Wärtsilä donates EUR 200,000 to Aalto University for engine technology research

Wärtsilä has pledged EUR 200,000 to Finland’s Aalto University to support research and teaching in combustion engine technology, with a focus on developing expertise for the energy transition.

Announced on 9 November 2026, the donation will contribute to Aalto University’s House of Energy Transition initiative, which brings together research and education in energy technologies to support the transition towards more sustainable energy systems.

The funding will support research into engine technologies that can help balance electricity grids as the share of intermittent renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, increases. Flexible, fast-starting engines capable of operating on sustainable fuels can provide backup power when renewable generation is insufficient.

Wärtsilä’s engines are already designed to operate on low- and zero-carbon fuels, including ammonia, hydrogen and methanol. The company said continued research and education are important to advancing these technologies and preparing them for wider deployment.

Kari Tammi, Dean of the School of Engineering at Aalto University, said: “The energy transition requires new technologies, deep expertise and collaboration across disciplines. Aalto University wants to contribute to developing technologies of the future. Engine technology is an advanced field that continues to evolve as energy systems transition into renewable and more sustainable power generation. Wärtsilä’s donation strengthens our ability to educate the next generation of experts and develop technologies that can respond to the needs of both society and industry. I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Wärtsilä for this important donation and our longstanding collaboration,”

Wärtsilä’s contribution to the university’s research activities complements its own investment in technology development. In 2025, the company invested EUR 329 million in research and development, equivalent to 4.8% of its net sales, to improve the environmental performance of its technologies.

Nora Steiner-Forsberg, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Legal at Wärtsilä, said: “Engine technology is state-of-the-art technology, and industry-first innovations are rooted in world-class expertise, high-quality education and sustained research. Most of the technology needed for decarbonisation already exists. The next step is to deploy it at scale while continuing to develop it. Collaborating with Aalto and other universities ensures we will have the expertise needed to drive the transition forward,”

The donation builds on a long-standing research and development relationship between Wärtsilä and Aalto University. In 2025, the two organisations renewed their R&D partnership for a further five years to advance clean energy technologies.

The collaboration covers research, talent development, recruitment and educational activities, with joint research areas including hydrogen combustion, ammonia and renewable fuels.