The Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation has granted a total of €2.9 million for six research projects. Two of these projects are conducted at Tampere University under the supervision of Professor Leena Ukkonen and University Lecturer Jarkko Valjakka from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET).
This marks the ninth time the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation has invited grant proposals under its Future Makers programme, which is geared towards enhancing the long-term competitiveness of technology industries in Finland. This programme supports ambitious research projects that combine world-leading research with new strategic growth initiatives.
At Tampere University, Professor of Electronics Leena Ukkonen and University Lecturer in Biomedicine Jarkko Valjakka received grants in the latest funding call under the Future Makers programme.
New method for repairing tissue damage
The project titled “Integration of Cells and Self-Healing Polymer for Regenerative Tissue Engineering (REGENESIS)”, led by Professor Leena Ukkonen, received €635,000 in grant funding. The project partners include Professor Susanna Miettinen from Tampere University and Senior Research Fellow Jari Juuti from the University of Oulu.
The multidisciplinary REGENESIS project aims to develop a new bionic material technology that combines human cells with a self-healing polymer to create functional human tissue. This innovative technology will enable the replacement and regeneration of human body parts.
Given the impact of accidents, diseases, natural disasters, ageing and lifestyle factors on people’s physical capabilities, the global demand for bionic human spare parts is substantial. Currently, no technology can restore movement by fusing regenerative and self-healing structures to the human body on a cellular level.
“In the REGENESIS project, we are studying a self-healing polymeric material developed by researchers at the University of Oulu that mimics human tissue: if damaged, this material is capable of restoring its structure without any external energy or guidance. Our research is based on a novel combination of innovative self-healing polymers, advanced cell technologies and wireless biosensor technologies, enabling the creation of bionic components that are genuinely integrated into the human body,” Ukkonen says.
Professor Ukkonen’s research group will focus on integrating wireless biosensor technologies into the self-healing polymeric material, while the group led by Professor Susanna Miettinen will investigate the integration of human cells into the self-healing material. Researchers at the University of Oulu will oversee the development of the self-healing polymer. The three-year REGENESIS project will begin on 1 March 2025 and conclude on 28 February 2028.
Towards more low-cost CO2 capture
Jarkko Valjakka received €245,000 for his project, which studies enzymes that are designed for capturing carbon dioxide and converting it into useful products, with the goal of developing a more cost-effective method for capturing CO2 emissions from industrial processes. This will be achieved by using a combination of carbonic anhydrase and formate dehydrogenase to convert carbon dioxide directly into industrial raw materials.
“Finland is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. We, the project partners, strongly believe that enzymatic methods will attract growing commercial interest in the environmental technology sector,” Valjakka says.
During the project, the researchers will develop a modular system based on the SpyTag-SpyCatcher method, which joins enzymes together with natural covalent isopeptide bonds. This conjugation of carbonic anhydrase and formate dehydrogenase enhances not only structural durability but also the synergistic effect of the enzymes.
“The enzymes we investigate are powerful natural catalysts. Using them for carbon dioxide capture and conversion will enable further processing of the resulting raw materials in collaboration with industry,” Valjakka adds.
The project is connected to the EU’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) initiative, which studies the pilot-scale validation of these enzymatic processes.
The Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation promotes renewal and future competitiveness within the technology industries in Finland. The Foundation sponsors ambitious projects to develop education, research and innovations in technology.
