The Academy of Finland’s Centre of Excellence in Quantum Materials (QMAT) launched its activities with a kick-off meeting held on 19 – 20 March 2026 at the Aalto2 Museum Centre in Jyväskylä.
The spring sun welcomed the participants, and many enjoyed starting their morning by admiring the sunrise over Lake Jyväsjärvi. The atmosphere was enthusiastic even before the event began, but what made it particularly meaningful was that the Centre of Excellence research groups met each other for the first time in 2026 – and for some, for the very first time ever.
At the Aalto2 Museum Centre, each participant received a name badge and a QMAT hoodie, with one of four slogans available for the back:
- Materializing Quantum
- I got entangled with quantum materials
- I’m twisted and therefore correlated
- Mind the gap – Wild excitations beyond
The event was opened by the Centre of Excellence director, Professor Tero Heikkilä (University of Jyväskylä), who warmly welcomed everyone. He introduced the vice director, Assistant Professor Jose Lado from Aalto University, as well as the leaders of all research groups and their teams.
The Centre of Excellence brings together leading quantum researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Aalto University, VTT, and Tampere University. Their shared goal is to understand and design new quantum states of matter, develop new device paradigms based on quantum materials, and strengthen the societal impact of research through, for example, technology transfer and the popularisation of quantum expertise.
During the event, the scientific foundation of the QMAT Centre of Excellence, its future goals, and its societal significance were presented. Understanding the bigger picture helped clarify how the wide range of research topics and methods are interconnected and form a shared vision.
In addition to the work package presentations, participants explored the exhibitions of the Aalto2 Museum and the history of Central Finland. International early-career researchers in particular appreciated the interactive nature of the museum and the opportunity to learn about the culture and traditions of their new home country.
The poster session, held in the museum’s central hall, was social, inspiring, and interactive. Early-career researchers had the opportunity to present their work to new colleagues, and the architecture, lighting, and atmosphere created a uniquely elegant setting – complete with good humour and refreshments.
“As a postdoctoral researcher and still quite new to Finland, it was really interesting to see what different research groups are doing and planning,” says Tim Kokkeler, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Jyväskylä.
“It gave me many ideas on how I can best contribute myself.”
At the kick-off dinner, joy and laughter filled the hall. The director of the Centre of Excellence gave a thank-you speech, reflecting on shared moments over the years and the experiences from the application phase, which had become strengths along the way.
In her speech, Professor Päivi Törmä from Aalto University thanked everyone – especially Tero – for their hard work and commitment to the process that made this Centre of Excellence possible.
On the second day, research groups visited the laboratory of Professor Kezilebieke Shawulienu at the Nanoscience Center of the University of Jyväskylä. At the same time, smaller groups worked on developing new ideas, collaborations, and research perspectives.
It was impressive to see how different theoretical and experimental approaches came together thanks to the Centre of Excellence. All collaboration begins with an idea – and now those ideas have materialised into research that paves the way for future technologies, as well as for early-career researchers and society at large.
The Centre of Excellence in Quantum Materials is like a powerful forge: it welds researchers and research groups together, creating the foundation for new, meaningful, and unprecedented science.