Professor Heli Jantunen wins Nokia Foundation Recognition Award for her pioneering academic and industry work with microelectronics

30 November 2018

Espoo, Finland - Nokia Foundation has granted its 2018 Recognition Award to Professor Heli Jantunen for her outstanding contributions to research and development of microelectronics, manufacturing and materials. The annual Nokia Foundation award ceremony was held on November 29 in Helsinki, Finland.

Professor Heli Jantunen is the leader of the Microelectronics Research Unit at the University of Oulu, focusing on novel ICT electronics, high-frequency applications, energy harvesters, sensors, multifunctional micromodules and printed electronics devices. Her research group has also invented electroceramic materials with ultra-low sintering temperatures including even fabrication at room temperature. Professor Heli Jantunen is the inventor of 76 patents and has over 250 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

The results of her research have been broadly utilized in the telecommunication industry, where the high-technology materials enable advanced, highly efficient radio systems. Professor Jantunen leads a team of researchers at Oulu University that has a pivotal role in the innovation ecosystem of multiple companies. This close collaboration between public and private actors has made Oulu globally renowned for its technology leadership, knowledge, and systematic, resilient hard work.

"Given my background in industry I have always seen research as a development process. Our multidisciplinary approach - backed by a strong team that solves problems collectively - produces high-quality scientific results, and the research challenges are often based on the needs of our industrial partners. We research and create new materials, and develop devices using the most feasible manufacturing technologies. We are now looking to the future as part of the 6G research ecosystem hosted by the University of Oulu," says professor Heli Jantunen.

"Professor Heli Jantunen is a great role model. Her high-quality academic research and significant contributions to business life, including her role as an entrepreneur, are the exceptional qualities we want to recognize," says Timo Ali-Vehmas, Chairman of the Board of Nokia Foundation.

Heli Jantunen has been a member of the Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering at the Academy of Finland (2010-2015) and is currently General Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of Defense (MATINE 2013-2018). Additionally, she is an Academician Member of "World Academy of Ceramics (WAC)" from 2013.

Nokia Foundation has granted over 1 600 scholarships during its 23-year existence. In 2018, the Foundation will grant scholarships and awards totaling close to 400 000 euros.

About Nokia Foundation
The purpose of Nokia Foundation is to support the scientific development of information and telecommunications technologies and to promote education in the sector in Finland. Nokia Foundation provides scholarships and awards for this mission. The Foundation was established on the initiative of Nokia Oyj in 1995; it is an independent, non-profit organization under Finnish foundation law.