Walter Ahlström Foundation
Discover the foundation’s journey from history to the future
Walter Ahlström was born in 1875. He served as CEO of A. Ahlström Oy from 1907 to 1931, during which time the company operated primarily in the forest industry. Walter Ahlström recognised early on the importance of research and development for the competitiveness of Finnish industry. In 1926, he founded the Walter Ahlström Foundation to support the postgraduate education of young Master of Science (Engineering) graduates.
The Foundation awards annual grants to outstanding young professionals in the fields of the forest products industry, electrical engineering, power engineering, and the metal industry. Applicants must hold an academic degree, be under the age of 35, and have a Finnish social security number.
In recent years, the Foundation has focused on supporting doctoral research through incentive grants. Funding may also be awarded for participation in international scientific conferences and for research visits to international institutions. In addition, the Foundation participates in the Researchers Abroad (Tutkijat maailmalle) programme.
A. Ahlström Historical Archive: A young Walter Ahlström, then a secondary school graduate, receiving treatment for his lungs during a sanatorium stay in Tonsåsen, Norway, on 30 July 1896. Walter’s father, Antti Ahlström, had passed away just two months earlier. Walter was forced to abandon his plans to study engineering and instead entered the family business.
Special Projects
Across all projects funded by the Foundation, emphasis is placed on the broad applicability of research topics and results within Finnish industry and business.
The Foundation aims to support high-quality research, particularly pathways that lead to innovation.
In addition to incentive grants and those awarded through the Researchers Abroad programme (Tutkijat Maailmalle), funding may also be granted to other internationally high-level initiatives that promote the practical application of research results. Such initiatives may be proposed by various stakeholders on an open, ongoing basis without predefined calls.
For further information, please contact the Foundation’s representatives: niklas.tornkvist@gmail.com.
Sources
Main image: A. Ahlström Historical Archive – The Isotalo office in 1906. From left: Leon Berslin, Walter Ahlström, Rafael Ahlström, Kalle Råberg, William Harju and Otto Savela.