PUPA offers funding for projects carried out in the Pori region
18.06.2014
The PUPA operating model created last autumn will start at the beginning of 2015. However, the Pori Urban Platform of Aalto University (PUPA) is already of interest to existing local operators and also makes possible the presence of Aalto University in the Pori region.
Prizztech, from Satakunta has expressed the interest in the possible cooperation between the technology companies as Technip and Outotec and Aalto University. The companies would like to see the cooperation to create new knowledge, research and ideas, and would offer a mutual opportunity to connect studies with the real world in the fields in question.
With PUPA, Aalto University can carry out their teaching and research-related projects in the Satakunta region. The application round has already been started for next autumn’s funding. Through PUPA, any department, unit or programme can apply for a grant for projects to be organised in the Pori and Satakunta region.
‘Projects could be courses, seminars or artistic productions. They can be carried out alone by an Aalto unit or made in cooperation with some regional partner,’ says Head of Research Taina Rajanti.
‘Support can be applied from PUPA for covering e.g. student mobility, especially expenses for students’ trips and accommodations, Rajanti continues.
‘PUPA does not fund complete projects but acts as a platform through which projects can be carried out. For example, we offer facilities, help for practical arrangements or in searching for a company partner, and support for seminar or field research expenses,’ Taina Rajanti explains
Cooperation has already started
The new Master’s Degree Programme of the Aalto University Department of Art, ViCCA (Visual Culture and Contemporary Art), is planned to continue next autumn in cooperation with the Pori city planning department.
‘Activities have included artistic interventions in city spaces, and last spring a gallery was built in a public space for a new residential area. The idea is to present the results both to city planners as well as to inhabitants,’ says Rajanti.
Similar urban-space experiments will be continued. A cooperation agreement has been made with the Pori Art Museum and the Master’s Degree Programme on Curating, Managing and Mediating Art (CuMMA). Also the department of architecture of Aalto University has agreed the cooperation contract with the house fair of Pori 2018. In the future, PUPA wants to also include players from the engineering and maritime industry.
For further information:
Pori Head of Research Taina Rajanti, +358 50 3845662, taina.rajanti(at)aalto.fi
Professor Harri Laakso, +358 50 3090654, harri.laakso(at)aalto.fi
Professor Trevor Harris, +358 50 3416822, trevor.harris(at)aalto.fi