Neste Expands Academic Collaboration to Advance Catalysis Engineering, Chemistry, and Modeling in Finland

Photo: The event organized for the donations provided the leaders of the university research teams – professors Karoliina Honkala, Dmitry Murzin, Tapio Salmi, and Mika Suvanto – an opportunity to discuss the opportunities to enhance both the catalysis-related competence development and research. In the photo from the left Lars Peter Lindfors, Senior Vice President, Technology and Innovation at Neste; Mika Suvanto, Head of Department of Chemistry and Sustainable Technology, Professor at University of Eastern Finland; Teija Laitinen, Manager R&D Partnerships at Neste; Karoliina Honkala, Professor of Chemistry at University of Jyväskylä; Tapio Salmi, Professor of Chemical Reaction Engineering at Åbo Akademi University; Petri Lehmus, Vice President, Research & Development at Neste; and Dmitry Murzin, Professor of Chemical Technology at Åbo Akademi University. Photo: Neste

(IN BRIEF) Neste is donating funding to Åbo Akademi University, the University of Eastern Finland, and the University of Jyväskylä to support advanced catalysis research in engineering, chemistry, and modeling. The initiative is designed to strengthen long-term academic expertise and support pioneering research that underpins Neste’s ability to expand its renewable and circular raw material base. Catalysts play a critical role in refining processes such as hydrotreatment, enabling the conversion of diverse raw materials into high-quality fuels and products. Through this investment, Neste is reinforcing Finland’s strong catalysis research ecosystem while supporting future innovation across its energy, polymers, and chemicals businesses.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESPOO, 27-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Neste is supporting the advancement of catalysis research in Finland through new donations to three universities, reinforcing long-term academic expertise across complementary areas critical to future energy and materials innovation. The funding will support catalysis engineering at Åbo Akademi University, catalysis chemistry at the University of Eastern Finland, and catalysis modeling at the University of Jyväskylä.

The three recipients were selected for their pioneering research across distinct but interconnected disciplines within catalysis, spanning modeling, catalyst preparation, and process engineering. Together, these areas form a comprehensive research landscape that supports both fundamental science and applied industrial innovation.

Strengthening catalysis research is closely linked to Neste’s ability to expand its current and future raw material base. Catalysis plays a central role in enabling the use of a wide variety of waste and residue streams as raw materials, supporting Neste’s ambition to increase the share of renewable, recycled, and circular inputs in its production processes. Finland already has a strong foundation in catalysts research and development, and the donations are intended to further reinforce competence building and long-term expertise in this strategically important field.

Catalysts are a core component of Neste’s refining operations, which produce renewable and fossil fuels for road transport, aviation, marine, and industrial applications, as well as renewable and circular solutions for the polymers and chemicals industries. In refining processes, catalysts accelerate and steer chemical reactions, enabling the transformation of diverse raw materials into high-quality end products.

One key example is hydrotreatment, a refining process in which catalysts are used to remove impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen from raw materials. This process is essential for upgrading renewable, recycled, and fossil feedstocks into fuels and other products that meet stringent quality and sustainability requirements. Continued advances in catalysis research are therefore fundamental to improving efficiency, flexibility, and performance across Neste’s operations.

By investing in academic research and collaboration with Finnish universities, Neste aims to strengthen the scientific foundations needed to support future technology development, expand raw material flexibility, and accelerate innovation across its refining and circular solutions portfolio.

Further information: Please contact Neste’s media service, tel. +358 800 94025 / media@neste.com (weekdays from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. EET). Please subscribe to Neste’s releases at https://www.neste.com/media/subscribe.

Neste in brief

Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for mitigating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. The company is the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, enabling its customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Neste refines waste, residues and other renewable raw materials to high-quality renewable fuels at its refineries located on three continents. The company’s annual renewable fuels production capacity will be increased to 6.8 million tons in 2027.

Neste has high standards for sustainability and the company has consistently been recognized by several leading sustainability indices. In 2024, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 20.6 billion. Read more: neste.com

SOURCE: Neste