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VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Organisation Background

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is the biggest multitechnological applied research organisation in Northern Europe with approximately 2700 employees. VTT provides high-end technology solutions and innovation services, and has being pioneer in biotechnologies required for industrial processes based on renewable resources.

During the years 2006-2011, VTT holds the status of Centre of Excellence in “Translational Genome-Scale Biology”, nominated by the Academy of Finland as well as from 2008 to 2013 on in “White Biotechnology and Green Chemistry”.

VTT is also key laboratory in Europe in the field of plant secondary metabolism and metabolic engineering of microbes and plants. VTT is a part of the Finnish innovation system under the domain of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. VTT is a non-profit-making research organisation.

The VTT biotechnology sector is now includes algae and other photosynthesic organisms as a key research area, with many algae-related research projects currently going, from algal genetics to pilot scale algal cultivation. VTT welcomes collaborators worldwide.

I (Dagmar Enss) am working in the group "Plant Biotechnology" (PBT). It is highly engaged and well-renowned in engineering metabolic pathways of higher plants. Since several years the PBT is also part of national and international projects concerning marine organism. At the moment I am working on one project (ALGIESEL) which focus on lipid accumulation of microalgae that should be used for biodiesel production. The other project I am working in an EU-funded project, called MAREX. Within this project we investigate in screening marine species for possible bioactive compounds.
Personally, I have a strong background in molecular biology of higher plants, and large practical experience with important state of the art analytical methods.

Interests:
I am interested in institutes which are working in the field of secondary metabolism of marine species for future co-operations. Furthermore, I am interested in participants which are also working in the field of algae-bacteria interactions.