Finnish university tech attracts defense industry funding as war reshapes innovation

Aalto University spin-offs are securing millions in funding for dual-use technologies—such as drone-detecting antennas—amid Europe’s shifting security landscape, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle. The trend reflects how war, particularly in Ukraine, has accelerated military interest in academic research once focused solely on civilian applications.

Two-person startup Metaktik recently raised nearly €1 million from a Finnish investor to commercialize its metamaterial antennas, originally designed for satellites but now targeted at defense needs. The company’s CEO, Tuukka Kuuramaa, noted that funding is currently more accessible for dual-use products than purely civilian ones. “The defense sector has a lot of capital available for companies right now,” he said.

Metaktik’s flexible, lightweight antennas help drones navigate GPS jamming—a growing challenge in modern warfare, where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) conduct long-range “kamikaze” missions. The technology’s adaptability for both military and civilian use exemplifies the blurring line between the two, a shift accelerated by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Aalto University’s vice rector for research, Jyri Hämäläinen, confirmed that universities now recognize dual-use potential more readily than before. “Previously, we almost exclusively solved civilian problems, but today it’s hard to separate dual-use and civilian research,” he said. The university’s goal remains long-term scientific excellence, but Hämäläinen acknowledged that commercialization often follows available funding—now heavily concentrated in defense.

Metaktik’s metamaterial surfaces, composed of engineered metallic “cells” not found in nature, were developed in a 1.5-year project funded by Business Finland. While the startup currently operates with just two employees, the new funding will expand its team. Kuuramaa observed that investors, too, are pivoting toward defense: “Many now see this as the right time to invest in the sector.”

The demand extends beyond startups. Aalto has noted increased recruitment of its space technology experts into defense roles, underscoring the broader industry shift. As drones reshape warfare—from Ukraine’s frontlines to recent incursion into Finnish airspace—the redefinition of dual-use tech is forcing universities to rethink their role in national security innovation.