Anu Kaukovirta is Director of Production Systems at the Natural Resources Institute Finland. She has extensive experience in research leadership and in developing collaboration between research and industry. As a member of the Board of the Finnish Research Impact Foundation (FRIF), she aims to promote dialogue between researchers and companies and to strengthen the impact of research.
Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your career path?
“I hold a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering. Already during my doctoral research, I worked closely with companies, and since then, research–industry collaboration has been a central part of my work.
I have worked extensively in research leadership and have seen from multiple perspectives how research, innovation and industry collaboration are built. I also spent a few years at Valio as Director of Research and Technology, where I was able to examine research collaboration from a company perspective.
In my current role at the Natural Resources Institute Finland, I am responsible for production systems and the development of innovation activities. In our work, the impact of research is closely linked to industry and the sustainable use of natural resources.”
What inspired you to join the Board of FRIF?
“Research–industry collaboration has been a central theme throughout my career. In Finland, a lot of collaboration already takes place, but deeper dialogue between researchers and companies could be stronger.
In European collaboration, for example, I have seen how researchers move more fluidly between universities and companies and build strong networks. In Finland, this is still approached with some caution.
That is why I find FRIF’s model very interesting. It creates space for genuine collaboration between researchers and companies and helps both sides better understand each other’s ways of working.”
How do you see the role of FRIF in the Finnish research and innovation system?
“I see the Foundation’s role as quite distinctive within the Finnish funding landscape. It brings a new perspective on how research and collaboration with industry can be supported.
Many funding instruments focus either on individual researchers or large consortium projects. FRIF’s model, in turn, creates opportunities to deepen collaboration between researchers and companies.
Such experience can be extremely valuable for researchers. I learned a great deal about the business world while working at Valio, and it has influenced how I think about developing research and innovation.”
Where do you see FRIF creating the greatest added value in the coming years?
“First, by increasing awareness of the Foundation. As more researchers and companies discover its activities, its impact will also grow.
I also find it particularly interesting that FRIF has opened up research–industry collaboration to societal challenges. In technology and natural sciences, this kind of collaboration is already common, but in societal themes it is still relatively new.
This is where entirely new types of innovations and operating models can emerge.”
How does the impact of research manifest in the green transition?
“At the Natural Resources Institute Finland, the green transition is essentially embedded in everything we do. It acts as a driver for our research in many ways.
Through research, we can provide industries with tools and solutions that enable the sustainable use of natural resources and support the shift away from fossil-based solutions.
At the same time, the green transition brings difficult choices to the surface. For example, bio-based solutions cannot be used indefinitely, so it is important to carefully consider where their use creates the greatest benefit.
The role of research is to bring knowledge into this discussion and help identify solutions that move the transition forward.”
Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve during your term on the Board?
“I have already greatly enjoyed the diversity of the board in the first meetings. The discussions constantly bring up perspectives I would not have thought of myself.
I hope that the Foundation will become an even more widely recognised actor and that it can introduce new tools to strengthen research–industry collaboration.
If we can promote positive and constructive collaboration between researchers and companies, it will have a significant impact on the societal relevance of research.”
