Pekka Suominen appointed Professor of Automation Technology at the University of Vaasa: “The circular economy cannot run on good intentions alone”

– The importance of automation technology is growing rapidly. In industry, it is no longer enough for machines to move and processes to run. Systems must be able to measure, interpret, optimise, and adapt. At its best, automation makes production more efficient, safer, and more sustainable, says Suominen.

Suominen has extensive experience in developing automation, measurement technologies, and circular economy solutions. His areas of expertise include accelerator technology, industrial measurement systems, spectroscopy, robotics, applied artificial intelligence, and the circular economy of technology metals and battery materials. His professional background spans from the Accelerator Laboratory at the University of Jyväskylä to CERN, the private sector, and the RoboAI Research Centre at Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.

Technology for the energy transition and the circular economy

In recent years, Suominen’s research has focused particularly on robotics, artificial intelligence, spectroscopy, and industrial measurement systems. Practical applications include systems for identifying batteries entering recycling streams, analysing metal concentrations in industrial wastewater, and controlling production processes based on real-time measurement data.

– What especially interests me is the point where a physical phenomenon becomes a functional measuring instrument, the instrument generates data, and the data leads to better decisions. That is where automation, artificial intelligence, and practical engineering come together, Suominen explains.

Manufacturing must become simultaneously more efficient, low-emission, and resource-wise. The availability of critical raw materials, the growth of battery technologies, and the energy transition require new solutions for identifying, tracking, and utilising materials. According to Suominen, automation technology provides practical tools to address these challenges by improving energy systems, enhancing materials recycling, reducing waste, and strengthening industrial competitiveness.

– The circular economy cannot run on good intentions alone. We need technologies that can identify, separate, and return materials safely and cost-effectively back into use, he continues.

At the University of Vaasa, Suominen is responsible for the Master’s Programme in Automation and Robotics, which is delivered in Pori at the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences campus. The programme combines robotics, artificial intelligence, energy technology, and business expertise. It further strengthens collaboration between the University of Vaasa, SAMK, and regional companies, while developing the Pori–Vaasa corridor as an environment for education and research in automation, robotics, and applied technologies.

Suominen also sees opportunities for automation technology in the space sector, where many of the same requirements apply as in advanced industrial automation. He aims to contribute to strengthening the University of Vaasa’s space-related expertise and research.

International research and business experience

Before joining the University of Vaasa, Suominen served as Chief Researcher at the RoboAI Research Centre at Satakunta University of Applied Sciences. He has led research projects, secured significant external research funding, and carried out extensive collaboration with industry.

Suominen earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physics from the University of Jyväskylä in 2006. Following his doctoral studies, he worked at CERN for several years on the development of radioactive ion beams and ion sources. In the business sector, he has founded three technology companies and served in positions including CEO, CTO, and board member. He is also the holder of several patents.

– The University of Vaasa offers a highly interesting combination of energy, technology, business, and societal impact. I want to build automation technology that is scientifically strong while also being beneficial to companies, students, and society at large, says Suominen.