VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is a state owned and controlled non-profit limited liability company. VTT provides research and innovation services and information for domestic and international customers and partners, both in private and public sectors. VTT is part of Finland's innovation system and operates under the mandate of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. VTT Group has three subsidiary companies: VTT Ventures Ltd, VTT International Ltd and VTT Memsfab Ltd. VTT has several unique R&D facilities, among them Bioruukki, the largest bioeconomy pilot and research facility in the Nordic countries, PrintoCent, the world's first pilot factory for printed intelligence and electronics industrialisation, and RoViR, Remote Operations and Virtual Reality Centre. 36% of VTT Group's revenue comes from the public sector in Finland, 32% from the private sector in Finland and 32% from public and private sectors outside Finland.
History
VTT was founded in 1942 to do scientific research work and to boost manufacturing during wartime. VTT has always been in a key position in the development and transfer of new technology in Finland and works in close co-operation with technical universities and other domestic and international partners. Nowadays VTT is a multidisciplinary organisation whose research and development work covers all the different fields of technology. Digitalisation and sustainability are the two guiding trends in VTT's research activities. VTT has its headquarters in Otaniemi. In 2018 VTT sold its subsidiary VTT Expert Services Ltd, which provided testing, inspection and certification services, to Eurofins Scientific because the business was not compatible with VTT's strategy. Technology for augmented reality applications, novel bacterial strain for improved ethanol production, medical imaging equipment to diagnose skin cancer, development of roll-to-roll printed inverted organic solar cells, and solutions for constructing close to zero energy district are examples of the results of VTT's R&D work. Customers rate the impact of VTT's activities high. 68% reported increased competitiveness based on their co-operation with VTT.
VTT's key technology fields
VTT operations are now organised into three business areas: 1. Knowledge Intensive Products and Services - focus areas: industrial internet, digital health and hyperconnected society 2. Smart Industry and Energy Systems - focus areas: machinery and automation, efficient energy and smart cities 3. Solutions for Natural Resources and Environment - focus areas: bioeconomy, circular economy and cleantech.
International cooperation
VTT has for years been the most active Finnish participant in EU-funded research projects. VTT is engaged in over 400 international public research projects each year. VTT plays a key role in national and international innovation partnerships. 96% of VTT's customer survey respondents reported that their co-operation with VTT in a project promoted their networking. Over 30% of VTT's revenues come from public and private sector outside Finland.
Statistics
In 2019, VTT had 2,103 employees, of which 32% were doctors and licentiates. VTT had a portfolio of 406 patent families, and it published 467 international scientific articles.
