The purpose of the position is to produce knowledge that primarily supports the management of long-term resilience and security of supply in society. In the best case, the appointee can already start working in 2027.
has donated €750,000 to the University of Helsinki's professorship in security of supply. This substantial endowment provides a genuine boost to the fundraising efforts for the position.
"This is really significant. The donation brings the establishment of both this professorship and, consequently, a new field of research and teaching much closer to realisation," says Dean Ritva Toivonen of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.
The aim is for the professor to begin working in 2027 or 2028. The scholarly knowledge produced by the new professor will serve society as a whole and contribute to supporting crisis tolerance and comprehensive security in Europe.
"The research conducted by the professor of security of supply is not limited to the University of Helsinki, as collaboration partners in Finland and abroad are also involved. This way, the professorship will benefit the entire country," says Dean Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
New tools for managing security of supply
Wihuri, a company active in more than 30 countries, has a long history of ensuring security of supply in : the group manufactures food and healthcare packaging, provides aviation and logistics services, as well as sells and maintains a range of agricultural equipment and machinery. In addition, it enhances the security of food supply chains in Finland.
In fact, the new professorship can generate a wide range of useful knowledge for the group.
"Wihuri is committed to supporting Finnish expertise in security of supply in the long term, as we believe that solid research and education are key to a sustainable future. The professorship at the University of Helsinki makes it possible to create new knowledge and ensures that expertise is passed on to future generations," says CEO Risto Aarnio-Wihuri of Wihuri Group.
"Of particular value is the fact that the position combines the perspectives of pharmacy, the food industry and agriculture, which constitutes a whole that is integral to the development of security of supply and comprehensive security," Aarnio-Wihuri adds.
The new professor will examine security of supply particularly from a long-term perspective, as well as that of economics. The focus is on leadership and management: How can the functioning of food and pharmaceutical systems be secured under exceptional circumstances? What is the role of local production, and what is the appropriate level of storage? And how are risks related to international markets managed and transport optimised? These questions are relevant to businesses, authorities and organisations - and naturally, to citizens as well.
"The societal impact and field of the professorship in security of supply is broad," Dean Toivonen sums up.
Identifying vulnerabilities is essential
Problems associated with the availability of food and drugs are often similar, which is why it is logical that the new professorship is shared by the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and the Faculty of Pharmacy. The professor and their research group can seek solutions to ensuring the availability of different products in crises.
"In terms of the food system, Finland has effectively prepared for various exceptional circumstances, even those longer in duration, and the share of domestic production in our market is considerable. Having said that, even we are not entirely self-sufficient," Toivonen notes.
The key is to identify vulnerabilities in international production chains. Yli-Kauhaluoma points out that, for example, drug manufacturing is largely concentrated in China and India. Long chains can cause disruptions to availability, which is why the production of at least critical pharmaceutical agents should be moved closer to home - this is something that the new professor can investigate.
"What are the incentives that would make the pharmaceutical industry return to Europe?"
More crisis experts for society
The University of Helsinki is a natural home for the professorships in security of supply. It is the only university in Finland conducting research on the entire food system, starting from primary production. Its expertise in pharmacy is also strong, and it collaborates closely with other universities.
In the past couple of years, both faculties have each recruited part-time professors of practice in food security and pharmaceutical service.
"They have already networked and are involved in many ways," says Yli-Kauhaluoma.
Thanks to the new professorship, the University of Helsinki will become a strong hub of expertise related to crisis tolerance. Even now, holders of bachelor's and master's degrees in pharmacy are proficient in drug manufacturing in both normal and exceptional circumstances. In the future, expertise will rise to a new level, as perspectives on security of supply will be increasingly included in the basic studies of both faculties.
"With the professorship, we will also begin to train doctoral and master's degree holders versed in the topic," Toivonen says.
