Aalto University establishes Centre for Radical Creativity – aiming to support societal and corporate transformation
The Aalto Centre for Radical Creativity is creating an open, interdisciplinary community at Aalto University that fosters creativity through research, the arts and education. It brings together actors from various fields, creates spaces for encounters and seeks to generate new ways of thinking and acting through experimentation.
The centre is based on the idea that the biggest problems – such as climate change, inequality, and pressures on democracy – cannot be solved through traditional means. Solving them requires new ways of thinking, experimentation and the courage to act differently.
According to the World Economic Forum, creative thinking is one of the most important future skills in working life. At the same time, many industries are undergoing rapid transformation, which increases the need for radical renewal.
The new centre addresses this need by combining research, education, and practical experimentation. Companies and other organizations seeking new ways to innovate in a rapidly changing operating environment are invited to participate.
“Creativity is especially needed when there are no ready-made solutions. We want to work with companies and organizations throughout the society to develop new ways to innovate and respond to change”, says Tuomas Auvinen, Dean of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
The Aalto Centre for Radical Creativity offers companies a unique environment to experiment, explore and innovate together with Aalto University. The collaboration is tailored to the partner’s needs, ranging from research to education and from co-creation to physical space.
According to Auvinen, there has been a shift in recent years: companies are genuinely seeking new ways of thinking – and new approaches to leadership.
“In the future, only organizations that are capable of reinventing themselves and harnessing the creative potential of their employees will succeed”, Auvinen states.
A versatile platform for collaboration
Radical creativity is a strategic initiative at Aalto University and refers to bold innovation that fundamentally changes how people, organizations and societies operate.
“Radical creativity challenges the status quo. It means bold experimentation and the ability to imagine the new – a way of thinking that can fundamentally change how we operate. A key part of this is also the willingness to fail and learn from it”, says Riikka Mäkikoskela, Doctor of Arts and leader of radical creativity at Aalto University.
Competitiveness, foresight, and innovation require bold renewal and radical solutions. The Centre for Radical Creativity offers partners the opportunity to test ideas together with researchers and students.
"This gives partners the opportunity to integrate into the university ecosystem, for example, without immediate commercial pressure", says Mäkikoskela.
The Amer Cultural Foundation has supported the Centre for Radical Creativity with a donation. Established for a five-year term, the centre serves as a strategic initiative of Aalto University and is coordinated by the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Aalto University’s free has already reached over 22,000 learners around the world. The course helps participants understand how radical creativity can be harnessed as a force for innovation across various fields.
The new DocCast series by the Centre for Radical creativity spotlights radically creative professionals and explores the means they use for taking risks, collaborating and innovating. The series Radical creativity interviews will be on display in English soon.
A new collaborative workspace, TiLA!, will open on the Aalto University campus in the fall of 2026, bringing together freelancers, entrepreneurs, artists, students and researchers in the creative fields. In addition to workspaces, TiLA! offers services and a community for creative professionals.
For more information:
Riikka Mäkikoskela
Head of Aalto Centre for Radical Creativity
Head, TiLA!
riikka.makikoskela@aalto.fi
+358 45 1313562
Tuomas Auvinen
Dean
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Aalto University
dean-arts@aalto.fi
+358 50 64 848
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