FIMECC’s objective: World class research in the field of metals and mechanical engineering
(27 May 2009)
“If the intention is to continue providing work within the fields of metal processing and mechanical engineering in Finland, it’s absolutely necessary to increase the value added. This calls for scientific research, since it’s hard, if not impossible, to perceive potential applications without proper groundwork and basic research,” says Harri Kulmala, CEO of FIMECC Oy (Ltd).
The Finnish Metals and Engineering Competence Cluster (FIMECC) is one of the six Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation (SHOKs) that have recently been established in Finland. FIMECC focuses on metal products and mechanical engineering.
Kulmala explains that material sciences are traditionally very strongly based on scientific evidence, which is reflected in the metal industries. On the other hand, within mechanical engineering the approach has been more pragmatic, and the role of basic research has not been as prominent as that of applied sciences.
Thanks to the mechanical engineering funding programme launched by the Academy of Finland in January 2009, there is now more funding available for conducting basic research in the field. Additionally, some postgraduate schools have been expanded to offer positions for FIMECC researchers.
“Being appointed as one of the national SHOKs is a significant recognition for the metal and mechanical engineering industries. I believe that researchers in the field of mechanical engineering are encouraged by the fact that there is funding being channelled to the branch,” states Harri Kulmala. “We expect that the recognised status and public research funding, which will hopefully further increase in the future, will also challenge companies to invest more in R&D than they have done up until now.”
FIMECC aims at increasing investments in research in the field of metal processing and mechanical engineering to a total of over 50 million euro per year.
FIMECC Oy is a limited company that started operations in April 2008. Its shareholders include 16 companies, 10 universities, two universities of applied sciences, as well as VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and FIMA Forum for Intelligent Machines.
Focusing research on the most promising areas
FIMECC focuses on five research themes: Business-oriented themes include Service Business, User Experience and Global Networks; all these areas are rather new, but highly promising in terms of scientific research. Technology-oriented themes comprise Intelligent Solutions and Breakthrough Materials; in these areas Finnish companies and research institutes already hold a strong position globally.
“To make Finnish research in the field of metals and engineering industries internationally recognised, and to ensure that the quality of work in the selected research themes will reach the Academy of Finland standard for Centres of Excellence,” Kulmala describes the scientific objectives of FIMECC.
During spring 2009, FIMECC has initiated five research programmes that were prepared jointly with companies and research organisations: Innovation and networks, Light and efficient solutions (LIGHT), Energy & lifecycle efficient processes (ELEMET), Energy & lifecycle efficient machines (EFFIMA), and Demanding applications (DEMAPP).
International cooperation is an integral part of top-quality science. Harri Kulmala lists three directions that are essential in this respect: The United States where both the East Coast, with its traditional research institutes within mechanical engineering and metal industries, and the West Coast with its innovation centres are attractive. In the EU, at least initially the most interesting countries are Germany and Italy, both with a strong tradition in mechanical engineering. The third direction is Asia, and China, in particular, where “the extremely high-quality basic competence, mathematical knowledge, talented scientists, emerging universities and high work ethic” are among the attractive features.
Researchers capable of teamwork are in demand
Managing the operations of FIMECC, Kulmala promises to provide researchers with intellectual challenge in a working environment where they can benefit from real life in businesses and see the connection between their own work and the real world.
There are plenty of research areas requiring scientific methods and argumentation, including computational issues, constructions and materials and their mutual interface, as well as human behaviour and networks.
“It may be that there are not many companies that are alone capable of hiring researchers to conduct long-term basic research, but ten or so companies may well do it together,” Harri Kulmala points out.
He is hoping for researchers to be open-minded and receptive to signals from business and industry, to find out which issues are topical, and then try to join their forces and offer proposals to solve those issues.
“When a researcher is willing and capable of listening to companies and to team up with different players, we will be able to arrange funding for the work, even for a longer period.”
Text: Paula Böhling
Photos: Kari Likonen
Translation: Scandix Oy
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