Defence Linkage
Defence Linkage
- how the military works from a commercial perspective, and how to make an impact and get innovations implemented in that sector
- meeting and working with key decision-makers, experts, and changemakers from the defence industry
- working with like-minded, ambitious students from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds.
A course by
About the Course
This course is a unique learning experience, limited to 16 participants and by application. It is open to all Master’s and PhD level students from Aalto University and University of Helsinki and worth 10 ECTS credits. It is taught by a teaching team that combines academic and practical knowledge how the defence industry works and how to successfully innovate.
- how the military innovates in the different domains of warfare: land, sea, air/space and cyber
- how the military keeps track of and adopts the latest technologies and innovations
- the rules and practices for dual use applications of technologies
- how the latest technologies, like unmanned and AI capabilities, are deployed in the military
- ethics and norms in the use of technology in a military setting.
Desicion makers and experts from 10+ companies will participate in the course. We can already confirm that Patria, Saab and 61N will be among the participating companies.
The course is set to run from mid-January to the end of April. During these 3.5 months we will spend every Friday afternoon from 12:30 to 16:15 together. The course has mandatory in-person attendance, with only a couple of absences allowed. We will have many guests from different parts of the industry. You will also work outside of the weekly sessions, mainly in teams to solve innovation challenges, and to prepare and reflect on the guest lectures.
There will be a hackathon in the beginning of the course, a two-week challenge that allows you to be creative, and a seven-week challenge where you solve a problem and innovate for a company. The course culminates in a community event where you present your solution to the seven-week challenge to a panel and an audience from industry experts and decision-makers.
The course will be a highly intense but highly rewarding experience!
If you still have questions about the course, please send them to the address defence-linkage [at] aalto.fi. We are happy to help you with any questions you might have.
Participants are selected
based on the following criteria:
Prior experience and accomplishments
Please submit your study transcripts and CV, more details below.
Motivation
Tell us why you want to take part in the course. Please submit a motivation letter, see below.
Diversity
We want to have a good mix of students from different backgrounds, all sharing an interest in the industry.
Your application should consist of the following:
1. Copies of your Bachelor's and Master's transcripts, and a copy of your CV
These we ask so we can undestand your academic background, and we are equally, if not more, interested in what you have done and achieved outside of your studies too. Therefore we ask you to make sure that relevant prior experiences are visible from your CV.
2. A short letter explaining your motivation to attend this course
- Describe any previous experiences that have inspired you to pursue this course. How did these experiences shape your interest in the field?
- What are your career goals, and how will this course help you achieve them?
- What is the unique experience or insight you bring to the course?
Write a motivation letter of max. 250 words that answers the above questions. We are interested to get to know you as a person from your motivation letter (so using ChatGPT to write the letter or parts of it might not be a good idea).
defence-linkage [at] aalto.fi
Important dates
Friday 15.11.2024 - Application deadline.
Early December - Applicants are informed of the selection. Selected participants will be informed on how to register for the course in Sisu.
Friday 17.01.2025 - Course kickoff event.
Saturday 25.01. to Sunday 26.01. - Weekend-long hackathon event.
Friday 18.04. - Final presentations & community event.
The Concept
Defence Linkage is the new addition to the Linkage courses
The very popular courses HealthTech and Energy Linkages are running since three years now. Defence Linkage will be based on the same successful concept, changing the focus and content from health or energy to the defence field.
Diversity is a key aspect of the course. So far HealthTech and Energy Linkage have attracted participants from over 20 different majors in Aalto University and University of Helsinki.
Students have met people who shared insights from the following companies, among others: Apple, Oura, Orion, Terveystalo, Planmeca, Bayer, Nordic Healthcare Group, Veri, Blueprint Genetics, Fingrid, Helen, Ilmatar, Neste, and Intergrid.
We are keen on making Defence Linkage as big of a success story as it's sister courses!
Don't just take our word for it, read what the alumni had to say about the courses!
HealthTech Linkage was a great choice to acquire an entrepreneurial, more strategic view on the healthcare sector. It was also an amazing opportunity to interact directly with innovative companies and to build an international and multidisciplinary network with other students.
Ada Junquera Mencía, TRANSMED MSc - HealthTech Linkage 2022 Alumni
Course Staff and Contacts
Aalto University
Jens Schmidt is a strategy professor at Aalto University, currently working as the head of the department of IEM
Tatu is currently conducting doctoral research on the application of innovations to land warfare in the context of the reserve army.
Valentin is a student at Aalto University, currently in his first year of the Master's program in Information Networks.
defence-linkage [at] aalto.fi
More Linkage Courses
An ever growing amount of courses are organized with the same engaging linkage concept. Check out the other courses too!
Energy Linkage
Learn about the transformation of industrial energy supply and the strategies to solve the triangle of cost, sustainability and reliability Experience innovations in making mobility sustainable, from charging infrastructure, storage to sustainable aviation fuels. And much more!
HealthTech Linkage
Take the opportunity to deepen your knowledge about innovation and the commercialization of new technologies and business models in the HealthTech field. Learn about the health care system, medical device technologies, digital medicine and health & well-being services.
