Scientific committee

IIvari Kunttu – CHAIR

Dr Iivari Kunttu holds a PhD in Information Technology from the Tampere University of Technology (TUT, 2005), and a PhD in Economics (Management) from the University of Vaasa, Finland (2017). Currently he acts as Principal Research Scientist in HAMK, concentrating on managing applied research activities in the area of smart bioeconomy.

Fernando Spilki

Fernando Spilki holds a PhD in Molecular Biology, Full Professor at Universidade Feevale, Brazil. His main focus of research is on the contamination of waters by enteric viruses and the related consequences for human and animal health.

Anne-Christine Ritschkoff

Anne-Christine Ritschkoff obtained her PhD in Biosciences at the University of Helsinki, Finland in 1996. She has been at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, a globally networked, multi technological not-for-profit research organization, since 1987 in various research and management positions. She has close to 100 scientific and other publications. Anne-Christine Ritschkoff holds currently the position of Senior Advisor, bioeconomy and circular economy.

Tuomo Tupasela

Tuomo Tupasela, principal research scientist, has been working at Luke since 1989 (including earlier MTT). He is a “Food processing and quality” group manager in Luke. He is also responsible for Luke’s food pilot plant facilities, projects, and Luke’s sensory evaluation laboratory for food products, since 1994. His special expertise areas are milk processing, especially cheese making and food products sensory evaluation. Tupasela has been co-author in 38 scientific articles and totally more than 250 other kind of publications.

Annukka Pakarinen

Dr. Annukka Pakarinen holds a PhD degree in Environmental Solutions in Agriculture and Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. She is a Director of HAMK Bio Research Unit. She has expertise in utilizing and treating (physical, chemical, enzymatic etc.) plant or waste based raw materials in biofuel production. As a director of research unit, she follows closely the field of Bioeconomy throughout the chain from primary production to value added refining and smart solutions. She has also been a founder of a start-up company.

Harri Mattila

Harri Mattila has the doctoral degree in civil engineering. He holds adjunct professorship in decentralized water services at Tampere University in Finland. He works as Principal Research Scientist at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) in Finland. His research duties are related to cleantech solutions, blue bioeconomy and circular economy.

Jari Silander

Dr. Jari Silander is a water resource management expert from the Finnish Environment Institute. His multidisciplinary education in economics and meteorology has supported his work of coordinating development of the national monitoring programs (MONITOR2020, 2013-2020) and involvement of several Government Key Projects [the Artificial intelligence and IoT in managing water risks (ÄlyVesi, 2018-2020) and outdoor education (Ihan Pihalla, 2017-2019)]. Also he has had a major role in development of national flood risk management guidelines and services (2010-2019).

Kimmo Kahilainen

Kimmo Kahilainen received his PhD thesis of Fisheries Science from University of Helsinki, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences in 2005. Currently he works as Professor of Environmental Research at Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki. Kahilainen has worked at several research stations with main focus on fish and food web research in boreal and subarctic regions. Applied part of his work concerns impacts of fish stocking, introduced species and fish nutritional aspects. He has >70 scientific publications.