Lapland University of Applied Sciences and Tapojärvi renewed their partnership agreement, which aims to strengthen expertise in sustainable mining

Tapojärvi has renewed its partnership agreement with Lapland University of Applied Sciences. Lapland UAS is a long-standing R&D actor and educator in the industrial sector and a pioneer university in the circular economy in Finland.

The partnership agreement stipulates cooperation supporting the development goals of both parties for the next three years. The objective is to strengthen expertise related to sustainable mining.

The agreement defined three key themes: predictive maintenance and condition monitoring, circular economy-related solutions, and the development of education and research activities related to the mining industry. The goal is also to promote industry cooperation and influence societal discussions and decision-making.

– All three themes documented in the agreement are crucial for Tapojärvi. Continuous learning in maintenance is especially important to us, as we perform it as our own work, says Mari Pilventö, the acting CEO of Tapojärvi.

Hannu Kähkölä, the director of competence areas at the university, notes that maintenance is also central from both teaching and R&D perspectives at the university. On the other hand, the development of mining activities has always been a part of the university’s operations.

– The mining industry is already a key industrial sector in Lapland, and its importance in Finland is only going to grow. Linking circular economy expertise with the mining industry is a good combination, adds Hannu Kähkölä.

The attractiveness of the industrial sector is important for both Tapojärvi and the university. According to Mari Pilventö, the circular economy contains a lot of potential and has already raised the industry’s profile in young people’s career considerations. Riitta Rissanen, the rector of Lapland UAS, agrees.

– The meaningfulness of work and values guide young people’s career choices. Together, we could think about how to highlight new career options in the circular economy.

For engineering and Master of Engineering students, the cooperation means work-oriented project work, summer job and internship opportunities, and thesis assignments. Topics for joint development projects may be linked to energy management, automation, and industrial digitalization.