Technology Academy Finland
Technology Academy Finland (TAF) awards the global one-million-euro Millennium Technology Prize and runs associated events and initiatives.
The Millennium Technology Prize is the preeminent €1 million award focused on technological innovations for a better life. The winning innovations are scientifically rigorous, globally accessible, and uniquely significant in their field.
TAF’s agenda:
- Voicing public debate on the significance of technology and promoting innovations for a better life
- Providing a neutral collaboration forum for business, academia and governmental organizations
- Encouraging young people to study and choose a career in technology
One of TAF’s strengths is the tripartite cooperation between industry, governmental organizations and the scientific community and its extensive network in all these sectors. The three sectors are also represented in the TAF Board and in the different committees.
TAF started operating under the name of the Finnish Technology Award Foundation in 2003. In 2005, the name changed to the Millennium Prize Foundation. The name was changed to the Technology Academy Finland in 2008.
TAF’s mission:
Technology Academy Finland (TAF) governs and develops the Millennium Technology Prize, increases public awareness of the Prize and ensures its high academic standard. TAF provides an international meeting ground for corporate life, academia and policymakers, and improves Finland’s position in the global community.
-
The Board ensures that the foundation’s activities are executed in a proper manner and that the organisation’s funds are invested in safe and appropriate ways. The Board is also responsible for appointing the foundation’s President and CEO and members of the Executive Committee.
Academic founding organisations
-
Minna Palmroth
Chair of the board, Professor, University of Helsinki
-
Mikko Hupa
The Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in Finland STV
-
Juho Malmberg
The Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion TES
-
Arto Timperi
Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK
Trade and industry
-
Manja Ahola
Representative of Confederation of Finnish Industries EK
-
Sanna Malinen
Representative of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
-
Marjo Miettinen
Representative of Confederation of Finnish Industries EK
-
Päivi Leiwo
Representative of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
Government
-
Atte Jääskeläinen
President, Sitra
-
Jarkko Levasma
Government Chief Information Officer, Director General, Ministry of Finance
-
Maija Lönnqvist
Director, Innovation Policy Unit, at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
-
Lassi Noponen
Director General, Business Finland
-
Jenni Santalo
Executive Director, Marketing, Communications and Digital Solutions, Business Finland
Universities
-
Mikael Lindfelt
Professor, Åbo Akademi University
-
Arto Maaninen
Rector, University of Oulu
-
Ilkka Niemelä
President, Aalto University
-
-
-
Minna Palmroth
Chair of the board, Professor, University of Helsinki
-
Mikko Hupa
The Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in Finland STV
-
Päivi Leiwo
Representative of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
-
Jenni Santalo
Executive Director, Marketing, Communications and Digital Solutions, Business Finland
Secretary
Maija Liiri-Virmiala, CEO, Technology Academy Finland
-
-
Chair
-
Timo Leino
LL.M., Chairman of the Board, Linnea Capital Oy
-
Juho Malmberg
The Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion TES
-
Marjo Miettinen
Representative of Confederation of Finnish Industries EK
-
Maija Liiri-Virmiala
CEO
-
-
Mission of the Committee is to identify and define the innovation branch in Finland and the most significant phenomena for it. The Committee aims to run a diverse discussion on the issue from different point of views in order that Technology Academy Finland for its part can promote the issue on a most prominent way for Finland.
The Committee acts like a think tank, meetings are being held at least two times a year.
Chair of the committee
- Riikka Heikinheimo, Confederation of Finnish Industries EK
Members
Universities
- Mika Hannula, University of Turku
- Janne Laine, Aalto University
- Jukka Mönkkönen, University of Eastern Finland
- Anne Portaankorva, University of Helsinki
- Jarmo Takala, University of Tampere
Trade and industry
- Saara Hassinen, Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
- NN, Kone
- NN, Nokia
- Johanna Sipola, International Chamber of Commerce
- Petri Takala, Academic Engineers and Architects TEK
Academies
- Maija Liiri-Virmiala, Technology Academy Finland
- Mika Hannula, Finnish Academy of Technical Sciences
- Mikko Hupa, The Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in Finland
- Risto Nieminen, Finnish Academy of Science and Letters
Public sector and decision makers
- Mikko Dufva, Sitra
- Erja Heikkinen, Ministry of Education and Culture
- Stefan Lindström, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Riitta Maijala, Academy of Finland
- Antti Pelkonen, Prime Minister’s Office
- Päivi Sillanaukee, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
- Heikki Uusi-Honko, Business Finland
Secretary: Maija Liiri-Virmiala, Technology Academy Finland
-
The Communication Committee’s mission is to highlight the importance of research, knowledge and innovation for the well-being and future development of society, and to promote Finland as a high-tech country. The members of the Committee represent Millennium Technology Prize partner universities and companies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Sitra (the Finnish Innovation Fund), Business Finland, TEK (Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland), Healthtech Finland and the Research Council of Finland.
Chair of the Committee:
- Saara Hassinen, CEO, Healthtech Finland, Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
Members:
- Thurid Eriksson, Director of Communications, Åbo Akademi University
- Katrina Jurva, Head of Content and Media, Aalto University
- Tuomas Koivula, Managing Editor, University of Turku
- Liisa Kuvaja, Brand and Communications Director, LUT University
- Risto Löf, Head of Communications, University of Eastern Finland
- Johanna Pellinen, Communications Manager, University of Helsinki
- Hanna-Mari Soini, Director of Marketing and Communications, University of Vaasa
- Anna-Kaisa Säkkinen, Director of Communications, University of Jyväskylä
- Anni Ylinen, Communications Specialist, Tampere University
- Ville Wittenberg, Science Communications Specialist, University of Oulu
- Katja Antila, CEO and Senior Stakeholder communications, Nokia
- Ekaterina Mazanova, Communications Manager, Kone
- Liisi Tamminen, Director of Communications and Sustainability, Enersense
- Pinja Hentunen, Communications Specialist, Research Council of Finland
- Tomi Korhonen, Executive Director, Communications, Business Finland
- Samuli Laita, Deputy Communications Manager, Sitra
- Merina Salminen, Director of Communications, TEK
- Kirsi Vanamo-Santacruz, Deputy Director General, Department for Communications, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Maija Liiri-Virmiala, CEO, Technology Academy Finland
- Minna Zaknoun, Communications assistant, Technology Academy Finland
More information:
Maija Liiri-Virmiala
CEO, Technology Academy Finland
maija.virmiala@millenniumprize.org
Technology Academy Finland is a participant of the
UN Global Compact initiative that supports the United Nations’ universal principles and Sustainable Development Goals. It has more than 17 000 member organizations around the world.
Read our Communication on Engagement of the practical actions that we have taken to support the initiative.
