. The City of Lappeenranta and the Etelä-Karjalan Säästöpankkisäätiö foundation are championing the cause of children and families, which is exactly what we should be doing in a child-friendly city,” says Turo Kilpeläinen, president of the LAB University of Applied Sciences.
The fundraising was coordinated by Tuomo Sallinen, mayor of Lappeenranta, in collaboration with LUT and LAB. He states that the development of collaboration with the higher education community is in the interest of local businesses. Strong higher education institutions attract more experts to South Karelia and boost the region’s vitality.
“Investing in education and research will pay off for the companies in the form of highly skilled professionals. Higher education institutions are a significant growth factor for the region,” Sallinen points out.
Donors:
Professor of artificial intelligence
- Etelä-Karjalan Säästöpankkisäätiö
- Visma Solutions Oy
- Kaakkois-Suomen Osuuspankki
- Imatran Seudun Sähkö Oy
- Imatran Seudun Sähkön Säätiö
- Laitex Oy
- KT-Shelter Oy
- Auto-Suni Oy
- Lagoon Capital Oy
- Tommi Laitinen
- Timo Vartiainen
- Ossi Vilhu
Professor of particle technology
- Etelä-Karjalan Säästöpankkisäätiö
- LUT-yliopiston tukisäätiö
- Capillary Oy
- Lappeenrannan Energia Oy
- Laitex Oy
Senior lecturer, teaching, research, development, and innovation in early childhood education
- Etelä-Karjalan Säästöpankkisäätiö
More information:
Minna Lignell
Dean of the Faculty of Health Care
LAB University of Applied Sciences
minna.lignell@lab.fi
+358 50 3034960
