2/2015
MCI
VTT
DIGITAL
ECOSYSTEMS OPEN UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES
SCIENCE Foods will contain new beneficial ingredients
TECHNOLOGY Specifying a suitable indoor temperature
BUSINESS Will smartphones become part of glasses?
VTT
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Business Deveplopment Manager Risto Kuivanen.
Photo: Rolls-Royce Marine
VTT’s For Industry spearhead programme serves the manufacturing industry.
Photo: Ari Ijäs
2/2015
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Photo: iStockphoto
The industrial internet drives new solutions.
Oats are in high demand.
Preferred indoor temperature can vary by as much as six degrees. Technology industry employs 30 per cent of the workforce in Finland. VTT's Vice President ERJA TURUNEN
2 VTT Impulse
Photo: Timo Kauppila
EDITORIAL
“Good research is a profitable investment.”
Antti Vasara
President & CEO, VTT Ltd.
Serious efforts to boost the Finnish economy
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ur national economy has felt the full impact of the economic uncertainty for some time now. The Finnish government is trying to identify means of securing economic growth, employment and jobs in a way that maintains our competitiveness. The measures proposed by the government have been consistent and well-targeted. At the same time, it is worth asking whether the most central factor in terms of our national competitiveness – the role of new expertise and innovations – has been put to the back burner. Throughout history, technological progress has generated wealth for nations. Now is the time to use visionary, ambitious and well-focused R&D&I projects to take Finland back to a growth path. FINLAND IS KNOWN FOR its effective education system and
innovation-friendly attitude. We have received consistently high marks in the PISA education comparison results, and the gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) in Sweden and Finland has traditionally been the highest globally. Building upon a strong foundation of product development and highly refined products, our export industry has been reporting great results, and Finland has featured among the top nations in the global innovation index. However, at the moment, Finland’s GERD is declining in both relative and absolute terms. Driven into a corner, both the public and private sector are prepared to focus on short-term benefits instead of the long-term creation of wealth. Inconsistent investment in research provides poorer economic results than systematic research efforts that leverage our national strengths. Since I took the helm at VTT, I have watched with great concern how numerous profitable research areas have been affected by short-term thinking in terms of both their strategy and financing. Good R&D&I is based on long-term strategies and science; it is well-targeted, ambitious, innovative and profitable. It also involves the courage to terminate programmes that do not take off and re-allocate the resources to more promising new areas. It must have a clear objective. Applied research
also needs a visionary view that allows businesses and society to benefit quickly from its results. GOOD RESEARCH is a profitable investment – for both
the public and private sector. It is productive and will pay for itself. The seed for growth can be planted specifically during challenging times, when industries are facing disruptions and economic pressures. Success is created by the ability to foresee and recognise the upcoming shift. Radical innovations created during industrial change plant the seed for success, establishing completely new kinds of business and promoting industrial renewal. Good examples in Finland include mobile communications, forestry bioeconomy and smart machines that utilise ICT. These areas are also where successful companies can be found. Innovations often require a catalyst in the form of a strong R&D&I player with multi-disciplinary expertise, such as VTT, and cooperation between industries. Large enterprises can also utilise this method to generate new business with radical innovations. For example, Stora Enso and Neste Oil have worked in cooperation to create biodiesel, and Kemira has coordinated a programme developing new water treatment technologies. INNOVATIONS, and radical innovations in particular,
are an excellent opportunity to maintain and improve Finland’s competitiveness. They are an integral source of renewal that can help turn our native land, dubbed the “sick man of Europe” by politicians, into a top athlete and a world champion. We have great potential, but we cannot succeed without proper gear. In this international endurance sport, VTT can act as both a coach and world-class equipment developer. In cooperation with you, with a positive and optimistic attitude, foreseeing new business opportunities. n Antti Vasara VTT Impulse 3
Contents 2/2015 VTT IMPULSE NOW Glimpse of the future................................. 6 Focal point................................................. 8 Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn It’s time to rethink.................................... 12
Photo: Vesa Tyni
Column..................................................... 23 Director, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA, Matti Apunen
58 SCIENCE
50
“Higher body fat percentage makes women feel colder.” PEKKA TUOMAALA
Science news...........................................................24 Multifunctional polysaccharides create new opportunities for the food industry......................... 26 Research Scientist Emilia Nordlund
Isotope-selective optical spectroscopy: More detailed information about the probed species.....40 Research scientists Albert Manninen, Guillaume Genoud and Mikko Merimaa 4 VTT Impulse
Photo: Juho Kuva
Out with the old research reactor – in with the new VTT Centre for Nuclear Safety (CNS)......................32 Research scientists Wade Karlsen and Olli Vilkamo
Photo: Juha Sarkkinen
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32 VTT Centre for Nuclear Safety (CNS) being built in Otaniemi, Espoo. TECHNOLOGY Technology news..............................................................48 Why do so many women feel chilly indoors?..................50 Calculations reveal the actual individual human thermal comfort of a building user. Global demand for oats is increasing strongly...............54 New functional ingredients extracted from oats. Developers of the future...................................................58 Lauri Reuter, Denis Sevelev and Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä, VTT For Industry powers Finnish manufacturing industry.....62 VTT’s spearhead programme tackles competitiveness challenges. Converting rags to designer clothes................................66 Old and worn-out cotton textiles are given a new life.
26 BUSINESS Business news..................................................................70 Businesses and researchers must find each other in a new way.....................................................................72 Professor Tiina Mattila-Sandholm: more cooperation.
Controlled breaking down of dietary fibre allows beverage applications.
Can smart glasses replace your phone?.........................76 A virtual display for glasses is here. Wood fibre challenges plastic in carrier bags.................80 Finnish Softwood Kraft the main ingredient.
VTT Impulse 5
The future 5G network
proceeds to test phase in Oulu The 5G Test Network (5GTN) in Oulu will be an open test environment for all 5G developers. IoT and 5G will be available for testing in a realistic network environment after the turn of the year.
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Text Juha-Pekka Honkanen
hile all development phases of the 4G mobile network are yet to be implemented, the fifth generation (5G) mobile networks are already becoming an increasingly hot topic. VTT is building the first 5G test network in Finland in Oulu in cooperation with industrial partners and the local university. “Our aim is to make Finland a pioneer in 5G development and specification, as well as the best global development location for 5G technology and applications,” says Research Team Leader Kyösti Rautiola from VTT’s Radio Systems Team. In terms of network evolution, the 4G networks currently used have significantly higher data transfer speeds and capacity than 3G networks. According to the leader of the 5GTN project and Senior Scientist Atso Hekkala from VTT, 5G will be rolled out in 2020 and will introduce even more profound changes. The projects has many objectives – and challenges. “This makes it much more interesting for the researchers. Based on expectations, it is safe to say that digitalisation will encompass all areas
6 VTT Impulse
of the society, and we see 5G as the enabler of this development,” Hekkala explains. Speeds will become hundredfold on average On average, users will be offered speeds hundreds of times faster than those available in current 4G networks. To develop more advanced network applications, it is no longer enough to transfer bits as fast as possible. Eliminating latency will change the way mobile networks are used by industry, for example. According to Rautiola, once latencies are measured in milliseconds, it is possible to communicate in real time with robots on the other side of the world. “The autonomously moving vehicles of the future also require highly reliable, real-time data transfer.” With increasing data transfer speeds, energyefficiency also needs to be considered. This has previously been tackled by improved battery technologies. Hekkala says that while the CMOS microprocessor technology has been an effective solution up to this point, it is reaching the limits of reducing power consumption further.
GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE KATSE TULEVAISUUTEEN Setting sights on the future “Going forward, it is critical to make devices smarter so that they do not stay connected to the network unnecessarily. Mobile phones are connected continuously, which consumes a lot of power,” Hekkala explains. Smartphone batteries go flat quickly because, as Hekkala points out, the 4G network is primarily designed to offer the highest possible data transfer speeds to support entertainment use, such as watching videos on smartphones. At the same time, the network is less capable of supporting large numbers of devices, which has a negative impact on data transfer quality during large public events or at venues such as sports stadiums. The 5G network will also do away with this problem. Exponential growth of connected devices At the moment, network device capacity is preventing the Internet of Things (IoT) from gaining ground. IoT applications are already in use on a small scale, and Rautiola predicts that the number of connected devices will grow exponentially in the coming years as devices such as smart fridges that can order groceries automatically or smart clothes that monitor body functions become more common. “Smart clothes and other devices that contain sensors do not send a lot of data; for them, it is enough to access the network. However, vast numbers of such devices will create a new challenge,” Hekkala says. The 5G mobile network must have greater speed, less latency and more reliability while being able to support vast numbers of connected devices. How can this be achieved? The solution lies in many areas: Hekkala explains that firstly, radio frequencies will be used more efficiently. While the mobile networks currently operate around the 2 GHz frequency band, 5G can utilise free bandwidth in the 60 GHz frequency band, for example. “Technologies are more advanced now, and it is possible to use higher frequency bands without making the devices too expensive,” Rautiola explains. However, finding new bandwidth is not unproblematic. Many older users think fondly of the
NMT450 network, the first generation of mobile networks, that could reach even the most remote areas. It used the relatively low frequency band of 450 MHz. More capacity was needed once mobile phones became more common, leading to the introduction of NMT900 – and larger areas with no coverage. The same applies today. “High frequency signals have shorter range. It was previously unthinkable to use them for mobile communications,” Hekkala says. 5G can use several frequency bands The test network currently uses the 2.6 GHz band. The 3.5 GHz band may also be taken into use in 2016. Hekkala points out that the frequencies of bands are not that essential to the 5G network. “5G is a collection of many technologies. While older generations of phones used a specific band, 5G is capable of using several of them and do it seamlessly.” n
VTT IS BUILDING AN OPEN TEST NETWORK FOR 5G DEVELOPERS VTT’S OULU FACILITIES now have a macro cell
base station on the roof, and a network of numerous small cells is under construction to serve as the first 5G test environment in Finland. Similar cells pay a significant role in the future of 5G. “We are currently carrying out initial measurements, to specify, for example, the best locations for base stations. We are also testing the performance of different antennas,” Atso Hekkala says. The 5G Test Network (5GTN) in Oulu will be an open test environment for all 5G developers. The network is built in cooperation with academic and industry partners that have the expertise and device base required. IoT and 5G will be available for real-life testing after the turn of the year. VTT is coordinating four 5G test network projects in Finland. For more information, please see
www.5gtnf.fi
VTT Impulse 7
MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OLLI REHN
Renewal of economy will bring new growth “What kind of toolkit does the Ministry of Employment and the Economy have at its disposal? How can we boost entrepreneurship and exports in the midst of austerity? Finland will turn to a growth path again, supported by skills and entrepreneurial spirit as long as we are able to implement changes,” says the Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn. Text Editorial Photos Aleksi Malinen
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he engine of our export industry has stalled and our productivity has fallen. At the same time, high-tech products are developed in Finland, well placed to become the new engine for our export sector. “What we need now is renewed structures in our society and economy to bring our competitiveness to a level that allows us to maintain the high-quality of our education and infrastructure and look after the welfare of our fellow human beings at least at the current level,” says the Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn. “We need to adopt a new type of agreement culture in the labour market and to improve the competitiveness of labour and production in Finland.” 8 VTT Impulse
We need to renew our expertise, products and services According to the Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn, we must specialise into roles in global value networks that require high-level education and expertise. “We also need to develop our commercialisation process further to make it faster and more effective by working together. While this is something companies will need to do, public actors such as the Team Finland network can help.” “We have many opportunities for turning Finnish strengths into commercial success stories. However, growth must be based on solutions that have a high ROI. To identify such solutions, Finland is allocating a great deal of resources to R&D&I operations in the framework of the OECD and EU.”
FOCAL POINT
“VTT’s connections with top international research scientists gives businesses access to the latest research data,” says Olli Rehn.
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“WE ARE DIRECTING R&D&I INVESTMENTS TO THE SME SECTOR BECAUSE NEW JOBS ARE CURRENTLY BEING CREATED BY COMPANIES WITH FEWER THAN 50 EMPLOYEES.” VTT Impulse 9
“Finland is well equipped to become a pioneer in bioeconomy in Europe,” says Olli Rehn.
“The government’s spearhead programmes aim to maximise the benefits of such projects. Initiatives such as Research Benefit and Innovation Scout accelerate the utilisation of research results. The Challenge Finland programme will kick off in 2016, seeking boldly different solutions.” “We are directing R&D&I investments to the SME sector because new jobs are currently being created by companies with fewer than 50 employees.” Better utilisation of research funding According to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn, VTT has been the flagship of technological development and innovation in Finland since 1942. “The corporatisation of VTT in early 2015 challenges the management and research scientists to adopt a new kind of operational culture. VTT is expected to be agile and proactive so as to quickly adapt to changes in its operating environment.” The state of our national economy forces the public sector and businesses and research institutes alike to find new ways to renew our economy. “However, public funding of education, research and innovation remains at a significant level. Aware of the need to be thrifty, the government aims to ensure optimal utilisation of research funding.” “It is vital research institutes such as VTT that spearhead multi-technological development 10 VTT Impulse
support companies’ business development and thus create new growth.” “Public funding can provide incentives to innovate and renew, but at the end of the day, the responsibility for renewal and maintenance of competitiveness lies with the companies themselves. Cuts in public funding force VTT to make well-informed decisions and adjust operations according to demand.” Rehn sees VTT as the organisation best placed to establish a clear link between its research operations and actual technological and other development needs of businesses. VTT is a partner that cooperates with other research institutes and universities, but also competes with them to a degree. VTT also has to be able to compete on the global markets by focusing on areas where it can succeed. “In my opinion, VTT has two special strengths: firstly, it employs a skilled research staff with a strong network of international contacts and secondly, as a multidisciplinary research institute, VTT is better equipped to quickly build research teams to tackle customer-specific problems for businesses and other customers. A solution- and customer-oriented approach is at the very core of VTT’s research service development.” VTT’s operations aligned with our national strategy According to Olli Rehn, VTT’s main business areas are well aligned with our national strategic areas, such as bioeconomy, clean
solutions, cleantech, digital economy and the health sector. “This is of great benefit to VTT. These are the sectors in which Finland has an opportunity to introduce significant new business openings to boost our economic growth.” “Our current situation highlights the importance of cooperation between Finnish research institutes and universities. We should try to avoid allocating public funding to too many overlapping functions.” Of all new information, less than 0.5 per cent is created in Finland. It is vital to network with international top experts. “VTT is in an excellent position to build bridges between businesses and international value networks. VTT’s connections with top international research scientists gives us access to the latest research data. Research consortia are a source of new partners and customers to businesses. They are a platform from which we can showcase our expertise to international enterprises so that they can make informed decisions about investing in Finland.” Could Finland become a pioneer in the bioeconomy and circular economy? Bioeconomy remains a cornerstone of our economy. Our forests are a solid foundation for sustainable growth of bioeconomy. “The transition from fossil economy to bioeconomy is part of the new wave of economic development, and Finland is well equipped to become a pioneer in bioeconomy in Europe,” Rehn says. “Innovations in bioeconomy require worldclass expertise, research and product development, and the joining of forces from several industries and expertise areas. New solutions must be thoroughly tested, piloted and demonstrated. However, not all companies have the resources for this – and this applies to SMEs in particular.” Bioruukki – VTT’s new pilot centre VTT is in the process of constructing the Bioruukki piloting centre in Espoo. It provides businesses with a small-scale platform for the development and demonstration of biomass utilisation. Bioruukki is supported by the almost 500 experts working at VTT and the Otaniemi campus. It is the first world-class pilot centre in Finland where also SMEs can test and develop their products.
“BIORUUKKI IS BUILT TO PLACE FINLAND FIRMLY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE EUROPEAN (FOREST) BIOECONOMY PILOTING NETWORK.”
“VTT’s Bioruukki fills a gap in the market. We need SMEs alongside our forestry giants to develop new products and solutions that help us utilise our national resources,” Rehn emphasises. “Cooperation between forestry and chemical industry and other industries is one practical way forward. Finnish bio raw materials only account for a small portion of the global biomass, and we should not neglect to patent our expertise, protect our IPR, and identify other commercial opportunities for it.” “Bioruukki is an excellent example of a promising new type of piloting environment that can attract foreign investments to Finland.” “Finland is not the only country aspiring to become a pioneer in bioeconomy. We are competing against countries such as Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany that have made significant investments into similar demonstration environments. Bioruukki is built to place Finland firmly at the forefront of the European (forest) bioeconomy piloting network.” “We must develop new business models for bioeconomy alongside new technologies. Deeper cooperation with schools of economics would be a good starting point for this. It is also important to make sure that Bioruukki networks with other European pilot centres, establishing new European contacts for our businesses,” the Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn concludes. n VTT Impulse 11
IT’S TIME TO
RETHINK 12 VTT Impulse
The industrial internet helps meet customer needs in a completely new way. Text Riitta Ekholm Photos iStockphoto and Rolls-Royce Marine
VTT Impulse 13
IT’S TIME TO
RETHINK
Digital ecosystems are
EMERGING
“Finland is a land of opportunity for the industrial internet, where companies are quick to develop test environments,” says Iiro Salkari from VTT. The current technology disruption will not only shake up industries but also our everyday lives.
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stablished less than one year ago, the Finnish Industry Internet Forum (FIIF) is a platform where top talent from companies and research institutes come together every couple of months to brainstorm and identify ways of creating completely new industries or ecosystems that could start conquering global markets. Nokia managed to do this because it took bold and quick steps to test and pilot the NMT and later the GSM technologies – and because the operating environment in Finland made it possible. “This is the attitude I would like to see today, says Iiro Salkari,” Vice President of Business Development at VTT, challenging current structures. In his view, businesses embarking on this path go through three stages. In the first stage, their focus is on increased production or productivity by means of digitalisation. In the second, advanced businesses will utilise sensors to collect and analyse data – and on top of all that, create new products and services. In the third stage, they create completely new types of business and meet a customer need by rethinking the entire solution, how to best solve the customer’s problem starting from scratch with the best available technologies. At the same time,
14 VTT Impulse
they must consider larger questions in relation to the society, such as the acceptability of the solution and any regulatory requirements. Analytics create business The introduction of increasingly mature technologies makes digitalisation a hot topic. According to Salkari, the discussion has a new approach; the focus is on digitalisation between industries, not within individual industries. “Value chains are being renewed, creating new industries and structures,” Salkari says. In electronics, embedded software will account for a growing share of the value created for the
3 THESES • Pick an important customer need as the starting point. • Identify the technologies needed for the new solution. To pioneer the industry, pick ones your company is developing/ focusing on. • Co-development is our strength: new business ecosystems create new opportunities.
customer. In the future, business will increasingly consist of data analysis that supports the customers’ business, processes and decisionmaking. Understanding the business environment and physical phenomena will remain highly important to ensure that analysis focuses on relevant topics, reaches the right conclusions and triggers the right actions. “The technology already exists, and it is developing fast. The challenge is to identify viable business cases and business models. And further, the ability to create enough added value that can be shared by the service provider and the customer.” Salkari mentions the Kemppi ARC System as an example: it collects data of a welding job and compares it against a welding procedure specification. If there are deviations, testing or corrective actions can focus on the appropriate section in the weld seam. The system also creates quality documentation during the process. “The system pinpoints the location of the issue, eliminating the need to check thousands of metres of gas pipeline on the seabed, for example,” Salkari explains. The solution has identified a customer need and immediately boosts productivity. n
Improved eco-efficiency with IoT “Think if you had the information to evaluate if a used component is worth its price, or if a product manufactured of used component is reliable. Gathering data over component life-cycle and analysing it is one way to enhance eco-efficiency. In addition, this would enable new business models,” says Iiro Salkari, Vice President of Business Development at VTT. “Machines and devices can contain data about their service history, for example. After decommissioning, it may be possible to reuse or recondition some components instead of recycling all of them as raw material,” Salkari says. He points out that as resources are shrinking, taking advantage of digitalisation is a future trend, but its role in the circular economy requires some more thought. “The industrial Internet allows delivering smart value to customers, increasing productivity and more efficient use of resources.”
FINNISH INDUSTRY INTERNET FORUM (FIIF) ESTABLISHED IN MARCH 2014, FIIF is driven
by companies that mostly operate in the manufacturing industry or the end-client value chain. 200 companies are already involved in its operation. FIIF is active in several forums. The opportunities provided by digitalisation are evaluated, based on their ability to increase productivity and create new products and services, but also with consideration to the development of technologies and markets. The vision of FIIF is to create an operating environment for industry that supports the use of the industrial Internet. Established technologies and available solutions are used, while supporting the creation of open interfaces and future technological development.
VTT Impulse 15
IT’S TIME TO
RETHINK
The story of
FINLAND
The industrial internet will shake up our industry, economy and everyday lives, creating new businesses and seeing out some of the old. Research Professor Heikki Ailisto from VTT is the author of many reports and reviews on the topic.
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n his blog Research Professor Heikki Ailisto writes that the “industrial internet has proved a hot topic in the discussion on the economy, industry and technology.” A report commissioned by the Prime Minister’s Office has a gripping name: “Finland – the Silicon Valley of the industrial Internet”. According to the group of experts from VTT, the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy ETLA and the Aalto University, should Finland fail to be in the front line of the industrial internet, productivity, investments and the number of jobs will continue to decline. Ailisto says that we can ill afford this, although the industrial Internet alone is not enough to drive growth. The report describes three scenarios. In the worst-case scenario, Finland’s current situation continues and 80 jobs will be lost every week. In the best-case scenario, the industrial internet can attract €12 billion in investments and create 48,000 new jobs by 2023. Ailisto sees indications that both companies and political actors mean business this time. The industrial internet has emerged as
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IN THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO, THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET CAN ATTRACT €12 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS AND CREATE 48,000 NEW JOBS BY 2023.
“Company Boards should be strongly committed to the opportunities created by the industrial internet. Operative management needs solid support during the change,” Heikki Ailisto says.
a Government spearhead programme of sorts, although it does not have an allocated budget. Finland has everything it takes to emerge a winner after the momentous changes about to take place, but not with half-hearted commitment. Ailisto mentions the Finnish Industrial Internet Forum (FIIF) as an example of the necessary cooperative spirit. Initiated by the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries and brought to life by VTT, it has already almost 200 company members after less than a year in operation. The members meet every couple of months. “Companies give five-minute talks of their business pain points. After that, representatives from other companies explain how they have tackled similar problems. Companies are not pitching ideas but bottlenecks,” Ailisto explains. The road to IoT Research Professor Ailisto has a box seat when it comes to the revolution caused by the industrial internet: he is involved in many IoT projects and their preparatory stages in Finland. For example, he is directing the VTT spearhead programme called Pro IoT that spans four years.
Ailisto describes the digital disruption as a significant shift which is starting to resemble hype. Businesses, universities and research institutions are all active in the area. There are many projects and programmes, and some of them overlap. Finland aims to identify company groups in areas such as forestry, health technologies, shipbuilding industry and gaming to create ecosystems and share digital service platforms. As an interesting example, Ailisto mentions extensive research by the Aalto University and the Strategic Research Council (SRC) of the Academy of Finland on the effects of the Digital Disruption of Industry (DDI). Other participants in the six-year research programme include VTT, University of Turku, Lappeenranta University of Technology and the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy ETLA. It sheds light to the future by studying the change of the mobile and media markets between the 1980s and the 2000s. “We will create a simulated game to support public decision-making. With the model, authorities can, for example, assess the effects of tax hikes in the future,” Ailisto says. n VTT Impulse 17
IT’S TIME TO
RETHINK
Transition in the shipping industry:
INTELLIGENT SHIP’S BRIDGES Ship’s bridges of the future will utilise augmented reality. VTT and Rolls-Royce Marine have created futuristic visions of the bridges of tugs, cargo ships and platform supply vessels in 2025. 18 VTT Impulse
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hey have been presented as operational concepts, scenarios, concept pictures and animated 3D videos. When the first concept video was published, it went viral: it was viewed more than 40,000 times in three weeks and became the most popular video on Rolls-Royce’s YouTube channel. There are more than 500 news articles on the Internet covering the concepts, and the three published concept videos have been viewed more than 100,000 times. “Our vision was to introduce a new approach to the future of shipping,” says Iiro Lindborg, RollsRoyce Marine.
Advanced camera footage and diminished reality create a realistic view of the surroundings of the bridge.
For example, the windows of cargo ship bridge could serve as augmented or diminished reality displays of the surroundings to support the crew on board. “At the moment, the containers are placed in front of the bridge, blocking the view forward as well as to the left and right. In narrow passages, the shoreline may not be visible to the crew. However, it is possible to display a realistic view of the surroundings by combining, for example, advanced camera footage, sensor information and diminished reality.” The windows of the bridge can, for instance, display information related to propulsion and navigation, as well as routes of other vessels. This allows the crew to keep looking through the windows at all times. Research Scientist Hannu Karvonen explains that while many of the technical solutions seen in the videos could be implemented with today’s technologies, legislation does not allow their use yet. An innovative step The shipping industry is strictly regulated, but Lindborg from Rolls-Royce believes that the solutions are likely to be implementable in ten years, if not sooner.
“If adopted, these concepts would mean a seismic transformation in the industry. They would allow remote steering, and data would be transferred by means of digital technologies to support safe operations,” he says. According to Karvonen, the concept planning in the project was based on extensive preparation. The project team observed the work of crews on bridges, and interviewed them. “We studied the work of crews on bridges and their interaction with technologies, identifying the most important areas and areas where it would be possible to improve safety and work satisfaction,” Karvonen explains. When planning concepts like these, VTT aims to make operations more efficient and comfortable by seeking new solutions that enhance operating methods, as well as the usability and user experience of technologies. This is possible by specifying concrete user experience objectives to support planning. “In this project, we started by asking what the user experience should be like on ship’s bridges,” Karvonen says. In his view, industrial internet applications tend to be technology-driven: devices are connected to the each other without considering the actual needs of the users. If industrial internet is introduced into the shipping industry by utilizing a user-driven approach, it could bring about a major transition in the whole industry. n The future bridge project was part of the FIMECC UXUS programme. FIMECC is the Finnish Metals and Engineering Competence Cluster. VTT Impulse 19
IT’S TIME TO
RETHINK
PERSPECTIVE
SENIOR SCIENTIST JUKKA HEMILÄ, VTT:
From technology hype to customer understanding “Larger enterprises have shifted their focus to selling capacity. They no longer sell devices. Instead, the markets are full of life-cycle services. Is it sensible for customers to purchase physical devices at all?,” asks Senior Scientist Jukka Hemilä from VTT.
A
BestServ Feasibility Study was published during the first wave of industrial services and digitalisation in 2003. It led to the establishment of an innovation forum for industrial services. Today, the Finnish Industrial Internet Forum is doing the same, but also introduces other players in the form of technology and digital partners. Large enterprises such as Metso and Valtra realised already during the early days of the BestServ Forum that they needed to deepen their understanding of their customers’ needs. At the time, manufacturers tended to focus on the maintenance of their products. During the next wave between 2006 and 2008, maintaining sustainable development was the focal point. Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, introduced programmes to reduce the wasteful use of resources. Remote monitoring made device use more effective. Device operation was also optimised. 20 VTT Impulse
The current wave of digitalisation, dubbed the Industrial Internet or Internet of Things, emphasises the fact that, in the future, an increasing number of devices will be connected to the Internet. The technology exists, but we should also consider possible benefits of doing so: can we create new knowledge and value? While sensors are light and inexpensive, they can easily be added to devices, but is it sensible to collect all this data? In preventive maintenance, maintenance concepts take into account the current state of the device. We have shifted from scheduled maintenance to on-demand maintenance windows. Collection of data has been of benefit. Competence portfolios will change somewhat. If the amount of data grows significantly, should we increase our expertise in analytics? Do we know how to take advantage of technologies and do we have sensor expertise? A decade ago, there was no understanding of the nature of industrial service business. Training lags behind. n
Photo: iStockphoto
“DO WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TECHONOLOGIES AND DO WE HAVE SENSOR EXPERTISE?”
SOLUTION NO. 1
SOLUTION NO. 2
CHILLER OY designs and manufactures
OY M. HALOILA AB manufactures and delivers
compact energy-efficient solutions for demanding applications. VTT created a service concept for the company. The main problem was that the company’s spare part operations were not systematic. Many companies provide services without invoicing, or not invoicing enough for them. VTT changed the mind set at Chiller: the customer is prepared to pay for a service that creates added value. Today, data is collected during the life cycle of machines and devices, and the spare part business works according to a new concept.
automated stretch wrapping machines and services. VTT helped the company create a life cycle model for their products, which serves as the foundation for the entire service business. The starting point for the model was customer understanding and creation of services important to them. Today, Haloila’s service offering covers all stages of product life cycle, from design to delivery and remote monitoring and other maintenance operations. Haloila’s service business has expanded more than threefold since 2010 and now forms an important part of the company’s business, accounting for some 40 per cent of its net sales.
Source: Kalliokoski, Petri, Andersson, Göran, Salminen, Vesa & Hemilä, Jukka (2003): Bestserv. Feasibility Study, Final Report. Technology Industry, Kerava: Savion Kirjapaino Oy. VTT Impulse 21
COLUMN
Matti Apunen
Director, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA
“The future is uncertain, as it has always been.”
We cannot afford not to have robots
T
he history of working life can be simplified as a race between humans and machines: work by humans is perceived as “good”, work by machines as “bad”. Those in the field of the arts, media and sociology like to paint a threatening picture. Machines are faceless, inhuman and create inequality. A recent publication by the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy ETLA, Työn murros (“Disruption of Work”), is a refreshing read and an important collection of the latest research results on working life. It approaches the technological disruption and more automated future fairly calmly. According to the researches at ETLA, machine automation will replace human workers, and this is a welcome development. Some jobs will be lost, but that is acceptable. The future is uncertain, as it has always been. But isn’t this approach a little harsh and inhuman? Työn murros (“Disruption of Work”) by Antti Kauhanen, Mika Maliranta, Petri Rouvinen and Vesa Vihriälä is recommended reading for anyone wondering what they might be doing for a living in a decade’s time. It is an excellent depiction of creative disruption, what brings it about and why resistance is futile. The hundred-page seminal work provides an antidote to the demonization of technology and the much-loved myth that from now on – from this (!) very moment – things will take a permanent turn to the worst. ETLA has studied the effects of automation and digitalisation on jobs in Finland, estimating that approximately one third of them is in danger of being replaced by machine automation. Or rather: approximately one third of our workforce will get the chance to transfer to jobs with higher productivity. “The scenarios focusing on the destruction of work are haunted by an idea of a static partial balance of sorts. For the most part, they do not consider that the human work replaced by machines could be useful elsewhere, or that a mass replacement would also change the end market,” writes ETLA’s Research Director Petri Rouvinen.
In the textile industry, industrial revolution reduced the amount of human work required to manufacture a metre of fabric by a whopping 98 per cent. Despite this development, there were four times the number of people working in textile manufacturing in 1900 than in 1830. How is this possible? It is due to the fact that lower prices expand the total available market, generating new demand. Although most of its manufacturing lines are now robotic, ABB’s Wiring Accessories unit in Porvoo has not reduced its workforce. The plant has quickly improved its productivity – and not just by a percentage point or two, but by an impressive 40 per cent in five years. In the words of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, what a productivity leap! The Kauppalehti commerce newspaper (6.8.2015) interviewed ABB employees who were happy to report a reduction in sick leaves and an increase in job satisfaction because they were freed from mechanical assembly tasks to more interesting and meaningful tasks. At this stage of digital disruption, both bluecollar and white-collar workers are being replaced. Machine automation is advancing full steam ahead in sectors such as accounting, as is beginning to emerge in the care sector. Digitalisation opens up new opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. It reduces their start-up costs and makes them better equipped to specialise. The downside of this development is that this applies not only to domestic entrepreneurs, but all entrepreneurs globally. Competition will intensify. At the same time, global digitalisation will increase wealth disparities. This is the price we must pay and the change we must adapt to. Työn murros absolves technology. Studying the development over hundreds of years, it demonstrates that technical development is of benefit to a large majority of people. While some people will lose their jobs, and some jobs will be lost for good, as consumers, Finns reap all kinds of benefits from the very same digitalisation and robotisation that expose them to intensified levels of competition. We simply cannot afford not to use robots. n VTT Impulse 23
SCIENCE
VTT’s specialists turn science into technology
Simulation helps to prepare for natural disasters
Cellulose to become a supermaterial in the bioecology of the future VTT’S Design Driven Value Chains in the World of Cellulose (DWoC) 2.0
project is seeking new design-driven applications for cellulose, developing related technology, and exploring new ways of creating value in cellulosebased ecosystems. These new materials and innovations can replace fossil-based raw materials in textile products, interior decoration elements, and car chassis materials. The programme of the Finnish government emphasises the importance of the bioeconomy for Finland’s future and economic renewal. Renewal necessitates giant research-driven leaps, strong risk taking, and national investment in research and innovation funding. Wood is a renewable raw material, and wood cellulose can be a golden opportunity for Finland.
A simulation tool has been developed as part of the European CRISMA project, which is coordinated by VTT. The tool helps users to prepare for unexpected catastrophes and natural disasters. Pilot projects in Finland focused on winter storms and the resulting power cuts and evacuations. The modelling and simulation tool has also been used to manage coastal submersion in France, earthquakes in Italy, chemical spills in Israel, and major accidents in Germany.
40 %
The transport use of renewable fuels and electricity must be increased so as to ensure that the target of 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions set by Europe for 2030 can be met.
Two alternative approaches Numerical simulation of fluidised bed combustion processes has previously been hampered by a lack of suitable mathematical models. Sirpa Kallio’s thesis in energy technology and computational fluid dynamics, On modelling of the time- or space-averaged gas-solid drag force in fluidised bed conditions, examines two alternative approaches to solving this problem. VTT has already applied her findings in practice. The thesis is available online at http://www.vtt.fi/inf/pdf/science/2015/S86.pdf. 24 VTT Impulse
SCIENCE
Photo: iStockphoto
Production of renewable fuels from forest residues is the most economically feasible solution under Finnish conditions VTT’S Senior Scientist Ilkka Hannula has written a
doctoral dissertation comparing the economic feasibility of technologies suited for the production of renewable transport fuels. Fuels produced from forest residues proved to be the most economically feasible solution under Finnish conditions. This was the first time that the technical and economic performance of processes using biomass and electricity were compared with each other. A process based on the gasification of biomass was used as the starting point for the dissertation, and it was compared with an alternative in which fuels are produced from carbon dioxide and water with the help of electricity. In addition, a hybrid process tailored to Finnish conditions that combines elements from the aforementioned technologies was developed as part of the dissertation. The following petrol litre equivalent production cost estimates (Lgeq) were calculated for renewable transport fuels: EUR 0.6–1.2 Lgeq for methane, EUR 0.7–1.3 Lgeq for methanol, and EUR 0.7–1.5 Lgeq for petrol. The lowest costs within the range of variation were associated with the gasification-based process, the second lowest with the hybrid process, and the highest with the electrochemical process. The additional costs resulting from distribution and final use were excluded from the prices of methane and methanol, while for petrol, the existing distribution network and equipment can be used.
ILKKA HANNULA Ilkka Hannula defended his doctoral dissertation, Synthetic fuels and light olefins from biomass residues, carbon dioxide and electricity: Performance and cost analysis, in October 2015 at the Department of Energy Technology at Aalto University in Espoo. His dissertation can be found online at http:// www.fi/inf/pdf/ science/2015/ S107.pdf.
VTT Impulse 25
new
MULTIFUNCTIONAL POLYSACCHARIDES OPEN UP
opportunities FOR THE FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY
Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in natural, healthy foods and diets. There is also considerable growth potential in the health and well-being sector from the perspective of the food industry. Text Emilia Nordlund
26 VTT Impulse
ponents that could be used to create textures that appear light, but that still retain the healthpromoting properties of dietary fibres. The health benefits of dietary fibres include lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, enhancing immune function, promoting gastrointestinal health, and helping to maintain a healthy weight [1]. Adding dietary fibres to food products in the form of additives often leaves the levels of the health-promoting component low, and, therefore, compromises the associated health benefits. If the goal is to harness these health benefits, the properties of the ingredient need to be modified to enable enough of the ingredient to be added to the product. The challenge here lies in keeping the health-promoting component active and stable, without sacrificing the texture of the product. This article gives exam-
SCIENCE
T
he food industry is under pressure to develop healthy products with increasingly low energy density. This is why the food ingredient industry is constantly striving to bring new performance ingredients – additives that improve the texture of a product without deteriorating its nutritional value – to the market. The industry is especially excited about ingredients that make it possible to incorporate water and air into the structure of products. Carbohydrates that are not broken down in the digestive system or absorbed in the small intestine, but that have the potential of being fully or partially fermented in the colon, i.e. dietary fibres, are one example of compounds that show potential in this respect. The food industry sees these indigestible carbohydrates as potential multifunctional com-
NEW FIBRES: WOOD AND PLANT BASED POLYSACCHARIDES
FIBRE MODIFICATION Enzymatic
Thermomechanical
Hybrid processes
FOOD APPLICATIONS Gels
Foams
Emulsions
STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES
PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
Stability, microstructure, rheology, water-holding capacity
Satiety, cholesterol, fermentation in the colon
FIGURE 1. VTT’s research and development relating to new multifunctional fibre ingredients.
VTT Impulse 27
FIGURE 2. Xylan extracted from birch trees (right) improves the textural properties of
fermented milk gel (yoghurt): Researchers successfully used xylan in order to produce a more homogeneous and softer texture without liquid separation during storage.
ples that are based on technologies developed by VTT in both fields: dietary fibres as textural components, and as functional compounds in products that claim to have health benefits (see Figure 1). Multifunctional carbohydrates as a source 足足of textural sensations The four key goals in developing new, lighter textures based on dietary fibres are to 1) give volume to the product, 2) keep the structure of the product stable, 3) create a pleasant and appealing mouthfeel without affecting the flavour of the product, and 4) not cause unpleasant side effects. The last point is extremely crucial, as some of the currently marketed carbohydrate-based additives, such as inulin, cause gastrointestinal problems for some consumers. These problems are due to the rapid fermentation of carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal system, and the resulting formation of gas. On the other hand, carbohydrates that are inert, i.e. that cannot be broken down by gut flora, do not deliver all the health benefits that are typical足of dietary fibres. Another dietary fibre that is already widely used in the food processing industry is polydextrose. However, polydextrose is a synthetic 28 VTT Impulse
dietary fibre and has an E number (E1200) attached to it, which consumers tend to find off-putting. In addition to ensuring technological functionality, the search for new multifunctional products also needs to focus on delivering health benefits from natural ingredients without negative side effects, such as flatulence. With this in mind, VTT is exploring the possibilities of using new, natural, e.g. wood-based, carbohydrates as multifunctional components in the food processing industry. The goal is to study the structural and stabilising properties of different kinds of modified fibre components, their ability to lower cholesterol, and how they react with gut flora. One example is xylan, a carbohydrate that can be isolated from birch trees and processed by biotechnological means, which has been proven to work exceptionally well in yoghurt products (milk-based gels). Xylan is, on the one hand, an excellent textural stabilising agent (see Figure 2), and, on the other, it breaks down slowly in the gastrointestinal system (as opposed to inulin), which makes it less likely to have unpleasant side effects. In addition to birch-based xylan, VTT is also actively investigating the possibilities of using fibrillated cellulose to form and stabilise gels, foams and emulsions. Fibrillated cellulose
RESEARCHERS ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF FIBRILLATED CELLULOSE AS A STABILISING AND THICKENING AGENT IN CULTURED DAIRY PRODUCTS.
has excellent water-holding properties, and gelatinises at extremely low (< 1%) concentrations. Fibrillated cellulose, and especially â&#x20AC;&#x153;nativeâ&#x20AC;? cellulose, withstands variations in pH, temperature, shear forces, and ionic strength extremely well. VTT is currently exploring the potential of using fibrillated cellulose as a stabilising and thickening agent in cultured dairy products (e.g. yoghurt). (see Figure 3) In addition to their gelatinisation properties, fibrillated cellulose components have been found to stabilise emulsions, which could make them a potential natural, plant-based substitute for current surfactants (such as mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, and lecithins) (see Figure 4). Fibrillated cellulose components are believed to stabilise oil-in-water emulsions either by attaching themselves to the oil droplets or by raising the viscosity of the continuous phase by forming a network around them (or both) [3, 4]. Shrewd modification and application of cellulose could make it a multifunctional ingredient for food
Soft drinks can bring cholesterol levels under control Drinks are the most rapidly growing area of functional foods. The drinks manufacturing industry is constantly looking for new, consumer-relevant
0.3% TEMPO-oxidised CNF Photo: Martina Lille
0.3% native CNF
products, and enable the production of completely new kinds of emulsions, as well as foams.
FIGURE 3. Solution of cellulose nanofibres (CNF) and milk. The microscope pictures in the bottom row
clearly show how native CNF (a) dissolves in milk better than TEMPO-oxidised CNF (b).
VTT Impulse 29
WOOD-BASED CARBOHYDRATES SHOW CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL AS MULTIFUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTS.
Concluding remarks VTT has an active cross-scientific research team for new multifunctional ingredients development, which consists of Panu Lahtinen, Juhani Sibakov, Terhi Hakala, Natalia Rosa-Sibakov, Martina Lille, Anna-Marja Aura, Marie Gestranius, and Tekla Tammelin. It is already clear, based on the team’s findings so far, that wood-based carbohydrates have considerable potential as multifunctional ingredients in the manufacture of healthy food products. It also appears to be only a matter of time before beta-gluten drinks are available in shops. n
Photo: Marie Gestranius and Tekla Tammelin
product benefits, one of the most important of which is high fibre content. VTT has developed and patented an innovative technology, which enables increasing the solubility of dietary fibres – in this case the beta-glucans in oat or barley – by lowering the degree of polymerisation. Beta-glucans have scientifically proven health benefits: They lower blood cholesterol levels, have a low glycemic index (blood sugar level after a meal), and promote gastrointestinal health. There are already several drinks that contain dietary fibres on the market, which are typically based on soluble fibre ingredients, such as inulin or polydextrose. However, as has been mentioned above, these components do not agree with all consumers. Modified soluble
beta-glucans have the potential of providing a unique solution for incorporating a consumerrelevant amount of natural fibres in functional beverages, and justifying health claims in product labels. The technique for producing soluble betaglucans is based on two patented technologies developed by VTT. Soluble beta-glucans are produced from oat brans by means of either enzymatic or acid-catalysed hydrolysis (see Figure 5). During hydrolysis, the degree of polymerisation of beta-glucans is lowered to approximately one 16th of the original, which increases their stability in water-based solutions considerably. Three different forms of beta-glucans have been explored for use in drinks: powder, concentrate, and a ready-to-drink form. These options give the ingredient a wider range of applications.
FIGURE 4. Fibrillated cellulose increases the stability of oil-in-water emulsions against shear forces (the
picture was taken after centrifugation: Unmodified fibrillated cellulose on the left, and chemically modified and fibrillated cellulose on the right).
30 VTT Impulse
Oat bran Enzyme or acid
Product: Oat drinks
Solids separation Insoluble part of the bran
FIGURE 5. The controlled break-down of beta-glutens enables their use in drinks. The process is based on the patents of
Kaukovirta-Norja, et al, 2009, WO 2009/077659, and Lehtomäki and Myllymäki, 2009, WO 2009/109703 A1.
References [1] Anderson JW, Baird P, Davis RH Jr, et al. “Health benefits of dietary fibre,” Nutrition Reviews, 2009;67: 188–205. [2] Raninen K, Lappi J, Mykkänen H, and Poutanen K. (2011). “Dietary fibre type reflects physiological functionality: comparison of grain fibre, inulin, and polydextrose,” Nutrition Reviews, 2011;69: 9–21. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00358.x [3] Denkov ND, Ivanov IB, and Kralchevsky PA. Journal of Colloid and
EMILIA NORDLUND
Interface Science, 1992, 150, 589–593. [4] Horozov TS and Binks BP. Angewandte Chemie, 2006, 45, 773–776;** Abend S, Bonnke N, Gutschner U, and Lagaly L. Colloid & Polymer
Dr Emilia Nordlund heads VTT’s food solutions research team. The team’s goal is to generate well-being for people and the environment by means of innovative, healthy, and sustainable food solutions.
Science, 1998, 267, 730–737. [5] Myllymäki O and Lehtomäki I.”Method of producing a bran product” (FI20085205). [6] Kaukovirta-Norja A, Lehtinen P, Virkajärvi I, Suortti M, Myllymäki O, Helin J, and Olonen A. ”Method of processing beta-glucan” (FI20070993). [7] Kaukovirta-Norja A, Myllymäki O, Aro H, Hietaniemi V, and Pihlava J-M. ”Method for fractionating oat, products thus obtained, and use thereof” (FI20075090). [8] Gestranius M, Stenius P, Sjöblom J, and Tammeli T. ”Phase behaviour and stability of nanocellulose stabilised oil-in-water emulsions,” 18th ISWFPC Conference Proceedings, Vol 1, 9–11 September, Vienna, Austria, 2015, 7–10.
VTT Impulse 31
FINLANDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OLD NUCLEAR RESEARCH REACTOR TO BE DECOMMISSIONED
New Centre for Nuclear Safety under construction Just as VTT is decommissioning its nuclear research reactor, which has served faithfully since 1962, it is also creating a new, modern research environment for projects supporting nuclear safety. Text Wade Karlsen, Olli Vilkamo
32 VTT Impulse
FIGURE 1. Plant engineer in the control room of the reactor in June of 2015.
VTT Impulse 33
SCIENCE
V
TT has decided to decommission its Finn- tors have been decommissioned in other countries, ish Reactor 1 (FiR 1) in Otaniemi, Espoo. e.g. in Denmark and Germany, and the lessons VTT no longer has any strategically learned from those projects will be used in the significant projects for which a research decommissioning of the Otaniemi reactor. The reactor would be needed. lessons that will be learned from the decommisFiR 1 was switched on with all the approprisioning of the Otaniemi reactor can then be used ate pomp and circumstance at the Otaniemi to plan the decommissioning of other TRIGA-type Campus in Espoo on 31 August 1962. The reacreactors, and also of nuclear power plants. tor has played a vital part in the training of two generations of Finland’s nuclear experts. Its role in History of the FiR 1 nuclear research has also been substantial. The FiR 1 reactor is a so-called Triga-type reactor. The high-level waste produced by the reactor Triga stands for Training, Research, Isotopes, and is in its core, which contains the nuclear fuel rods General Atomics, and the United States have supplied immersed in an open pool of a total of more than 60 of this water. Once the reactor has type of reactors to institutions been decommissioned, the around the world. NO NUCLEAR spent fuel will probably be For the first decade after it REACTORS HAVE BEEN shipped back to its country of was switched on, FiR 1 was DECOMMISSIONED IN origin, the US. Similar batches used exclusively for trainof fuel of other Triga-type ing and basic reactor physics FINLAND BEFORE. reactors have been shipped to research. the Idaho National Laboratory This was to lay the founda(INL) previously. VTT also continues to liaise with tion for future activities. The key personnel of Finnish authorities with regard to this arrangeFinnish nuclear power organisations were trained ment. at the reactor. The structural components of the reactor are The reactor’s thermal power was raised to 250 radioactive, and will need to be disposed of as kW in 1967. The goal was to increase the neutron intermediate-level or low-level waste. Radiation flux intensity to speed up the irradiation process. measurements will be taken to determine the In the 1970s, the focus shifted to neutron activanature of the waste after the reactor has been shut tion analysis. A rapid irradiation system was develdown. oped for determining uranium concentrations in No nuclear reactors have been decommissioned soil and rock samples, which was based on delayed in Finland before. However, several research reacneutron counting. Almost 50 000 samples were
analysed annually, and the technology was also exported to other countries. In 1969, FiR 1 had the honour of analysing samples collected by the Apollo 12 lunar mission. The reactorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s control systems were modernised in 1981, in collaboration with the Atomic Energy Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (KFKI). The reactor underwent several substantial upgrades in the 1990s, when a radiation therapy facility was incorporated into it. The goal was to produce an intensive, pure epithermal neutron beam that could be used to provide boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The reactor was used to give radiation therapy to a total of more than 300 cancer patients. The BNCT project turned FiR 1 into an important medical research and training facility. Research in this field covered, for example, dosimetry, radiation modelling, treatment planning, prompt gamma ray imaging, and other physics applications relating to BNCT. Pioneering research until the end FiR 1 is the first nuclear reactor to be decommissioned in Finland. The volumes and total radioactivity of the spent fuel and the waste generated by the decommissioning process, are only a fraction (1/10 000) of those associated with power-generating reactors. VTT will, nevertheless, consult external experts during the decommissioning process, with regard to issues such as transporting the spent nuclear fuel, determining the radioactivity characteristics and arranging interim storage of the waste. The Finnish Nuclear Waste Fund has approximately EUR 10 million for the decommissioning and waste management of FiR 1. Dismantling of the reactor To ensure the safety of the dismantling process and efficient nuclear waste management, the following steps will need to be taken: Access arrangements, ventilation systems, and radiation monitoring procedures will be modified. More
THE DECOMMISSIONING PROCESS, INCLUDING DECONTAMINATION OF THE FACILITY, WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. 34 VTT Impulse
FIGURE 2.
President Urho Kekkonen switched on the FiR 1 reactor in Otaniemi in 1962.
work space and radiation measurement facilities have to be provided in the reactor building. The estimated radioactivity levels of the structural components of the reactor will be verified, and measuring techniques will need to be developed for decommissioning actions. The reactor fuel rods will need to be detached. The aluminium lightweight internals of the reactor will be removed. The concrete shield structures, aluminium liner and graphite moderator from around the reactor core have to be dismantled. The radioactivity of waste packages will to be measured carefully during the dismantling process. The results have to be recorded in a nuclear waste log. The dismantling work will be carried out by external specialists, under VTTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supervision. Dismantling the reactor will take a few months, and the entire decommissioning process, including decontamination and release of the facility, will take approximately two years. The building can then be used for some other purpose. Nuclear waste management Nuclear waste management relating to the decommissioning of FiR 1 will mostly consist of the following steps: Coordinating the decommissioning project from start to finish, drawing up contracts for nuclear waste management and liaising with partners in the US, liaising with partners in Finland (TVO, Fortum P&H, and
FIGURE 3.
FiR 1 and the Material Research Building in the winter of 2010.
Posiva), drawing up contracts with external dismantling experts, and liaising with other actors. VTT will draw up a detailed dismantling plan once the project begins, determine the radioactivity and other characteristics of the reactor structures, and establish the suitable packaging of the waste for road transport. VTT will also study the technical alternatives relating to interim storage, as well as final disposal, especially on the basis of the characteristics of the dismantled graphite and aluminium structures, and the BNCT moderator (Fluental™). Issues relating to safety requirements and the drawing up of a safety case will also be examined. The current plan is for the spent nuclear fuel to be returned to the US, the reactor to be dismantled, and the waste to be managed and placed in interim storage over the next few years. Interim storage will end when final disposal and the associated licensing process begin around the year 2030. It will take several decades before the final repository will be closed and VTT is exempted from its nuclear waste management responsibility. VTT will not be able to influence these long-term timescales. The later stages of the final disposal process will depend on nuclear power companies’ decisions on whether to extend
current intermediate-level waste repositories, the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, and the final disposal of the resulting dismantling waste. Spent nuclear fuel The spent nuclear fuel generated by the TRIGA-type reactor in Otaniemi over the years amounts to just over 100 spent fuel rods (approximately 15 kg of uranium, of which 3 kg is uranium-235). According to the programme of the US Department of Energy (DOE), the spent nuclear fuel may be returned to the US if the shipment arrives at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) by 12 May 2019. Transporting nuclear materials from Finland requires a national export permit, in addition to authorisation from both the IAEA and Euratom. There is, for example, a Swedish cargo vessel that transports nuclear power plants’ spent nuclear fuel, which has taken similar smaller shipments across the Atlantic in the past. VTT has discussed the practical arrangements for nuclear fuel inspections and the necessary documentation with representatives of the INL. If the reactor spent fuel could not be returned as planned, VTT will need to engage Posiva Ltd into negotiations concerning the final disposal of the spent nuclear fuel in Finland. VTT and Posiva have signed an VTT Impulse 35
OPERATION OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR A NUCLEAR REACTOR OPERATES
by maintaining and monitoring a chain reaction that occurs in the reactor core, in which the uranium atoms in the fuel split into smaller parts. This process is known as nuclear fission. To sustain this chain reaction, a nuclear reactor needs enriched nuclear fuel that generates neutrons to trigger fission, as well as a moderator, which reduces the energy of fast neutrons to increase the likelihood of fission. The physical properties of the FiR 1 TRIGA-type research reactor make it extremely stable. The concentration of uranium-235 in the reactor is just under 20%, which is approximately five times that of the fuel used in electricity-generating reactors. The fuel in TRIGA-type reactors needs to be changed considerably less frequently than the reactor cores used in powergenerating reactors, which need to be reloaded annually.
agreement in principle, which enables the final disposal of the reactor core in Olkiluoto, as long as Posiva is informed of this within five years of the reactor final shut down. However, the agreement does not provide for interim storage, which is an essential precondition. Low-level and intermediate-level nuclear waste resulting from the decommissioning project The waste resulting from the decommissioning of FiR 1 will consist of low-level and intermediate-level nuclear ��������������������� waste. Moreover, the volume of waste will not be particularly high. The final disposal of the waste will need to be coordinated with the schedules of nuclear power plants, which means that the waste will be placed in an interim storage facility measuring less than 100 cubic metres, for a period of nearly 20 years. Primarily the interim storage and final disposal measures needed for the waste generated in the operation of the research reactor over the years,
as well as the waste that will result from the decommissioning of the reactor, can be arranged in cooperation with nuclear power utilities in Finland. VTT has estimated the induced radioactivity of the reactor’s structural materials (see figure 4), based on neutron flux distribution calculations and the reactor’s operating history. What makes Otaniemi’s Triga reactor special is the fact that its original graphite moderator was replaced in 1995 by a radiation therapy station with a Fluental™ moderator, the main components of which are aluminium and aluminium/ lithium fluoride. This kind of moderator generates relatively high content of radioactive tritium, most of which, according to current assessment, remains within the moderator material, and therefore represents the main residual radioactivity in the waste. The waste generated by dismantling of Finnish nuclear power plants contains no reactor graphite and only a small amount of aluminium. VTT has conducted a literature survey on the chemical behaviour of irradiated graphite and aluminium, and their impact on the long-term safety of nuclear waste repositories. VTT has also studied international practices for the final disposal of graphite. n
FIGURE 4. Monte Carlo (MCNP) simu-
lation of the neutron flux through the structure of the reactor during operation.
36 VTT Impulse
WADE KARLSEN
OLLI VILKAMO
Wade Karlsen, PhD, is an alumnus of the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology. He is the head of VTT’s nuclear reactor material research team. Karlsen is currently overseeing the technical design and development of the laboratories of VTT’s new Centre for Nuclear Safety, and especially its hot cells.
Olli Vilkamo, MSc (Eng), is a Principal Scientist in VTT’s reactor physics team. His current role in Otaniemi relates to the decommissioning of the FiR 1 research reactor and of the old materials research laboratory. Vilkamo acted as the FiR 1 reactor operator in 1973, and he has been employed at VTT on two occasions: first from 1973 until 1976, and again from 2013. He has held positions relating to nuclear safety in different organisations, and contributed actively to international nuclear safety initiatives.
FIGURE 5. Reactor pool. Cherenkov
radiation emitted by the reactor core.
FIR 1 TIMELINE 1962: Helsinki University of
2012: The cancer treatment
Technology commissions a Triga Mark II research reactor, which is named FiR 1.
provider goes out of business. 2015: The reactor is run for the last
time on 30 June 2015. 1967: The maximum thermal power
is raised to 250 kW following tests and modifications.
2017–2018: The spent nuclear fuel
1971: The research reactor
2018: The reactor is dismantled,
operational responsibility is moved from Helsinki University of Technology to VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
and the resulting waste placed in interim storage.
is returned to the US.
2019: The empty reactor building is
decontaminated and released. 1997: The reactor is used for the first
time to provide cancer treatment in collaboration with the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.
2030: The waste is transported
from the interim storage facility to a final repository.
VTT Impulse 37
VTT – towards better nuclear safety NUCLEAR SAFETY research at VTT now has a new priority:
responding to future needs. The shutting down of the FiR 1 research reactor marks the end of an important era of innovative use of nuclear reactions. A new era is already dawning, however, in the form of a new national research centre, VTT’s Centre for Nuclear Safety. The Centre for Nuclear Safety will house modern facilities for handling radiation sources, as well as stateof-the-art technology for studying radioactive materials with a view to improving the safety of nuclear power plants and nuclear waste repositories. The construction of the centre is already well under way, and VTT’s nuclear safety experts can expect to move into their new offices during the first months of 2016. The laboratories will be completed by mid-2016. VTT has always played an important part in nuclear research in Finland. It has been hosting the Finnish national hot laboratory infrastructure since the first nuclear power plants were constructed in Finland in the 1970s. In addition to infrastructure-intensive facilities for handling radioactive materials, other important test facilities have been built up over the years, and experts have blossomed in many aspects of research and development promoting nuclear safety. Over time the activities have broadened to outgrow both the capacity and capabilities of the existing facilities. In May 2012, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy published a report by the Committee for Nuclear Energy Competence in Finland, which not only addressed personnel resources, but also included research infrastructure competencies. It specifically endorsed the construction of a whole new facility, with the additional goal of gathering most of the VTT Nuclear Safety research personnel currently scattered around the Otaniemi campus, into a single, compact facility, i.e. VTT’s Centre for Nuclear Safety. In January 2013, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy set up a working group to draw up a research strategy for the
nuclear energy industry until the year 2030. Several strategic priorities were identified in the course of the work. VTT’s Centre for Nuclear Safety infrastructure plays an important role in fulfilling those objectives.
VTT’s technological flagship for the nuclear sector VTT’s new Centre for Nuclear Safety is being built in Otaniemi, Espoo (see figures 1 and 2). The new building provides a common radiological facility housing radiochemistry laboratories, modern microscopy and analytical capabilities, and mechanical testing of radioactive materials. The modern laboratory facilities will raise the level of technological prowess, in tandem with enhancing radiation safety. The technological enhancement enables a higher scientific level in research results.
Constructing a safe and modern radiological facility The building will be owned by Senate Properties, the state-owned real-estate management enterprise, but VTT is the end-user. Regulation and oversight by the authorities has involved the local municipal government, building department and emergency services, as well as Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Finland-STUK. The VTT experts who will work in the facility will serve the nuclear sector in areas such as computerized fluid dynamics, process modelling (APROS), fusion plasma computations, severe accidents, core-computations, nuclear waste-management and safety assessments. Meanwhile, in the radiological laboratory, staff will conduct radiochemistry, radioisotope dosimetry, failure analyses, and mechanical and microstructural characterisation of nuclear reactor structural materials in support of nuclear waste management and nuclear reactor safety. Shipping radioactive materials into and out of the facilities in a secure manner is possible via a gated courtyard and covered loading dock at the rear of the building. Since the building is designed according to KATAKRI Level
FIGURES 1 AND 2. VTT’s new Centre for Nuclear Safety is being built in Otaniemi. VTT’s nuclear safety experts can expect to
move into their new offices during the first months of 2016.
38 VTT Impulse
III security requirements, the passive and active safety requirements for radiological facilities are also fulfilled. Extra-thick concrete at the exterior and interior walls and ceiling of the basement provide passive gamma radiation protection in case of unexpected radiation source exposure, and is also utilized for shielding in some of the handling facilities. The ventilation system of the laboratory wing has also been designed for robustness, with the A-laboratory and the B- and C-laboratory ventilators separate and redundant, and connected to back-up diesel generators. This ensures that the under-pressures in the laboratory are retained even in the event of maintenance or failure of one of the ventilators, or loss of electricity from the grid. The electrical supply to the laboratory facilities is available as normal electricity, backed-up electricity, and for some needs, as a centralized uninterrupted power supply (UPS). Centralized cooling is also available for connection by individual pieces of equipment as needed.
C-class radiological laboratories for high quality radiochemistry An entire floor of the laboratory wing is dedicated to C-class radiological laboratories. The C-class laboratory is intended for handling radioactive isotopes with such a low level of activity that a separate radiological control point is not required. Most of the rooms of the C-laboratory facilities are devoted to radiochemistry and to nuclear waste repository research. A special facility included in the C-laboratory is a high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS), which is a type of mass spectrometer that is capable of detecting metals and several non-metals in solution at concentrations as low as one part in 1012 (part per trillion), even separating elemental isotopes. Compared to atomic absorption techniques, ICP-MS has greater speed, precision, and sensitivity. By locating it in a purpose-built ISO 6 class cleanroom facility, trace contaminants from laboratory ware and reagents is minimized.
B-class laboratories for services requiring enhanced radiological protection The B-class radiological laboratories can handle a higher level of radioactive isotopes, and thus the entrance to the B-laboratory is a radiation control point where workers are required to change to lab clothing, including shoes and at least a long lab coat. The B-class laboratories include different kinds of activities, each with their own dedicated facilities, including an iodine laboratory, radiochemistry laboratory and gamma radiation spectrometry room. The iodine facilities are designed to support the nuclear power plant iodine filter laboratory operated by
FIGURE 3. New hot cells with telemanipulators will increase
the safety of handling radioactive materials.
VTT Expert Services Ltd. The main service is testing the efficiency of exhaust air filters of nuclear power plants and the activated charcoal used in them. Since the radioactive methyl iodide gas is a hazardous chemical, the exhaust air of the iodine lab is filtered through a special set of active charcoal filters before release.
The latest microscopy facilities for high resolution analytical imaging of radioactive materials For the purpose of examining radioactive materials, a suite of microscopes is to be installed. The whole area is designed to provide constant room air temperature and humidity, and to minimize mechanical vibrations and electromagnetic and electrostatic interference. The facilities will house the latest in analytical scanning and transmission microscope technology, enabling high resolution imaging, element mapping, and crystallographic information mapping from irradiated materials.
A-class remote handling facility Historically the principle radioactive materials handling has been for the mechanical testing of reactor pressure vessel steels, which have a relatively low level of radioactivity. The new experimental facilities will especially bring the research of irradiated materials to the next level, by providing substantial remote handling capabilities in the hot cell island (see figure 3). The hot cells enclose the research equipment with lead shielding, and operation is carried out remotely using manual masterslave manipulators while viewing through thick, leaded glass windows. A main activity is mechanical testing of neutron-irradiated structural materials, but there are also associated processes such as electric discharge machine cutting, electron-beam welding and specimen preparation that need to be carried out in a shielded fashion. A shielded glove box is planned for metallography and small specimen handling, TEM specimen production, and other activities involving small specimens requiring hand dexterity not easily achievable with manipulators. Although that new approach in working methods requires practice, the staff will also be increased. At the same time the volume of the research can be increased by offering services to more customers from abroad on topics formerly passed by on account of inadequate facilities. n VTT Impulse 39
OPTICAL ISOTOPE SPECTROSCOPY:
More and more detailed information Isotope-selective optical spectroscopy offers intelligent information of the probed species. Where radiocarbon isotope is a well-known indicator of the age of the organic sample, stable isotopes provide information about the source of the species. The source information is essential in numerous fields such as monitoring of atmospheric greenhouse gases and industrial combustion processes. Text Albert Manninen, Guillaume Genoud, and Mikko Merimaa
40 VTT Impulse
VTT Impulse 41
SCIENCE
R
ecently introduced compact mid-infrared levels as in the atmosphere (see Figure 2). Due to (IR) lasers and optical components alits radioactive decay having half-life of 5700 years, lowed for probing orders of magnitude radiocarbon in old organic material is scarcer and is stronger mid-IR transitions of atmospheric practically absent in fossil oil and natural gas, making molecules, thus significantly increasing radiocarbon analysis a straightforward way to deterinstrumental sensitivity. For example, optical radiocarmine the age of the sample. Together with naturally bon detection is approaching sensitivity of the current occurring isotopic fractionation effects, also isotopic state of the art technique: accelerator mass spectromlabelling can be employed for tracing substances and eter [1]. With only fraction of the size and cost, optical medical diagnostics. radiocarbon detector could in near future be applied for on-site applications. Isotopic analyses since the 1930s VTT has years of experience of developing optical Isotopic ratio analysis was discovered in 1930s, when gas analysers for mid-IR spectral region. Recognising naturally occurring variations in isotopic abundances the potential, VTT has selected isotope metrology as were discovered. Since 1940s isotope ratio mass a growth area. spectrometry (IRMS) has been the basic tool for disThe main isotopologue of carbon dioxide comtinguishing the isotopic ratios and has gradually imprises 98.4% of all atmospheric CO2, and is followed proved. However, latest technological breakthroughs by two stable isotopologues 13CO2 (1.1%) and 18O-CO2 in the field of mid-IR optical spectroscopy closed the (0.4%). The isotopic abundance varies with CO2 sensitivity gap between the laboratory-based IRMS sources and sinks, shifting isotopic ratios locally and analysis and field-deployable optical techniques. temporally. For example, diAdvantages of optical isotope urnal cycle of carbon uptake ratio measurements (OIRS) THE ISOTOPIC ABUNDANCE and release by vegetation, forare capability of performing est fires, and annual growth continuous measurements VARIES WITH CO2 SOURCES cycle shift isotopic ratios with sensitivities comparaAND SINKS, SHIFTING of the atmospheric carbon ble to the state-of-the-art ISOTOPIC RATIOS LOCALLY dioxide. laboratory-based IRMS, but The composition of isoon-site in real-time with AND TEMPORALLY. topes is dictated by the source datarates exceeding 10Hz. material isotopic composition Such performance is essential and the physical process of the molecule formation; for reliable remote monitoring and flux analysis. biogenic processes prefer lighter isotopes due to slight Commercial OIRS instruments are based on mulenergy advantage. Photosynthetic organisms prefertipass tuneable diode laser absorption spectroscopy entially take up 12C over 13C due to faster diffusion (TDLAS), cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) and and enzymatic preference. Anthropogenic processes integrated cavity output spectroscopy. tend to enrich heavier isotopes, especially in highTDLAS and CRDS are the techniques employed by temperature combustion. Such isotopic fractionation VTT for high-speed small sample volume and high effects, (see Figure 1) provide a reliable and widely sensitivity applications, respectively. TDLAS techused fingerprint for the origin of the gas species. VTT nique relies on fast scanning of the laser wavelength has been involved in various studies of stable isotopes over absorption peaks, corresponding to different over the years [2, 3] and activities are expected to isotopologues of the probed species. The transmitted increase with availability of the newly developed signal is measured with a photodetector and absorpinstruments. tion is directly inferred from the detected signal. Modern CO2 also only contains 1.2 parts per Sensitivity of the technique is enhanced via optical trillion (ppt) of the naturally occurring radioactive multipass beam path through the sample volume, isotope of carbon, radiocarbon or 14C, produced thus increasing the interaction length by a cell length from nitrogen by thermal neutrons, either naturally multiple. In CRDS technique interaction length bein upper atmosphere or in anthropogenic nuclear tween the light and the sample is further enhanced by reactions, e.g. nuclear power plants or past atmosintroducing the optical cavity, formed by two highly pheric nuclear weapon tests. It is part of the carbon reflective mirrors (see Figure 3). The laser light, once cycle, and found in every living organism at the same coupled into the cavity, is reflected back and forth by
the highly reflective cavity mirrors, reaching on average several kilometres optical pathlengths before leaking out of the cavity. The absorption signal in CRDS technique is inferred from the cavity leak rate, i.e. ring-down times making the method immune to laser intensity variations. More reliable atmospheric monitoring Atmospheric research employs isotopes as source identifiers, mostly for greenhouse gases (GHGs). The strength of the source or sink can be evaluated through flux measurements [4]. The source strength information is essential for reliable modelling of atmospheric chemistry, playing major role in estimation of global warming. EU member states are required to report their annual GHG emissions; however, current observation networks cannot verify reported emission reductions. Isotope specific flux measurements of GHGs cover source identification studies on a local scale and can be used for regulatory purposes for verification of the reported values. Back-trajectory calculations combining frequent remote measurements and monitored weather conditions can cover continental-scale source mapping [5]. The remotely measured air mass containing emission information can be back-propagated to form probability map of geographical locations indicating the longest residence time at lowest altitudes. Such maps, when combined with longterm monitoring, get more accurate with time. Atmospheric dilution effects are accounted for via Keeling plot method. Keeling plot calculation assumes dilution of the background isotopic composition with the isotopic finger-
FIGURE 1. Source identification map of CO2. 42 VTT Impulse
print of the emission source and relies on high number of samples. Therefore, optical isotopic ratio measurements providing data on second or minute timescale are ideal for such purposes. VTT develops portable instruments for on-site measurements of stable isotopes of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane. Such instruments can be used for reliable atmospheric monitoring and various source identification studies. Industrial applications for isotopic ratio analysis include stack emission monitoring for fuel source identification, soil nutrition monitoring for agriculture, waste water treatment monitoring, biofraction determination in biogas and numerous other possibilities. VTT is in the frontier of OIRS instrument development, having years of experience in mid-IR spectroscopic technology. The instrument development includes several case studies such as optical radiocarbon detection, analysis of isotopic ratios of atmospheric GHGs, determination of SI-traceable absorption line parameters and lately the development of compact isotopic analysers for medical breath air studies and biofraction determination in energy gases. New research horizons Novel spectroscopic techniques allow for approaching the existing methodology from a new perspective. For example, knowing the sources of biogas and natural gas in the energy gas mixture, stable isotopologues of methane can provide the information on their proportions. Knowledge of the amount of fossil fuel in a mixture is an effective way of carbon emission charge reduction.
FIGURE 2. Radiocarbon cycle.
Currently the biofraction is determined by analysing samples in AMS facilities. Optical spectroscopy offers a real-time and cost efficient alternative to on-line measurements of biogas. Together with European partners VTT investigates the feasibility of on-line biofraction determination based on optical spectroscopy of stable isotopes. Current spectroscopic techniques have reached sensitivity levels where uncertainties in preparation of standard gases became the limiting factor for reliable atmospheric GHG monitoring. Typically gravimetrically prepared standards rely on assumption of natural isotopic abundance of isotopes in the source materials. The ratios of the most abundant isotopes can vary significantly with collection location and source of the species, thus affecting the number density of molecules in a given mass. The isotopic composition correction for gravimetric standard gas production can be readily provided by monitoring isotopic compositions of source materials. However, high level of precision and SI-traceability are the prerequisite for such activities. VTT develops isotopic ratio analysers for CO2 and CH4 to support gravimetric standard gas preparation. Detection of radiocarbon also plays an important role in many scientific and industrial applications, with its most known application is carbon dating. Several other applications are possible as it is the ideal tracer for discriminating between emissions of fossil origin or biogenic origin. Available methods to detect radiocarbon, such as accelerator mass spectrometry or liquid scintillation count-
ing, are large, expensive and not suitable for in-situ measurement. In addition they usually require long and complex sample preparation, making real-time monitoring impossible. Using some of the most advanced spectroscopic techniques VTT develops an instrument to detect radiocarbon with on-line on-site measurement capabilities. The advent of a portable instrument for the detection of radiocarbon might revolutionize many applications by providing users an alternative to conventional techniques. One might also envisioned new application in this field as this instrument can provide real-time measurement capabilities, which is not possible with current techniques. High sensitivity is achieved by using CRDS, and thanks to the use of a quantum cascade laser as light source and a simple design, the instrument is compact, ideal for field measurement. Increasingly accurate radiocarbon content detection The low natural abundance of radiocarbon makes its detection extremely challenging and part of our research has therefore focussed on applications related to nuclear facilities, where elevated levels of radiocarbon can be found, and potential applications are less demanding. Radiocarbon is present in all parts of nuclear power plants and most of it has potential for gas-phase release, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide [6]. For instance, gas emissions containing elevated levels of radiocarbon are produced in waste repositories, due to biodegradation of radioactive waste [7], (see Figure 4). VTT Impulse 43
FIGURE 3.
Principle of the cavity ring-down spectroscopy technique. Optical cavity is pumped with a laser. The optical leak rate (ring-down) of empty cavity is decreased by absorbing molecules.
Sensitive measurement of the radiocarbon content could detect the smallest leaks of contaminated gases. In the future, the amount of waste to be treated and monitored will increase, and so will potential emissions. Operational gaseous emissions also take place inside nuclear facilities, and nuclear power plants are required to monitor their radiocarbon emissions through their stacks. For the moment this is done by collecting samples over large period of time. The instrument developed at VTT could provide on-line automatic monitoring of those emissions. Recent results have shown that our instrument using advanced spectroscopic techniques is already able to detect low levels of radiocarbon, suitable for monitoring of emissions in nuclear facilities [8]. In the future, further development of the instrument towards field capabilities should ensure a great impact by providing a new way of measuring the main source of radioactive emissions in nuclear facili-
FIGURE 4.
Production of elevated levels of radiocarbon.
44 VTT Impulse
ties. With the shut down and decommissioning of the VTT research reactor and the opening of the VTT Centre for Nuclear Safety, this activity will also provide interesting link with other research areas of VTT. Once the instrument can detect radiocarbon at level below 1ppt, i.e. below its natural abundance, several new exciting applications can be foreseen. The instrument is therefore currently upgraded towards greater sensitivity, using some of the most advanced spectroscopic techniques. Monitoring of anthropogenic emissions of fossil origin can be done by measuring the amount of the radiocarbon isotope in carbon dioxide, as fossil fuel does not contain any radiocarbon due to its old age. Thanks to the on-site on-line measurement capabilities of the instrument developed at VTT, it will be possible to observe temporal and local variations of the radiocarbon content of the atmosphere, and help better understand climate change. It will provide information that is
normally not available to climate scientists with traditional emissions monitoring techniques. Radiocarbon analysis provides a straightforward and reliable way to determine biofraction of mixed fuels, which is crucial for the European Union Emission Trading System. Large producers of CO2 are obliged to monitor and report their emissions. However, the ratio of fossil and modern carbon in incinerated waste or mixed fuel is highly uncertain, thus affecting the reliability of the trading system [9, 10]. Monitoring is usually done by accounting, which is highly uncertain. A precise determination of the 14C/12C isotope ratio with this instrument will provide information about the bio/fossil ratio on-site and in real-time, thus fundamentally changing this issue. Portable tools for biomedicine Finally, we also anticipate applications both for radiocarbon and for stable isotope analysis in the field of biomedical research. Microdos-
ing studies using radiocarbon are a good way to reduce the amount of drug intake by the patient, allowing observing the effect of drugs with almost no risk of side effects [11]. However, current method uses accelerator mass spectrometry to analyse their samples, thus requiring transferring the samples to different facilities. The advent of a portable instrument could revolutionise this field by providing much more users with a way to analyse their samples. Stable isotope breath tests provide painless and non-invasive alternative for diagnosis and monitoring of numerous diseases and conditions. For instance 13C/12C ratio in exhaled CO2 can be used to diagnose and monitor bacterial infection, gastric emptying, liver function, bacterial overgrowth, absorption and numerous other conditions [12]. Typical way is to digest specific 13C-labelled compounds, which are converted and transferred into breath air. The air is sampled into bags before and after the digestion, and the
ALBERT MANNINEN
GUILLAUME GENOUD
MIKKO MERIMAA
Dr Albert Manninen (PhD) became an employee of VTT when the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation and VTT were merged. He is a Senior Scientist in VTT’s environmental metrology team, and studies optical spectroscopy and hyperspectral remote sensing. Manninen is head of VTT’s isotope metrology growth area.
Dr Guillaume Genoud (PhD) is a Research Scientist in VTT’s environmental metrology team. He began working at the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation in 2011, after graduating from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and completing his doctoral dissertation at Lund University. He became an employee of VTT when the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation and VTT were merged. Genoud is responsible for the research on radiocarbon detection using laser spectroscopy.
Dr Mikko Merimaa (PhD) is a Research Manager and a Principal Scientist at VTT’s national reference laboratory, MIKES Metrology. Merimaa received his doctorate from the Helsinki University of Technology at the turn of the millennium, and his dissertation discussed diode laser-based reference frequencies. He is responsible for maintaining the official time in Finland. His most recent research projects have involved high-precision spectroscopy, optical clocks, and time links.
VTT Impulse 45
THE ADVENT OF A PORTABLE INSTRUMENT COULD REVOLUTIONISE THIS FIELD BY PROVIDING MUCH MORE USERS WITH A WAY TO ANALYSE THEIR SAMPLES. samples are analysed in the lab, for example using IRMS. Delay time between the digestion of the labelled product and transfer into exhaled CO2 depends on the condition being monitored and is typically in the range of 10–100 minutes. VTT develops a compact instrument capable of continuous measurements of stable isotopes in exhaled air. The instrument will be capable of measuring isotopic ratios directly from the
breath air, removing the risk of inaccurate or contaminated bag sampling. The technique could be used for monitoring different isotopes of exhaled compounds, thus opening research pathways for development of new isotopic tracers. Conclusions Isotopes provide invaluable information on origin, pathway and removal of gaseous species. Detection of both the stable isotopes and the radiocarbon is widely applied in various fields. Latest innovations in mid-IR technology offer spectacular improvements to spectroscopic detection of the most relevant light molecules, and allows for real-time in-situ monitoring of isotopes. VTT cutting edge research in the field aims towards commercialisation of the technology to provide tools for industry, medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. As an example, mobile optical radiocarbon analyser will be taken to on-site monitoring of 14CO2 at nuclear facilities. Also compact breath air analyser is planned to be applied to isotope-specific medical studies. n
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46 VTT Impulse
TECHNOLOGY VTT boosts sports performance VTT has developed wearable technology for improving sports performance in cooperation with Finland’s national swimming team and archery association. Wearable sensors can be attached to, say, a swimmer’s hand paddles or an archer’s equipment. From there, data is wirelessly transferred to the coach’s smartphone or tablet. “Wireless sensor technology can be embedded in a range of sports equipment, such as ski poles, skis, racquets and bicycles, and can even be used in horse training,” says Raimo Korhonen, Head of Research Area at VTT.
VTT’s beauty patch works VTT HAS ANALYSED the effectiveness of its beauty patch, using a
technique for imaging live tissue so as to demonstrate the beneficial effects of the patch on the skin. Preliminary results show that already after two weeks’ usage the patch together with cosmetic serum adds collagen, which helps skin tissue to stay supple. Preliminary results also show a temporary rise in cell metabolic activity due to the treatment. In addition, the sweat pores opened and the sweat ducts dilated by 52% compared to the initial situation, which also promotes absorption of skin care products. VTT is now seeking a partner to commercialise its beauty patch technology.
60 %
of the respondents to VTT’s survey among 1,500 companies in real estate and construction said that they would be interested in using the E-PASS energy performance assessment tool.
Smart rollator VTT has made the traditional rollator smart by retrofitting it with sensors and digital software that analyse the user’s physical condition and daily activities. This allows the device to collect useful information on the user’s daily rhythm, walking distances, duration and speed of walking, in addition to hand grip strength. Such information can then be used to monitor the users’ wellbeing and physical condition. 48 VTT Impulse
A TRIO OF DEVELOPERS of the future at VTT: MilliLab Director Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä (on the
left) focuses on the development of fifth-generation (5G) wireless data communications systems, while Business Development Manager Denis Sevelev markets VTT’s scientific research to export markets. Research Scientist Lauri Reuter says the hottest topic in his research area is synthetic biology and design cells. Read more about the subject on page 58.
VTT Impulse 49
TECHNOLOGY
Photo: Vesa Tyni
Ideas of the future
KEY PERSON Pekka Tuomaala KEY MESSAGE VTTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Human Thermal Model calculation application reveals the actual individual human thermal comfort of a building user. VTT CONTACT Pekka Tuomaala MORE INFORMATION www.vtt.fi
Why do so many women feel chilly indoors?
50 VTT Impulse
Photo: iStockphoto
TECHNOLOGY
KEY WORDS Thermal comfort, thermal sensation, ventilation
TECHNOLOGY As women tend to have less muscle mass than men, they can feel chilly at an indoor temperature that men find perfectly comfortable. With VTT’s Human Thermal Model calculation application, it is possible to calculate the effects of individual factors on a person’s thermal sensation and the actual individual human thermal comfort of a building user. Text Leena Koskenlaakso
P
eople in Western countries are spending more than 90% of their time indoors. The quality of their indoor environment is, therefore, of great importance. It is affected by temperature, indoor air quality, lighting and acoustics. Indoor air quality has improved in leaps and bounds, and today it is possible to control ventilation based on demand and in an energyefficient way. According to Principal Scientist Pekka Tuomaala, most complaints are related to temperature. “More than 90% of the respondents of a study by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) reported receiving complaints about the temperature being too hot or cold. There is room for improvement in this area,” Tuomaala says. Thermal sensation depends on many factors Human thermal sensation is affected most by room temperature. Other factors include air velocity and relative humidity. In addition to the physical factors related to the environment, another key factor affecting thermal sensation is the level of heat generated
by the person’s body functions and metabolism. This in turn depends on the persons’ anatomy and the amount of different tissue types in their body. In addition to individual physical characteristics, the person’s activity level is also relevant – whether they are sitting, walking, exercising or sleeping. Another important contributor to human thermal comfort and sensation is clothing insulation. Does the temperature feel comfortable? “Construction standards refer to thermal sensation. One way to create a thermal sensation index is to conduct a survey where respondents assess their personal thermal sensation on a standard scale (where -3 = cold, -2 = cool , -1 = slightly cool, 0 = neutral, +1 slightly warm, +2 = warm and +3 = hot),” Tuomaala explains. “Povl Ole Fanger’s PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) method has been used to calculate thermal comfort since the 1970s. However, the method has some basic restrictions. It does not make any allowance for differences between individuals, nor does it take into account the effect of the human thermoregulatory system. When assessing human thermal sensation and comfort, it is VTT Impulse 51
Photo: Juho Kuva
“Considering the surprising range of variation in individual thermal sensation and comfort, we should seriously consider who buildings are designed for in Finland,” Pekka Tuomaala says.
important to take into account our physiological thermal regulation mechanisms and natural ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.”
There are less than five calculation tools available globally that take into account the thermodynamic behaviour of both the space and the people in it.
VTT’s Human Thermal Model calculation tool Human thermal models enable the modelling of the thermal behaviour of the human body in physical and physiological terms, as well as the body’s thermoregulatory system. Riikka Holopainen’s thesis for her degree of Doctor of Science in Technology published in 2012 presents the first application that combines human thermal modelling with a dynamic building simulation program. It is called the Human Thermal Model (HTM). “This tool enables the use of our simulation environment to calculate the boundary conditions of the surrounding space and the thermodynamic behaviour of the human body at the same time. This approach enables us to calculate the interaction and transient heat transfer between the humans and the building structures in a more accurate and realistic way,” Tuomaala explains.
Higher body fat percentage makes women feel chilly The HTM application contains models for human anatomy and physiology. The anatomy model describes 16 parts of the body (hands, forearms, upper arms, feet, lower legs, thighs, neck, head, chest/back and pelvis) and their tissue layers (the bone, muscle, fat and skin in limbs, for example). The physiology model consists of the human thermoregulation mechanisms, such as blood circulation, sweating and shivering. When information on the building and individual information on a person’s anatomy and physiology are entered into the application, it calculates the tissue temperatures of different parts of the body. By entering this data into a thermal sensation and calculation model developed by Zhang Hui, we can study local thermal sensations.
52 VTT Impulse
“THE REFERENCE TEMPERATURE OF 21.5 DEGREES THAT IS TYPICALLY USED IN FINLAND PROVED TOO COLD FOR SOME EMPLOYEES, COMFORTABLE FOR MOST, AND TOO HOT FOR SOME.” A person’s body structure – and the body’s ability to generate heat – is affected by gender, age, height, weight and muscularity. “If a person has a body mass index of 25, which is the limit for being considered overweight, men’s average body fat percentage is 20 and women’s 30. Body fat is an energy reserve with a metabolic heat generation rate of 0.004 W per kilogram of fat. In comparison, muscle produces heat at a basal metabolic rate of about 1 W/kg, even when we sleep,” Tuomaala says. “On average, men have 5 to 15 kilograms more muscle mass than women. Because muscle generates about a thousand times more heat than fat tissue, men feel comfortable at lower temperatures than women.”
Results of a Swiss field study that was conducted in 2006–2009 in Lausanne to study the thermal sensations and comfort of employees in an office building are similar. “The reference temperature of 21.5 degrees that is typically used in Finland proved too cold for some employees, comfortable for most, and too hot for some. Differences between the optimal temperatures of persons varied by about five degrees. The results have been reported in an article written by David Daum and his colleagues, published in the Building and Environment magazine in 2011.” The Tekes-funded Evicures project in the Seinäjoki Central Hospital has provided similar results on the differences in people’s thermal sensations.
Small revolution Pekka Tuomaala and his colleagues used the HTM application to calculate the thermal comfort of a test group consisting of three men and three women. They selected the same activity level (office worker) for all of them, and all members of the test group wore clothing typical of office workers. Body compositions represented variants at both ends of the scale. Body mass indices varied from 20 to 30 and body fat percentages from 10 to 50%. “When we analysed the thermal sensations of this group with our calculation tool, the results were so striking that I couldn’t believe my eyes at first. For a muscular man, the optimal temperature was 20.7 degrees, while for a non-muscular man it was 24.4 degrees. The preferred temperature of a muscular man and a non-muscular woman varied even more – as much as six degrees. Recognising this phenomenon that is caused by differences in people’s body composition represents a small revolution.”
Who are buildings designed for? Considering the surprising range of variation in individual thermal sensation and comfort, Tuomaala suggests that we should seriously consider who buildings are designed for in Finland. “There is a conflict between the currently used indoor environment quality classification and our research results. At a minimum, we should critically assess the design and dimensioning criteria,” he says. More precise temperature control would also be more cost-efficient. “Annual salary costs in Finland amount to 100 billion euros. According to international research scientists, the ability to adjust temperatures by +/- 3 degrees to accommodate individual preferences would save between 3 and 7% of labour costs. Indoor temperature affects productivity. According to recent reports, if the indoor conditions are good, the value and utilisation rate of a building can increase by 10%,” Tuomaala says. n VTT Impulse 53
TECHNOLOGY
KEY WORDS Oat technology, Fazer, functional ingredients KEY PERSONS Anu Kaukovirta-Norja, Markku Mikola and Pekka Mäki-Reinikka KEY MESSAGE A new technology developed and patented by VTT enables the extraction of new functional ingredients from oats. VTT’S CONTACT PERSON Anu Kaukovirta-Norja MORE INFORMATION www.vtt.fi
54 VTT Impulse
Global demand for oats
is increasing strongly Fazer Mill has licensed the technology that enables the production of new functional ingredients from oats. These can be sold for the dairy, dietary supplement, snacks and cosmetics industries. Text Sari Alhava Photos Fazer, iStockphoto
T
he production of oat ingredients is launching as a result of long-spanning research. VTT started to study functional oats in 2003 in cooperation with the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). “Concentration of oat fibre provided excellent results almost by chance. We conducted technical and financial calculations in a commercialisation project funded by Tekes and continued product development. It always takes long-term efforts to develop our technologies ready to commercial production and customer’s processes,” says Anu Kaukovirta-Norja, Vice President R&D, Bio and Process Technology at VTT. In this particular case, the timing was perfect for cooperation. Fazer Mill had invested into its own oats mill in 2013 for the purpose of processing oat flakes. “We wanted to increase the degree to which oats are processed and also develop new products, particularly for food industry applications. VTT offered the patent to us around that time, and it was exactly what we VTT Impulse 55
According to Pekka Mäki-Reinikka and Markku Mikola from Fazer Mill, the new technology enables the extraction of valuable healthy ingredients: oat betaglucan, oat protein and oat oil.
HISTORY OF FAZER MILL FAZER MILL was founded in 1971. For the
first 20 years of its operation, it provided ingredients only for the bakeries and biscuit and sweet factories in the Fazer Group. Fazer Mill was granted permission to sell products to other countries shortly before Finland joined the European Union. The oats mill was acquired in 2013. The latest line to be finished is the oat ingredient processing line that was taken into production use towards the end of 2015. During the first 44 years of its operation, the largest mill in Finland focused on B2B sales. The very first consumer product, the Alku (“Start”) porridge, was launched in 2015. Fazer Mill employs 68 persons who have solid expertise and education in food science, including cereal technology graduates and doctors, food-science engineers and economists. With new additions to the staff, there has been special emphasis on language skills and international experience, which makes Fazer Mill well equipped to operate on the global markets.
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were looking for. We licensed the innovation after lengthy negotiations, and have an exclusive right to use it in Europe and Russia,” says Pekka Mäki-Reinikka, VP Fazer Mill & Mixes. Mäki-Reinikka and Fazer Mill’s Senior Manager, R&D Markku Mikola extend special thanks to Juhani Sibakov, Anu Kaukovirta-Norja, Juha Ahvenainen and Taina Saksa at VTT. “VTT has done the right things and has adopted a long-term visionary approach,” they say. VTT and Fazer Mill have enjoyed close relations for decades, but this is the first time the organisations are working together as business partners. The high quality of Finnish oats is a great asset Functional ingredients are a hot topic globally thanks to the health and wellness boom. Oats in particular are in increasingly high demand. Fazer invested in the oats mill at the best possible time. “Oats are a true superfood, and, thanks to their high quality, Finnish oats are a highly valued ingredient. We want to meet this increasing demand. It makes sense to process oats further in Finland,” Mikola says. When commercialising a product, it is typical to overestimate future demand, but the exact opposite is true for the sales volume estimates for oats. “The same may well happen in the oat ingredient market,” Mäki-Reinikka estimates. He says that, while Fazer Mill was initially interested in exporting oats and oats ingredients to neighbouring areas, further studies indicated that the oat markets are growing globally. Oats truly are good for you Oats have a good social image, and as an easily digestible food, are suitable for most people. Allergies are rare, and most celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients can eat oats. Oats-based products are in demand specifically because of proven health benefits.
“OATS ARE A TRUE SUPERFOOD, AND, THANKS TO THEIR HIGH QUALITY, FINNISH OATS ARE A HIGHLY VALUED INGREDIENT.”
The EU has approved several health claims about oats. Oats contain beta-glucan, which helps maintain healthy blood cholesterol level, which in turn reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. The fibre in oats promotes digestive health. “Finnish oat protein is also welcomed by consumers who want to eat more domestic plant protein. Oat oil is a good, healthy vegetable oil,” Mikola points out. Healthier snack and breakfast choices With the new technology, it is possible to break down oats so as to extract valuable healthy ingredients: oat beta-glucan, oat protein and oat oil. The process produces pure components with no residues. “By concentrating beta-glucan from oats, it is possible to pack more health ‘punch’ in a smaller package. The concentrate is also easier
to add to various consumer products,” Mikola explains. Apart from bakeries, Fazer Mill’s new products will be in demand in the dairy, dietary supplement, snacks and cosmetics industries. “In the food sector, they are suitable for snack bars and biscuits as well as breakfast products that promote heart health,” Mikola explains. The Fazer Group can use the oat ingredients in its own products, but the company also plans to manufacture them for the export markets. “We export the basic product from our oats mill, i.e. oat flakes, to 25 countries. The market for oat ingredients is just as global, if not more so,” Mäki-Reinikka says. Having said that, he emphasises that the domestic market remains an important focus area. “The mill that produces the basic products is a foundation for everything else.” n VTT Impulse 57
TECHNOLOGY
Developers
of the future
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KEY PERSONS Lauri Reuter, Denis Sevelev and Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä, VTT. KEY MESSAGE VTT’s international research environment creates new technologies and solutions from laboratories to product lines. VTT CONTACT Lauri Reuter, Denis Sevelev and Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä. MORE INFORMATION www.vtt.fi
Text Marjatta Pietilä Photos Vesa Tyni
Working at VTT means being ahead of the curve and building competitive ability by bringing new technologies and solutions from laboratories to product lines. For VTT’s employees, it is a way of life and an opportunity for adventures in a creative, international research environment.
R Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä is the Director of Millilab and leads VTT’s antennas and RF technologies team, Denis Sevelev is responsible for development of VTT’s nuclear energy business and Research Scientist Lauri Reuter works in VTT’s plant biotechnology and metabolomics team.
esearch Scientist Lauri Reuter is a member of VTT’s plant biotechnology and metabolomics team. “Right now, the hottest topic in my research area is synthetic biology. New genome editing tools, more advanced modelling methods and increased knowledge of genomes have dramatically changed the thinking in this area,” he says. According to Reuter, up to now, bioinformatics and genetic engineering have largely been based on trial and error – and a lot of manual work. Today’s genetics are approaching engineering sciences. “It is possible to use genetic building blocks in a modular way, and effective standards are currently being developed. Modelling and robotics enable the engineering of completely new qualities quickly and in a controlled way in existing organisms – and even the engineering of newto-nature biological systems!” VTT Impulse 59
TECHNOLOGY
KEY WORDS Research, young researchers
VTT’s plant biotechnology and metabolomics team is currently wrapping up a four-year research project for the Academy of Finland on the production of hydrophobin-assisted protein production in plants and genetically modified plant cell cultures. “VTT has done extensive research in hydrophobins, and for good reason. These small proteins have many intriguing properties that have a variety of applications in food industry, nano-particles and materials technologies. We have coupled these properties of hydrophobins to activities of other proteins with very exciting results.” It is the sense of adventure that appeals to Lauri Reuter in his work. A new idea may strike in the laboratory, at a seminar or even during après-ski, and pursuing it may take the work to a completely new direction. “VTT provides an excellent framework for creative academic adventures. VTT Young Professionals is a great network for finding contacts and making plans for the future; at best, new ideas are driven by a
LAURI REUTER Lauri Reuter (MSc) graduated from Wagenigen University in the Netherlands in 2012. He works as a research scientist in VTT’s plant biotechnology and metabolomics team, and is currently preparing his doctoral thesis on hydrophobin-assisted protein production in plant cell cultures.
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multi-disciplinary group of professionals. The organisation has also been very supportive of testing fresh ideas. In research work, you never quite know where you are going to end up, which is a great thing!” Scientific expertise as an export item Business Development Manager Denis Sevelev works in VTT’s business area of Smart Industry and Energy Systems integration research area. “VTT is known for solid expertise in the areas of nuclear safety and spent nuclear fuel. It is time to start marketing our scientific research to the export markets,” Sevelev says. “My role is to help our scientists to find new international customers and help VTT provide an offering that meets the most urgent customer needs. It requires communication with both the external and internal customers, the latter being VTT’s research scientist, who are the value creators at VTT,” he explains. “My work is an interesting and lively mix of opportunities, challenges, frontiers and regulations, with a touch of VTT’s passion for going deeper into the matter under research. Competition in the nuclear markets is intense and price often makes or breaks the deal. It is challenging to find a balance between profitability and the added-value of our offering.” Sevelev finds working with professional researchers very fascinating. VTT not only provides opportunities for interaction with both experienced researchers and bright young minds, but also brings together people from very diverse cultural backgrounds. “The range of views and broad-minded attitudes is a great learning opportunity. It does always motivate me,” Sevelev says. 5G is coming! Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä is the Director of Millilab and leader of VTT’s antennas and RF technologies team. One of the main areas in this field, both in Finland and abroad, is the development of fifth-generation (5G) wireless communication systems. Data volumes in networks have grown significantly in the past few years, and this development is expected to continue at an increasing pace. User numbers will also grow as an increasing number of devices is connected to the internet.
“VTT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IS A GREAT NETWORK FOR FINDING CONTACTS AND MAKING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.”
DENIS SEVELEV
TAUNO VÄHÄ-HEIKKILÄ
Denis Sevelev (MSc) is a Master of Technology and started working in the IT sector after graduating from the Moscow Institute of Electronic Engineering (MIET) in 1997. He joined VTT in 2015 and is responsible for the business development of VTT’s nuclear energy business line.
Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä (DTech) is the Director of Millilab and leads VTT’s antennas and RF technologies team. MilliLab is the ESA External Laboratory of Millimetre Wave Technology.
We need new technical solutions to transfer all this data. In terms of radio technologies, this means, for example, utilisation of higher frequency bands. Frequency bands will be allocated globally in 2017 and 2019, which sets a schedule for the implementation of 5G systems. “At VTT, we have developed components and systems for millimetre waves (30 to 300 GHz) for space, security and industrial applications since the 1990s. In recent years, we have leveraged this special expertise in the development of 5G millimetre wave range components, antennas, modules and subsystems. We have worked with customers and partners to develop radio prototypes for 5G millimetre radio waves. These can achieve data transfer speeds multiple times higher than today’s 4G smartphones,” Vähä-Heikkilä explains. “The future objective is to be able to transfer gigabytes in seconds with smartphones or other portable devices.” Vähä-Heikkilä is fascinated by the versatile and international nature of his work. “We are involved in everything and anything under the sun – or more accurately, on earth and space. It is interesting to work together with customers to develop their future products.” n VTT Impulse 61
TECHNOLOGY
KEY WORDS Innovations, SMEs, competitiveness KEY PERSONS Risto Kuivanen, Erja Turunen KEY MESSAGE VTT’s For Industry programme tackles competitiveness challenges by developing solutions for the manufacturing industry. VTT CONTACT Risto Kuivanen MORE INFORMATION www.vtt.fi
For Industry powers Finnish manufacturing industry VTT launched the For Industry spearhead programme in early 2015 to provide services for Finnish manufacturing industry. Text Sirpa Posti
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TT’s Vice President Erja Turunen says that technology industry plays a significant role in Finnish economy. It accounts for 50% of Finnish exports. “Technology industry employs 280,000 people directly and 700,000 indirectly, which in total accounts for 30% of the workforce in Finland. Manufacturing industry drives domestic production and the international competitiveness of products and services. This is of benefit for both large enterprises and SMEs, which have great potential. These facts motivated VTT to launch the For industry programme,” Turunen says. The For Industry programme tackles competitiveness challenges by developing solutions which can be widely exploited by the manufacturing industry in Finland. Competitiveness is built by modern products and production, increased digitalisation and wide utilisation of the industrial internet. The programme makes use of domestic and international networks, alliances and new business models. Large enterprises tend to adopt new technologies quicker than small businesses. The spearhead programme provides pioneering modules for large 62 VTT Impulse
enterprises, which act as drivers that attract smaller businesses to their network. SMEs benefit from the pull of a larger enterprise’s brand. The programme’s technologies are specifically tailored to the needs of the Finnish SME sector and can provide a much needed stimulus for both domestic production and international competitiveness of Finnish products and services. “To succeed, SMEs need an excellent product or service (or both), efficient production and business processes as well as the ability to identify their own niche on the market to specialise in an area that large enterprises do not occupy. They also need to have solid expertise and ability to stand out,” says Business Development Manager Risto Kuivanen who is managing the programme at VTT. Key technologies in the programme include the industrial internet, 3D printing (also called Additive Manufacturing or AM technology), automation, robotics and embedded intelligence. The programme has a strong basis in the use of digitalisation from the very start. The budget for the programme is EUR 20 million in 2015.
Photo: Ari Ijäs
“VTT and Tampere University of Technology work together to boost the competitiveness of SMEs,” says Risto Kuivanen.
Wide net cast with project start-offs VTT has developed a new Project start-off model for SMEs, launching development projects in specific topic areas with SMEs to drive their future growth and success. With these ready-made solution models and methods, the SMEs can react quickly to changes in their operating environment and create new openings by working in cooperation with others. “We decided to create a tailored offering for SMEs because of the vast variety of SMEs in the manufacturing industry. We grouped ideas together to form a net of sorts to catch themes that we feel are important for the sector. We have organised effective 1.5-hour workshops with SMEs, VTT’s experts and representatives from funding providers. Companies bring their own views to the table, we discuss them and agree on next steps and follow-up,” Kuivanen explains. VTT organised 10 Project start-off workshops before the summer in different parts of the country for 100 participating companies. Another 10 will be organised towards the end of the year. The aim is to bring between 150 to 200 company participants to the workshops this year. Kuivanen ensures that any SMEs that have the spark and determination to grow and develop their production or products are welcome to the workshops. “Working with the SME sector also requires new skills from us. We have taken things on board from Project start-offs and have a better understanding of the needs and business of SMEs. A customer-oriented approach and sales are our key skills,” Risto Kuivanen emphasises.
Competitive leap boosted by EUR 40 million A major event in the programme took place this autumn when VTT and the Tampere University of Technology launched the Smart Machines and Manufacturing Competence Centre (SMACC), the most significant centre of its kind in Finland. The annual volume of the competence centre is EUR 40 million in total. The centre aims to boost the potential, competitiveness and exports of Finnish manufacturing industry. SMEs and their profitability take centre stage. The competitive leap will be implemented with smart machines and is driven by cooperation that leverages new technologies. These include smart machines, production and manufacturing technologies, robotics, the industrial internet, digitalisation as well as additive manufacturing, such as 3D technology. More power through cooperation The SMACC operating model adopted by VTT and Tampere University of Technology is based on agile virtual teams that support quick experimentation and straightforward problem solving. Networking with Finnish universities and key international partners together with deeper cooperation with other domestic operators is vital to achieve commercial breakthroughs quickly. This will open up completely new business models for SMEs. VTT’s Vice President Erja Turunen says that VTT has solid expertise in technology foresight and business, effective infrastructure and research cooperation networks as well as direct access to parties in Finland and international partners. VTT Impulse 63
NEW OPERATING MODELS ACCELERATE THE UTILISATION OF RESEARCH DATA BY SMES IN INDUSTRY. “It is important to cast a wide net in terms of cooperation – we cannot go at it alone. Our spearhead programme is also actively creating a community of researches in Finland. Good examples include the SMACC cooperation with the Tampere University of Technology and the Pirkanmaa region as well as the new partner models we are developing with Finpro. As an important international strategic partner, we have deepened our cooperation with Tecnalia in Spain, which is actively involved in programmes such as Horizon 2020,” Turunen says, considering stakeholder involvement in the For Industry spearhead Erja Turunen programme. n
COME AND JOIN US AT A PROJECT WORKSHOP! MORE INFORMATION on the project start-off
schedules and themes as well as registration is available here: www.vtt.fi/palvelut/palvelut-pk-yrityksille/ New theme workshops will be available soon on the following topics: automated product design, utilisation of user and customer experience, SME networking, strategy process, risk foresight, possibilities of augmented reality as well as durable components. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Risto Kuivanen: For Industry programme and cooperation between VTT and Tampere University of Technology. Erja Turunen: Ecosystems (stakeholder involvement) Tiina Apilo: SME project start-offs.
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Product development the key for growth at Sandbox Clean indoor air inspired Sandbox to develop new products. The company is set to launch a new, practically silent device that can reduce particles in indoor air by as much as 80 per cent. “Our Sisäilmalähetti (‘Indoor Air Messenger’) service provides first aid at premises with indoor air problems, by temporarily protecting the users while the issue is fixed,” explains Sandbox CEO and Service Developer Jani Moberg. “Knowledge of the performance of the airpurification devices used in our service is vital for us,” he emphasises. Moberg founded the company 10 years ago after personal experience with indoor air problems. Demand for the service is the greatest in the public sector, where indoor air problems have an impact on the effectiveness of organisations as well as the productive use of premises. Many schools, daycare centres and hospitals need the service. On a mission to ensure clean indoor air for everyone Sandbox aspires to become the best in the sector, which means a systematic approach to product development. “People are at the core of our operations. Our mission is to protect children and adults from poor indoor air. In our service and product development, we are specifically interested in the value, benefit and experience related to indoor air. To this end, we collect feedback from facility managers and users, innovate and develop new service models constantly,” Moberg says. “We aim to be in the forefront of our sector, globally. This marks a significant strategic decision as we did not initially have in-house R&D operations and have so far only operated in the
New product to be launched in early 2016 According to Sandbox CEO Moberg, the R&D project makes Sandbox better equipped to implement its mission and provide new service solutions. “We have leveraged VTT’s versatile top expertise in the project, which has accelerated our own processes. Demanding areas that required special expertise included sound phenomena related to structural design.” “The air diffuser that cleans indoor air developed by Sandbox and VTT offers a new solution to indoor air problems. It reduces the number of particles in indoor air by as much as 80%, is practically silent and consumes very little energy, only a few watts,” says Moberg. The placement of the device is different from traditional free-standing devices: It is installed in the ceiling, with only a sleek front panel visible to the users of the facility. The air diffuser that cleans indoor air is connected to the intake air channel, which allows the device to use the pressure in the channel. “The operating method, structure and filtering technology of the device contain unique innovations and ambition that are strongly guided by our vision of better indoor air quality,” Moberg says. Growth in China With the new innovation, Sandbox is ready to expand its operations abroad. China in particular is an interesting target market as indoor air quality problems are commonplace there.
Photos: Ari Ijäs and Sandbox
domestic market. In line with our new strategy, we have entered the world of R&D and aim at global markets.” For most of its existence, Sandbox has worked in cooperation with VTT. Among other things, VTT has tested the particle separation, gas filtration and air cleaning ability and by-pass flows of the air cleaning devices used in Sandbox’s Sisäilmalähetti services. “Our current R&D project with VTT started two years ago when we licensed a patent developed by VTT. The next step was to develop and launch a commercial product that cleans indoor air,” Moberg explains. “The innovation patented by VTT and our commercial vision have been the cornerstones of our R&D. In terms of development, it is important to understand what high-quality and clean indoor air is, and aim to produce it effectively. Long-term cooperation provides results: in the case of Sandbox and VTT, it means securing more patents in the near future.”
“The ceiling-mounted air diffuser that cleans indoor air offers a new solution to indoor air problems,” Jani Moberg says.
“We have recruited two new employees due to the project. We expect to see both our personnel and net sales grow further in both Finland and China. We believe that we have what it takes to think big and achieve great things. We can complement the key product with other products and service business,” Moberg says. n
SANDBOX: FIRST AID FOR INDOOR AIR PROBLEMS • Company that is entering global markets. • Known for the Sisäilmalähetti (‘Indoor Air Messenger’) service that temporarily protects people from harmful indoor air. • Customers include municipalities, cities, schools, day care centres and hospitals. • Net sales of EUR 2.2 million. • Headquarters in Tampere, office in Vantaa. • Received 1st honorary mention in the Pirkanmaa INNOSUOMI innovation competition in 2011. www.sandbox.fi
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TECHNOLOGY
KEY WORDS Cellulose fibre, water footprint, carbon footprint KEY PERSONS Erica Adlercreutz, Pirjo Heikkil채 KEY MESSAGE A new technology developed by VTT enables the production of cellulose fibre without carbon disulphide, which is toxic. VTT CONTACT Ali Harlin MORE INFORMATION www.vtt.fi
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Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre Ltd collected and preprocessed cotton textiles thrown away by consumers that could not be reused as clothing or used as material for recycled products.
Converting rags to design clothes Old and worn-out cotton textiles are given a new life in a globally unique project that extracts cellulose fibre from textile waste for reuse as new knitted fabric. Text Paula Bergqvist Photos Joonas Lumpeinen, Vesa Tyni
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eveloped by VTT, the new technology enables the production of cellulose fibre without carbon disulphide, which is toxic. The method is more environmentally friendly than that used for viscose or virgin cotton. A group of Finnish organisations is involved in the project, with the aim of trying out the new production technique in practice at all stages of the value chain. Stages of a closed-loop recycling include collection, sorting, removal of buttons, zips and other fasteners, tearing of material, chemical modification and dissolving, fiberising, spinning into thread, knitting fabric, designing the product line, manufacturing the clothes, sales of the clothes and finally, returning used clothes for use as raw material for new textile material. Aiming at closed-loop recycling In May, an industrial volume of cotton textiles thrown away by consumers that could not be reused as clothing or used as material for recycled products was collected and pre-processed. These tasks were carried out by the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre and SUEZ Environnement.
VTT will de-colour the material, turn it into a cellulose carbamate solution and fiberise it in the former Avilon viscose plant in Valkeakoski that went bankrupt. The fibre is expected to have similar qualities to commercial viscose fibres. Pure Waste will turn the fibres into thread and the thread into knitted fabrics. During spinning, mechanically recycled textile fibre is mixed into the fibre to produce enough knitted fabric for a commercial product line. Seppälä will design and produce a line of prototypes and, once the pilot phase of the project has been completed, manufacture a commercial clothing line for its customers towards the end of 2016. The aim is to sell the garments in RePack packaging. Using recyclable RePack packaging means that customers receive products without the usual packaging waste. In addition, customers can use the packaging to return any old textiles they may have to the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre for recycling. Ethica, a specialist in circular economy, will study and model the potential of a closed-loop textile ecosystem more comprehensively, and gauge consumersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interest in operating models that are based on the principles of circular economy and recycled materials. VTT Impulse 67
Seppälä interested in an ecological option The project was launched last spring, at the same time as retail-clothing company Seppälä became a family owned company again. “The timing of the project was perfect for us, because the new owners wanted to strengthen sustainable business in Seppälä. Responsibility is one of Seppälä’s values, and our objective is that responsibility permeates our day-to-day operations throughout the value chain,” says Erica Adlercreutz, Purchasing Development Manager, Seppälä. Seppälä will organise a campaign at its stores during the project to close the loop by collecting used material and bringing it back to production. Customers can return their old clothes to Seppälä stores to be used as raw material for new products. “In purchasing, responsibility means increasing the share of ecological products in the Seppälä product line.” “We believe that if the customer is pleased with the look and fit of a product, when given a choice, will choose a more ecological option. If the project succeeds, it can provide more options for those looking for ecological materials. For us the option of acquiring fibres, yarn or material developed – and perhaps also produced – in Finland, is an ideal solution,” Adlercreutz says.
Erica Adlercreutz from Seppälä believes that if the customer is pleased with the look and fit of a product, when given a choice, will choose a more ecological option.
Carbon footprint reduced by 40 to 50% In the circular economy pilot, old worn-out cotton is dissolved and reused as a raw material for new fibre. Cellulose fibre is produced using the same technique and equipment as has been used to make viscose fibre for decades. The new production technique is considerably more environmentally friendly than the technique used for viscose, as no carbon disulphide is needed in the dissolution process. Compared to virgin cotton, the new technique also reduces the water footprint by more than 70% and the carbon footprint by 40 to 50%. The project is funded by Tekes and the participating businesses. n The transformation of worn-out clothes into new products started in May 2015.
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Follow the project’s progress online: www.reloopingfashion.org
BUSINESS More effective 3D printing
Smart street light control
3D printing, also called Additive Manufacturing or AM technology, enables the production of objects of nearly any shape without the limitations associated with traditional manufacturing methods. VTT and Nurmi Cylinders utilised AM technology to develop a new hydraulic valve block with a design that has been optimised to take full advantage of the benefits of 3D printing. The result is a product that is 66% smaller than the original design â&#x20AC;&#x201C; leading to savings in weight, space and material. The technology also enables small, one-off production runs.
IN SMART LIGHTING, IT and electronics work seamlessly together. Various
devices collect and share data and use it to control lighting. The SenCity project turns lighting infrastructure into a service platform that enables smart control of lighting in city spaces. Collected data is also utilised to develop other user-oriented services. SenCity partners include the cities of Helsinki, Lahti, Oulu, Raahe, Salo and Tampere. The smart functions of the service platform are not limited to the control of lighting; the aim is also to provide other services, such as guidance or information services, based on the data collected from the city space. The test installations of the SenCity project allow the development and technical testing of new types of data-based services in cities, also in the future.
66 % Cost-efficient, 3D-printed reliable hydraulic valve block that is 66% lighter than the original part.
Contextually smart mobile services Contextually smart mobile services will soon be available to consumers and professional drivers as Cinia, Multiprint, Vediafi and VTT commercialise new smart mobile services that are currently being piloted. New services will be used for producing and receiving contextually local voice and information services on vehicle operation, services, weather conditions and traffic disturbances, for example. VEDIAâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;GoSmart is available at http://www.gosmart.fi. 70 VTT Impulse
Picture: Juha Sarkkinen
BUSINESS
New way to see the world Smartglasses or ordinary glasses could soon replace even smartphones or tablets, while still allowing users to see the world around them. The displayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s user-friendliness is boosted by the fact that the virtual image forms within the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s field of vision, which prevents eye strain. Turn to page 76 to read more about the new way to see the world based on lightguide optics developed by VTT.
VTT Impulssi 71
Valion tavoitteena on puolittaa valmistamiensa maitopohjaisten välipalatuotteiden – erityisesti jogurttien – sokeripitoisuus lähivuosina.
Professor Tiina Mattila-Sandholm, Valio:
Businesses and researchers need to find each other in a new way 72 VTT Impulse
BUSINESS According to Tiina MattilaSandholm, Finland would gain significant competitive edge if universities and research institutes were able to create genuine, in-depth research cooperation with businesses. All the required elements are already in place. Utilising toplevel expertise would create great results. Text Paula Bergqvist Photos iStockphoto and Nina Dodd
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xecutive Vice President of R&D at Valio, Professor Tiina Mattila-Sandholm says that times are challenging both nationally and internationally. “This is why I consider change leadership and renewal the main objectives in my career. These are also the areas that I am interested in terms of management and leadership.” “Change and renewal is always painful. No pain, no gain – or change. We must be able to boldly leave our comfort zones; success and new openings cannot be created by half-hearted agreements. Instead, it must be possible to have open and direct discussions.” Even in the ancient Greece, people were able to speak candidly in their personal relationships. We cannot create new openings without candidness and trust, and this is where speaking openly comes in. We have funded enough quasi-cooperation and structures in Finland. VTT Impulse 73
”IN RESEARCH COOPERATION, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE COMPANY ITSELF IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEMS TO TACKLE.” Thinking cannot be outsourced According to Tiina Mattila-Sandholm, a company must, at a minimum, conduct enough in-house research to be able to understand the operating logic of research and to work in cooperation with research organisations. “If a company outsources all thinking to researchers, it is not going to get what it wants in terms of innovation. When it comes to thinking, the company’s input must be at least 50 per cent.” “In research cooperation, it is essential that the company itself identifies the problems to tackle. Too often, cooperative projects create solutions to marginal problems that the research scientist come up with. It seems that companies are lazy when it comes to identifying their core problems. And even if they do, they do not want to share them. In-depth cooperation and results are possible when the parties form a value chain which helps ensure confidentiality – and peace of mind.” In-house research has always been an important part of Valio’s operations. The company works in cooperation with Finnish and international research institutes and universities. VTT has participated in Valio’s research operations in different projects. “Projects that have developed the use of enzymes further are a good example of research cooperation between VTT and Valio. This research has helped improve the taste and structure of products. We have also made use of VTT’s protein expertise and have hired some research scientists from VTT. VTT’s role is to act as a technology expert and provide value add to companies through expertise.” Mattila-Sandholm believes that Valio is heading towards an innovative future. She describes the company’s history as pioneering and, at times, anarchic. “Valio has always been ahead of the curve. I am fascinated by the company’s ability of independent and contrary thinking. As a large enterprise, we naturally have certain processes and methods in place, but there is also a rebellious gene in our DNA. I wouldn’t want it any other way! Rebellious attitude keeps things interesting.” No point repeating the same mistakes According to Mattila-Sandholm, despite the challenging economic times, Finland should invest in research. 74 VTT Impulse
TIINA MATTILA-SANDHOLM Work: Professor, Executive Vice President, Member of Valio’s executive board since 2004. Executive Vice President, R&D at Valio since 2004, also responsible for Valio’s technology sales and baby foods. Has worked in different management roles related to HR, strategy, fresh products and production. Previously employed by VTT for an extensive period. Research Professor, Industrial Microbiology at VTT 1986–2004. Academy of Finland, Board member 2004–2009. Nutrition Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Directors 2014–. Chr Hansen and Luke, Member of the Board of Directors 2015. Leisure: Reading, studying, personal renewal. Favourite destinations include Southern Italy, Asia and the US. Favourite interests include spending time with her husband and discussions with her son.
“But without repeating the same old mistakes yet again!” She has expressed a wish to funding providers to find new types of instruments. “Funding steers the work of researchers. Universities have talked about more focused research for a long time, but when is it actually going to happen? Research institutes must also understand that a customer pays for the research, but not for the layers of management steering it. This is all too common now.” “A research scientist should understand that in business, the preparatory stage takes a while. We are not going to jump on-board simply because project funding is available. One cannot avoid the impression that businesses are not invited to participate in projects out of choice – it’s time to turn a new leaf and stop wasting money like this.” Mattila-Sandholm would like to see funding providers modify their instruments in a way that allows genuine, in-depth research cooperation. “They should create light structures without too much bureaucracy. We need to turn from words to actions, but why is it so difficult? We simply cannot afford any more pseudo-research.” “The global market is turning into an even harsher environment. Customers need added
value,and VTT is well equipped to provide opportunities for providing it. For example, development of our domestic protein self-sufficiency would be a fantastic cooperation opportunity for VTT and the Natural Resources Institute Finland.” Mattila-Sandholm says that Finland is not the only country where research cooperation is lacking. “Finland would gain significant competitive edge from genuine, in-depth research cooperation models. As an educated and skilled nation, we have all the required elements in place. As a small country, our ‘machine’ is relatively small in international comparison; many parties have direct contacts with decision-making parties, which improves agility.” n
RIDING THE CURRENT FOOD TRENDS FINNISH MILK is of uniform and high quality, which is
of benefit in all stages of processing, Professor Tiina Mattila-Sandholm says. “Milk has excellent nutritional content and is suitable for many types of applications. It contains minerals, protein and calcium, and can be used to promote recovery, vitality and sleep,” MattilaSandholm says. Current food trends in Finland reflect global trends. “At the moment, consumers are interested in protein-rich products. Authenticity is a permanent food trend. Emerging trends are related to reduced levels of sugar and salt without compromising taste. Raw foods and slow-fast-food are trends emerging from Asia,” she says. “Eating and food are associated with enjoyment and well-being; food is contributing to the reduction of stress and maintenance of vitality. The effect of gut health on our brains and energy levels are a hot topic globally.” Both gut and brain research will provide new, ground-breaking information on the way our bodies work. Can we utilise these results quickly, or will others get there first? The health effects of probiotics were a popular research topic a decade ago. However, the health
claims related to probiotics have not advanced in EFSA. “EFSA has made it impossible to adopt a scientific approach to the health effect of probiotics. Probiotics are nevertheless selling well on the global ingredients markets, and the Valio LGG bacteria is an important product for us – and popular among consumers.” Valio’s product development follows global food trends. The company aims to reduce the amount of sugar in its milk-based snack products and yoghurt in particular by 50% without compromising taste. Protein products are going to be a permanent trend, while products that promote gut health are another emerging trend. Technologies that make consumers’ lives easier are also creating trends: Valio has patented technology that prevents the scorching of milk-based products. Tiina Mattila-Sandholm drinks a glass of lactose-free milk with freshly baked cinnamon buns or rye bread. With meals she tends to drinks water. She starts her day with non-fat buttermilk and bilberry soup or Valio’s new kefir drinks. Yoghurt or quark with berries is her favourite sugar-free snack. VTT Impulse 75
According to Antti Sunnari, new applications for Dispelixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s display technology and smartglasses will appear in areas such as healthcare, the manufacturing and process industry and logistics.
Could smartglasses replace smartphones?
VTT spin-off Dispelix to commercialise a virtual display for glasses 76 VTT Impulse
VTT spin-off Dispelix brings a 60-inch virtual display to smartglasses, enabling them to replace smartphones. Text Tiina Saario-Kuikko Photos Juha Sarkkinen
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pin-off company Dispelix Oy will commercialise a new display – developed by VTT – which brings visual information directly into the user’s field of vision, as a high-definition image on an eyeglass lens. This will enable smartglasses or regular glasses to replace even smartphones or tablets, while still allowing users to see the world around them. “As electronics and optics evolve, displays will even be seamlessly integrated into ordinary glasses,” predicts Antti Sunnari, Managing Director of Dispelix Oy, which is commercialising the technology. Until now, there was no display technology available for smartglasses that allows the design of aesthetic eye wear and is suitable for high-volume production. Dispelix tackles these issues with the new solution. Developed by VTT, the technology is based on lightguide optics, which enables the manufacture of displays on either glass or plastic in the form of light and thin elements with a thickness of just one millimetre. In addition to thinness, the benefits of the technology include a large, high-quality virtual image and excellent transparency. VTT Impulse 77
“The size of the virtual image is equivalent to a 60-inch TV viewed from a distance of three metres,” Sunnari explains. The display’s user-friendliness is boosted by the fact that the virtual image forms optically in infinity within the user’s field of vision, which prevents eye strain. Dispelix’s display solution can be customised to meet customer needs – depending on the application, either simple, monochrome information or a multicoloured video image can be displayed within the user’s field of vision. Endless opportunities The display, which can be almost invisibly integrated into lenses, is already close to the markets and ready for high-volume applications. The forthcoming displays will have unlimited applications for consumer and professional use. Also integrable with current smartglasses, this product should be available to consumers within a year. The first applications will be found in the worlds of exercise, work and motor racing. Thanks to the new display, there is no need to check your pulse-rate from a watch – pulserate, navigation and activity data will be directly displayed to the user on sport glasses. “Vehicles already display a lot of information in the dashboard, navigator and other controls. It would be much better to display this information on a display in glasses, using a suitable brightness. This would allow the driver to keep
“Displays will first be placed in front of the glasses and later integrated into them,” Antti Sunnari describes the change.
78 VTT Impulse
SMARTPHONE MERGES INTO GLASSES.
their eyes on the road at all times and better focus on driving,” Sunnari says. The innovative display is also ideal for enterprise applications. Smartglasses will boost work efficiency by allowing workers to use both hands in difficult conditions, or to learn more about the task as the work progresses. New applications for Dispelix’s display technology and smartglasses will appear in areas such as healthcare, the manufacturing and process industry and logistics. Billion-dollar market The company aims to secure a share of the augmented reality markets which are estimated to generate EUR 150 billion in revenue in 2020. Optics account for some EUR 1.35 billion of this revenue. The displays are ready for mass production and the company aims to make the first customer deliveries in 2016. Primarily, this requires a good product development strategy, large contact network, choosing the right business partners and a lot of hard work at the customer interface. The company is run by two people at the moment. “My role has involved acting as a catalyst and identifying suitable manufacturing technologies. I have also created a few display elements myself, from start to finish. My business partner Juuso Olkkonen is the brains of the optics, in that none of this would have been possible without his deep and profound expertise in diffractive optics,” Sunnari emphasises. Dispelix intends to grow and estimates that it will have a staff of at least 30 people in 2020. The company currently operates in Oulu and Espoo.
“VTT’s strengths include multi-disciplinary approach and world-class research facilities. No matter what the problem is, it takes maybe 15 minutes of active searching to find a suitable expert and solve it quickly,” Antti Sunnari says.
Merging three types of reality At the moment, the sector is divided into three segments: virtual, augmented and smart eyewear. Watching movies or embarking on virtual adventures does not require a transparent display, because users are completely immersed in the movie or game. Using transparent displays and adding 3D mapping of the environment to virtual reality solutions allows the creation of engaging user experiences and, for example, product design modifications directly in the 3D world. In the future, games will be embedded into the physical environment for an immersive experience. For example, a player can see a virtual image on a coffee table, and aim and shoot Angry Birds characters at Bad Piggies on their couch. Mediated reality is well equipped to replace smartphones. All three segments will eventually merge and be available in one device, but not for quite some time yet. “It will take from five to ten years before smartglasses and smart headsets will replace smartphones and game consoles,” says Antti Sunnari from Dispelix. n
NEW TYPES OF DISPLAYS ARE EMERGING The dynamic duo behind Dispelix, Juuso Olkkonen and Antti Sunnari, are using the spin-off company to commercialise a new display technology developed by VTT. The patented technology is based on an innovation by Olkkonen, Sunnari and Olli-Heikki Huttunen. It is the first solution globally to combine the three most important qualities in smartglass manufacturing; image quality, design and cost-efficiency. The displays are ready for mass production and the company aims to make the first customer deliveries in 2016. Dispelix currently operates in Oulu and Espoo.
VTT Impulse 79
Commercial-scale manufacturing of PAPTIC will start in 2016.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAPTIC:
Wood fibre challenges plastic in carrier bags 80 VTT Impulse
Text Paula Bergqvist Photos Paptic
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ew environmentally friendly innovations are in great demand: the oceans and their inhabitants suffer from plastic debris, which is returning to our food chain through fish and other marine animals. Research data suggests that up to 90% of sea-birds have eaten plastic. The EU is aiming to reduce the amount of plastic carrier bags by introducing a new packaging waste directive. Many countries around the world have already introduced a charge or a ban to reduce the use of single-use plastic carrier bags. For example, California became the first state in the US to ban plastic bags. “The market opportunities for our woodbased bioeconomy innovation are huge. Consumers in Europe use more than 100 billion plastic bags every year. Globally, they are used at a rate of one million bags per minute,” says Paptic’s Managing Director Tuomas Mustonen. At the moment, 70% of the material used in PAPTIC bags is biobased, mostly wood fibre. The material is recyclable. “We aim to make the bags 100% biobased and also plan to use recycled materials in our products.” The manufacturing of the PAPTIC material has started on a small scale this autumn at the KCL pilot plant in Espoo. Commercial-scale manufacturing will start in 2016. The company is currently looking for value chain partners for testing industrial manufacturing and commercial cooperation. The PAPTIC product was launched in early November at the SLUSH investor event in Helsinki, and the first products will be available in early 2016. The company is currently in talks about pilot batches with Finnish, German and British companies. These will act as a proofof-concept for the compatibility of PAPTIC technology with the value and delivery chain of plastic bags from raw materials to the consumer.
Finnish softwood kraft pulp – the main ingredient Foam forming is one of the key technologies used in the manufacture of PAPTIC. It enables the manufacture of fibre products with less energy and water. Materials manufactured by form foaming are well formed, or very even, allowing the use of a wider base of raw materials than traditional paper products, further allowing the introduction of new qualities in wood-based products. “The main raw material of PAPTIC is woodbased fibre: certified Finnish softwood kraft pulp. It is also possible to use recycled fibres,” Mustonen says. VTT’s expertise and facilities in foam forming have created a platform for Paptic. Karita Kinnunen-Raudaskoski is among the first research scientists to focus on foam forming at VTT and is responsible for product development and technology at Paptic. Combining the best qualities of paper and plastic PAPTIC is a biobased material that is durable and flexible and withstands moisture. Lightweight and flexible, PAPTIC carrier bags take significantly less storage and delivery space than paper bags. Carrier bags must have load and point load strength, and both of these requirements have been taken into account during the development of PAPTIC. Existing plastic bag manufacturing machines can be used to convert the material into carrier bags. This is possible because the material can be heat sealed. The soft surface of PAPTIC carrier bags resembles canvas bags. The product helps brands to reinforce the environmentally friendly image of their stores and products. New use for paper machines Paptic is manufacturing the first fibre materials with the KCL foam forming-ready paper VTT Impulse 81
BUSINESS
With new manufacturing technologies and raw materials, it is now possible to manufacture products from wood fibre that have plastic-like properties. This autumn, a new VTT spin-off, Paptic, launched the commercialisation of plasticlike carrier bags that are manufactured from wood.
Founding members of Paptic: Esa Torniainen, Karita KinnunenRaudaskoski and Tuomas Mustonen.
machine in Otaniemi in Espoo. The company is currently in the process of finding forestry partners and the next step is to subcontract manufacturing to their paper mills. “This partner model is a great opportunity for paper and board plants to increase their utilisation rate with new value-add products and to create new bioeconomy-based business,” Mustonen says. “To commercialise the material, we work in cooperation with the entire delivery and value chain – all the way to the consumer. We want to provide material that is designed with consumers’ needs in mind and that can be more easily recycled than those currently available on the market.” Plastic bag ban sparked the idea Paptic’s establishment was inspired by signals from the market indicating that the use of plastic bags is in the process of being banned. “At VTT, we decided to see what we could come up with as an alternative,” Mustonen explains. “We took the first concrete step about a year ago when we manufactured the first prototypes of the PAPTIC carrier bags and invited the markets to provide feedback on them. We asked store owners whether they would be prepared to start using woodbased products instead of plastic bags. The bags were well received and we were happy to see that there was a market for the product.” “My previous role at VTT involved selling research projects to companies. It is very interesting and moti82 VTT Impulse
vating to gain first-hand experience of what commercialising a technology is like and what it takes on the entrepreneur side. We work in close cooperation with VTT, which is by far our most important R&D partner.” n
PAPTIC OY
PAPTIC is a Finnish start-up company that was
founded in April 2015. Carrier bags are the first product application of the material manufacturer. The PAPTIC material is currently manufactured at the KCL pilot paper mill in Espoo. The spin-off builds on the R&D carried out at VTT. It focuses on sustainable technologies as well as the sales and marketing of renewable and recyclable wood-based products. Paptic aims to bring a new plastic-like PAPTIC fibre material to markets in 2016. The company raised a seed investment round of EUR 1.1 million in April. In addition to the founding partners Tuomas Mustonen, Karita Kinnunen-Raudaskoski and Esa Torniainen, investors include Proxy Ventures, Besodos Investors, VTT Ventures and individual investors.
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2/2015
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VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is the biggest multitechnological applied research organisation in Northern Europe. VTT provides high-end technology solutions and innovation services for the private and public sectors, both in Finland and abroad. From its wide knowledge base, VTT combines different technologies and creates new innovations and a substantial range of world-class technologies and applied research services, thus improving its clients’ competitiveness and competence. Through its international scientific and technology network, VTT can ensure efficient transfer and utilisation of information and technology.
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VTT Impulse is a publication on science, technology and business. Published twice a year in Finnish and in English. Publisher: VTT Ltd Vuorimiehentie 3, Espoo P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT Tel. +358 20 722 111 Editor-in-Chief: Olli Ernvall Tel. +358 20 722 6747 Editorial Board: Erkki KM Leppävuori, Olli Ernvall, Matti Apunen / EVA, Anu Kaukovirta-Norja, Satu Helynen, Arto Maaninen, Sami Kazi, Howard Rupprecht, Paula Bergqvist Production and layout: MCI Press Oy. Printing house: Juvenes, 2015. Subscriptions and changes in address: info@vtt.fi ISSN 1798-0119. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the views of VTT.
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