Anne Lönnqvist Believes Innovation and Economic Growth Are Accelerated by Faith in Research

Anne Lönnqvist serves as a Research Manager at VTT, where she currently leads a research portfolio focused on telecommunications, cybersecurity, and situational awareness. She holds a doctorate in radio engineering, has conducted extensive research in satellite image analytics, and has worked on projects funded by the EU and Business Finland. She aims to instill confidence in young researchers so they understand the importance of their work.

What perspective does your background bring to the board of the Foundation for the Advancement of Technology?

Through my work, I have had the opportunity to lead a wide range of technical research, from developing AI algorithms to applying quantum technologies. I believe I bring expertise in balancing funding between broadly beneficial projects and particularly promising initiatives. Supporting fundamental research is essential, but we cannot always predict which research areas will prove important in the future. We must also dare to take risks in funding decisions so that we do not overlook hidden gems among projects.

What would you like to develop within the Foundation for the Advancement of Technology?

My background is in applied research, so I am particularly interested in strategy: Where should funding be directed? How can we create the greatest possible impact in society? It is important that research is integrated into society so that it can improve everyone’s quality of life rather than ending up forgotten in a desk drawer.

What is the significance of the Foundation for the Advancement of Technology in today’s society?

The foundation brings hope to young researchers. A research career is not an obvious choice, and at the beginning of one’s career it is easy to question the value of one’s work. Through our funding decisions, we want to communicate to both researchers and society that research is important and that it is worth pursuing a career in it. At the same time, we want to evolve with the times and ask what we can offer researchers. How can we be of greatest benefit?

How could the visibility and commercialization of science be further promoted in Finland?

There are many options. For example, VTT’s Launch Pad model and Business Finland projects help bring inventions and research to the attention of companies and, through them, to the market. Today, communication offers more channels than ever, but mastering them requires patience and the ability to condense complex ideas. A skilled communicator finds an angle in research that resonates with people’s desire to see tangible and positive progress in the world.

What provides balance to your work in everyday life?

Spending time in the forest relieves stress and sharpens the senses. Being in nature allows thoughts to awaken and flow differently, which in turn benefits my work.

What inspires you?

I am particularly inspired by the early stages of project initiatives, when we discuss with companies the various angles, overall structure, and development directions of a project. Forming a shared vision is an exhilarating part of the process.

What would you say to a young researcher who has just received their first research grant?

Believe in yourself and be persistent. If you truly want something and consider it important, results will appear one way or another. However, the path is not always what you imagined. And if everything seems to be going wrong, that is often precisely when you are close to a breakthrough. It is darkest just before dawn.

If you could meet a deceased researcher, whom would you choose?

I would like to meet one of the first female researchers to gain public recognition. The research world was so male-dominated at the time that conducting research was very different. Yet, for example, Marie Curie, through perseverance and grit, found two elements and was immortalized in history.