Maarit Karppinen receives honorary title of Academician of Science

Professor Maarit Karppinen, Professor Martti Nissinen and Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala have been awarded the honorary title of Academician of Science, the highest honour that can be bestowed on any individual scientist in Finland. President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb granted the titles at a presidential session on 9 October 2026.

Professor Maarit Karppinen’s field is inorganic chemistry, Professor Martti Nissinen’s theology and Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala’s molecular medicine. They are all highly distinguished scientists and scholars with a pioneering track record in their respective fields of research. Their work has wide-ranging relevance and impact across different sectors of society.

The title of Academician of Science can be held by no more than 16 distinguished Finnish scientists and scholars at a time. The title is awarded by the President of the Republic based on nominations by the Research Council of Finland (RCF).

New materials for energy technology and nanotechnology

Professor Maarit Karppinen is a Finnish chemistry researcher and an internationally renowned expert in materials chemistry. Karppinen is Professor of Inorganic Materials Chemistry at Aalto University and has been awarded the title of Aalto Distinguished Professor.

Karppinen is particularly known for her pioneering research into the development of new materials for next-generation energy technology and nanotechnologies. Her research focuses, for example, on thin-film materials, atomic and molecular layer deposition, inorganic-organic hybrid materials, and energy-efficient solutions that can be used in applications such as batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, superconductors and microelectronics.

Karppinen’s research work combines the design, fabrication, characterisation and assessment of functional properties of materials in an exceptionally versatile way. Her research has had a significant international impact. The research groups led by Karppinen have played a key role in the development of new hybrid materials and coating technologies, as well as in the establishment of international collaboration networks in materials research.

On this occasion, Karppinen said: “The development of new materials has traditionally been a slow and costly process. To maximise the impact of the research, the results must be transferred from the laboratory to industry and policymakers as swiftly as possible. An extensive international cooperation network is key to facilitating access to state-of-the-art research equipment.”

According to Karppinen, building a sustainable bridge between fundamental academic research and the industrial sector requires long-term effort so that the various stakeholders involved can find a common language and clearly defined roles.

“In my experience, it’s possible to establish close industrial collaboration in such a way that genuinely scientifically significant research can be carried out within that framework.”

Karppinen has also managed to secure significant external funding for her research. She has received two Advanced Grants from the European Research Council (ERC) and two ERC Proof of Concept grants. In addition, she has led numerous research projects and national research infrastructures with funding from the Research Council of Finland, the European Union and Business Finland.

Karppinen is a member of the ERC Scientific Council. She is also a member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, a member of the European Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Photos of the Academicians are available to the media in the RCF media bank.

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