LUT UNIVERSITY

Kouvola Unit of LUT University is the leader of the training program creation of the COMMITTED project. The strategy of LUT for 2030 is titled Trailblazers – System Earth, which would be directed via focusing on research of interconnecting basic elements – energy, water and air – and with business in the center. The university board approves the strategy, in which the university defines its targets and strategic choices which enable reaching the targets. The strategy is based on the university’s vision to create the world of tomorrow in line with sustainable development. Combining technology and business, we have served as an academic forerunner since 1969. Our international community is composed of approximately 6,500 students and 1000 staff members engaged in scientific research and academic education. LUT University is strongly focusing on Innovation, globalisation and sustainable solutions of the future in all of the disciplines covered by the university.

LUT conducts and publishes high-level research, which improves the state of the environment and is relevant to society and industries. We contribute to an economically, ecologically and socially sustainable society in our research areas together with our partners in cooperation. LUT research focuses on topical issues requiring action seeking solutions to mitigate climate change, promote wind and solar power, for the recycling of nutrients and waste, for the continued access to clean water and energy, and for sustainable business activities. LUT School of Engineering Sciences (LENS) will carry out the proposed project activities at LUT University. The unit is a leading and accredited educational and research unit in its field in Finland and it has been nominated as a unit of excellence in university education.

LUT Kouvola Research Unit, founded in 2002, has participated in many international activities. It will contribute to the project with its expertise in innovation management, co-creation, open innovation, ecosystem design. The university has a number of Master programs in STEM, entrepreneurship and business. We have extensive experience in bachelor, master and PhD curricula development. LUT University also has substantial experience in managing large international projects within Erasmus, Horizon, ITEA and other frameworks.

Key staff for the project:

Marko Torkkeli: Dr. Marko Torkkeli is the Professor of Technology and Business Innovations at the LUT University, Finland. His research interests focus on technology and innovation management, strategic entrepreneurship, growth venturing, and decision support systems. He has more than 300 international publications in these fields. He is a member of the editorial boards of the Int. J. of Services Sciences, Digital Finance and the Int. J. of Innovation Management. He is a Visiting Researcher at INESC Porto (Portugal), a Docent of Technology-based Business at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), Affiliated Faculty at Singapore Management University (Singapore) and a Docent of Technology and Innovation Management at Helsinki University of Technology (Finland). He serves as the Director of Publications of ISPIM and is one of the founding editors of the open access, multidisciplinary Journal of Innovation Management.

Ville Pöntinen, M.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm. ), is a coordinator at LUT University in Finland's LUT School of Engineering Science. His role in the COMMITTED project is to serve as project manager on the LUT side and to manage the practical arrangements. He has worked on several other innovative projects, including EFFORT, ArtIST, and PIDE. His interests include innovation, education, and in particular the development of creativity and other generic competencies as part of learning.