VTT's Learning Lab - where innovation meets complexity
VTT's Learning Lab serves as an experimental space for VTT’s strategic initiatives to develop capabilities towards sustainable and meaningful futures.
Navigating the increasing complexity of our global problem-landscape requires future perspectives, collaboration across disciplines as well as a shift from purely technological innovation to what could be called systems-aware innovation.
Innovation for complexity
At the heart of VTT's Learning Lab lie VTT’s two flagship initiatives the Futures Perspectives forum and the VTT iBEX innovation programme. Together, they infuse futures thinking and systems awareness into VTT’s innovation practices.
VTT's Futures Perspectives forum
The Futures Perspectives forum facilitates dialogues concerning the role of technology in society. In doing so, we wish to foster future capabilities that can steer technological development towards benefiting both humanity and nature in the long run.
About Futures Perspectives forum
On the Futures Perspectives platform we publish new content in the form of blogs, videos and expert dialogues on topics related to complexity, futures, impact and integration between natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. Our aim is to bring together different perspectives in dialogue around some of the most meaningful topics of our time.
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Blog series
Our Futures Perspectives blog series will be co-written with thinkers and doers from across a wide range of diverse disciplines and sectors. We make no claim to present original ideas in the blog series, instead we aim to synthesize some of the best thinking from various perspectives. Our aim is to publish blogs on a monthly basis.
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Masterclass videos
Our video series will offer a chance to explore topics related to complexity, futures and integration through a multi-perspective lens. The videos showcase how societal dialogue and engagement lead to better innovation outcomes and impact.
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Expert dialogues
As part of the iBEX innovation programme we host inspiring keynote speakers to have a dialogue about innovation for complexity and the broader role of technology in society. This content will be accessible to everyone.
VTT iBEX innovation programme
VTT iBEX is VTT’s internal strategic innovation programme, in which we develop our skills and capabilities towards solving complex systemic challenges.
The teams that join VTT iBEX are facilitated in their future-oriented projects towards better system awareness, its leverage points and ultimately developing innovations which maximize positive impact, while minimizing harm.
VTT iBEX themes
The VTT iBEX innovation programme invites VTT researchers across disciplines on a joined learning journey to address complex societal challenges.
Together the teams start creating joint Future Scenarios and identifying transition pathways towards their visions. Critical research questions along those pathways are refined together with multiple stakeholders, assessing their potential impact– both positive and negative.
The refined research questions then form the basis for an internal call, inviting VTT researchers to co-create solutions.
In 2024, our focus themes are Future energy, Future materials and Future food court.
We support our multidisciplinary teams with funding of up to EUR 1 million over 2 years.
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Future energy
How can we stagnate or decrease global energy consumption demand and design an optimal energy system?
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How can we reduce the usage of packaging material and promote reusability?
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What might a future local food service business or food court look like?
Keep reading
- Why do we need a new language to navigate complexity?
- Efficiency engineering fails at managing complex systems
- Need for continuous development of systemic solutions to holistic challenges has never been louder
- Why we need to integrate natural sciences, social sciences and humanities?
- Technology gave us the power of gods - Do we have the divine wisdom?
- What got us here - will not get us there
Masterclass videos
Navigating complexity through innovation (trailer)
VTT iBEX 2023 Design living cells?
VTT iBEX 2023: innovation for complexity
Expert dialogues
Keynote 1: Challenging the transitions
Keynote 2: Let's talk impact!
Keynote 3: Responsible innovation in complex systems
Keynote 4: Navigating complexity - Dave Snowden and Nora Bateson
Societal Engagement
News
Katri and Thomas collaborated with Helsingin Sanomat - the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries on an article about the role of technology in future society (in Finnish).
Our VTT iBEX teams participated as mentors in the Solve the SDGs Hackathon in April 2023.
Contact:
VTT iBEX call
The next VTT iBEX call will be announced in the Spring of 2024. Please stay tuned.