Participating research units
I4WORLD programme includes 24 participating research units from the University of Oulu.

Multidisciplinary focus on understanding human diseases. The main approach is to establish novel and innovative in vitro study models utilizing primary cells and tissues where the genetic background and molecular complexity of selected diseases, such as cancer, can be addressed. The aim is to unravel molecular mechanisms underlying normal and diseased organ functions and reveal new precision drug targets.
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The Unit consists of five internationally strong research groups which perform globally recognized basic research on how extracellular matrix, especially collagens, the vasculature, oxygen availability, and reactive oxygen species affect cell signalling, cell fate and behaviour, organ development, and tissue homeostasis under normal physiological condition and in various diseases.
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Protein science, structural biology, biophysical/biochemical studies. Molecular machines and networks: variety of protein complexes involved in gliding motility, lipid transport, post- translational modifications. Molecular mechanisms of life and disease: mechanistic on enzymes, protein folding, drug discovery processes related to various diseases. Synthetic biology: Sustainable production of hard-to-synthesize biomolecules, chemicals using bacterial cell factories and modified enzymes.
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Fields of 1) robotics, 2) computer security and 3) data mining and machine learning. Multidisciplinary research in the areas of Data Analysis, Robotics, Secure Programming, and Bio-IT. The application areas of research include optimization of industrial manufacturing processes, industry 5.0, health and wellbeing systems, environmental monitoring with mobile robots, collaborative robotics, dependable Internet of things (IoT), and seamless artificial- natural systems.
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Creative, open and internationally attractive focuses on creating multimodal emotional interfaces for human-centered computing, energy and data efficient machine-learnable representations, visual recognition and reconstruction of complex 3-D scenes, energy efficient embedded vision solutions, biomedical signal and image analysis and biometry. The Unit is renowned for its expertise in computer vision, and it possesses a wide international collaboration network.
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High quality education in wireless communications and RF engineering. CWC-RT leads the profiling area 6G solutions for data driven society and the first and largest national science Flagship programme on Sixth Generation (6G) wireless technology. Fundamental research at CWC-RT focuses on radio access network technologies, signal processing, radio frequency (RF) engineering, antennas and propagation, machine learning and artificial intelligence for and over networks.
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Developing optics and electronics-based components and measurement systems covering whole chain from the theoretical simulation to the implementation and verification of application specific systems. Expertise and infrastructure to fabricate optics and electronics (sensors, OLEDs, detectors, solar cells, passive optics, metamaterials) from raw materials and ending at complete systems as optical coherence tomography, holography, Raman spectroscopy and synchronized thermography.
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Information systems research studying how software and information systems can best serve people to make voluntary changes in their habits and behavior related to sustainability, improved lifestyle, health, and well-being. Research builds especially on top of Persuasive Systems Design model and Behavior Change Support Systems framework targeting, for instance, at improving pro-environmental behaviour, recovery from dependencies, stress management and weight management.
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Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The scope is clinical and epidemiology and molecular research. Use of modern brain imaging methods. Various aspects of brain health, with topics such as schizophrenia, suicide, depression, Parkinson disease, frontotemporal degeneration and rare neurological diseases. Destructive events are also studied. Population of northern Finland provides excellent possibilities to study genetics of neurodegenerative and rare neurological diseases.
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Multidisciplinary unit combines the expertise of PIs in clinical sciences (radiology, radiotherapy, clinical neurophysiology), medical physics, biomedical engineering, medical informatics, biomarker and biosensor development and health sciences. Capitalizes on both: physical and intellectual proximity to the local university hospital. Research help to expedite diagnosis and treatment, improve diagnostic accuracy and better understand diseases that are of high significance to the society.
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Research on northern and Arctic biodiversity, environmental change, trophic interactions, evolution and conservation. Partner in EU projects e.g.; “Market driven authentic Non-Timber Forest Products from the Baltic region Novel Baltic” (Interreg Baltic 2014-2020), “Providing a climate resilient network of critical sites for the Lesser White-fronted Goose in Europe” (EU Life+ 2020-2024). PIs in various H2020 projects as B4EST, GenTree, Freshabit.
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Bayesian statistical modelling, data science and inverse problems. Computational statistics and AI for high- dimensional dynamic problems with innovative applications in many fields of natural sciences, medicine and engineering. This includes Bayesian machine learning and AI for predictive analytics, variable selection, clustering, and network inference. Computational inverse problems research concentrated on mathematical modelling of imaging and image formation. MATH has a leading role in the profiling action HiDyn and is a partner in Finnish Centre of Excellence in Inverse Modelling and Imaging.
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Materials physics and novel applications of spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Synchrotron in-situ methods. Hosts ERC CoG, coordinates Finnish participation in the MAX IV and contributes to the Eu-XFEL project. Solar hydrogen production, atmospheric chemistry, functional materials (steel, CO2 negative materials), biomedical research, quantum computing, and mesoscopic quantum structures. Partner in Profiling actions (Physics of Steel, InStreams, HiDyn, H2FUTURE).
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Develops and applies advanced experimental and computational Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methods for materials research. Applications in aerosol, battery material, biomaterial, biosensor, catalyst, cellular metabolism, extracellular vesicle, geopolymer, porous adsorbent, sustainable cement, and wood research. Experimental methods include ultrafast relaxation and diffusion experiments, various nuclear spin hyperpolarization techniques, xenon NMR, remote detection MRI, nuclear magneto-optic spectroscopy, etc. Computational methods comprise multiscale modeling of experiments combining molecular dynamics simulation and spin Hamiltonians obtained by quantum chemistry, used to drive spin dynamics, theory of paramagnetic NMR and modeling of materials NMR parameters.
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Research in space physics covers the long-term “space climate” and short-term “space weather” variations in solar activity and their effects on the near-Earth space. Astronomy focus on spacecraft exploration of the solar system, dynamics of micrometeoroids and planetary ring systems, as well as the structure and evolution of galaxies and the high energy physics of binary star systems. Unit optimize the state-of-art instrumentation provided by the ESA, ESO, EISCAT and NASA.
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Expertise in the fields of material development, characterization, unit operation development, process modelling and control, advanced data analysis and optimization, and sustainability assessment. Catalytic processes in the core expertise. Novel catalytic and adsorption materials are developed, characterised, and tested. In the characterisation, various spectroscopic and imaging methods are employed to discover physical and chemical properties of materials.
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Developing novel materials and processes based on industrial inorganic side streams and lignocellulose materials. The research related to inorganic side streams aims at turning residues into valuable materials. Main application being geopolymers (alkali-activated materials) and other inorganic binders. The lignocellulose research focuses on hierarchical and functionalized biomaterials and chemicals derived from sustainable sources, especially those based on cellulose nanomaterials.
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The IEM discipline combines technical and business economics knowledge with the understanding of human behaviour. IEM is unique in its multidisciplinary approach; the integrative nature provides value and enhances efficiency and effectiveness in organisations. The IEM research focuses on the following areas: product management, project business, well-being at work and productivity, and operations and supply chain management.
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MME is a key part of the Centre for Advanced Steels Research (CASR) one of the strategic research areas of the University of Oulu. Researchers focus on the steelmaking, properties, and applications of steels as well as development and modelling of advanced engines. MME is one of the leading research groups of the physical metallurgy of ultrahigh strength steels.
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Aims to integrate scientific disciplines along mining value chain, from exploration to mining and mineral processing. Research and education in the mining-related core disciplines: geosciences (including geology and mineralogy), mining engineering, mineral processing and applied geophysics. OMS Research Centre laboratories and geophysical equipment provide a background for experimental investigations of properties of rocks and minerals at different spatial scale.
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Understanding reactions, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics and mass and heat transfer phenomena in high-temperature processes. Research in all individual processes of steelmaking from raw material handling to continuous casting and reheating of steel slabs before hot rolling. Research focuses: reductants and reduction metallurgy (especially hydrogen reduction), primary and secondary metallurgy, sustainable metallurgical processes and new treatment and analyzing methods in high temperature processes.
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Sustainable material chemistry including catalytic materials, materials for energy storage, sustainable bioeconomy, water treatment and trace element analysis as main research areas. Mission is to study chemistry challenges in a sustainable way, and to respond efficiently to societal challenges with sustainable solutions. Innovations from chemical and metal refining industry sector are seen essential to achieve the transition towards a sustainable low-carbon economy and circular economy.
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The unit is a leading hub for understanding complex interactions related to land-water-energy management and finding ways for a more sustainable and resource efficient future. Unit has strong groups on northern hydrology, hydrosystems engineering, diffusive pollution control, energy resources and Nexus studies natural based systems, and land use and climate change modelling and assessment.
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Oulu Business School is AACSB accredited international research and educational institute for economic sciences. Multidisciplinary research unit that combines the business disciplines of marketing, management, and international business with entrepreneurship, innovation, and science and technology studies. MMI aims to increase understanding of complex and challenging optimization and marketing activities by challenging the current views.
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