VTT Technical Research Centre

Non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, petroleum-based EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam packaging is not eco-friendly stuff. There could soon be a greener and snazzier-looking alternative, however, in the form of origami-folded cardboard.

Scientists at Finland's VTT Technical Research Centre have been developing an alternative leather made from fungi, and have now demonstrated a way to produce continuous sheets of the stuff at commercial scales.

​​Hyperspectral cameras allow us to see what's invisible to the human eye, and even determine what things are made of. Unfortunately, the devices have tended to be big and cumbersome, limiting them to use in labs. Now, however, there's a portable model on the market.​

​In police work, it's important to be able to prove that what you suspect is a narcotic really IS a narcotic. It is with this in mind that Spectral Engines is creating a portable drug-screening device. It's described as "the first re-usable pocket-sized scanner for police patrols."

A Finnish research project has created a batch of protein using electricity, water, carbon dioxide and microbes, in a small portable lab. The stuff is edible and nutritious enough for cooking or livestock feed, and the system could eventually be used to grow food in areas where it’s needed the most.

A short-range radar wearable being developed by the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland could soon be guiding the visually impaired through their outdoor activities. VTT’s Guidesense is a chest-worn monitor that alerts the wearer of potential obstacles through vibrations and voice feedback.

​Hyperspectral cameras allow people to "see the invisible." Unfortunately they also tend to be big and expensive, although researchers are working on making them smaller and cheaper. To that end, Finnish scientists recently succeeded in converting an iPhone camera into one.

Rolls-Royce and its partners are expanding on their ideas for a virtual bridge that could soon lead to a future where the line between manned and robotic ships becomes completely blurred.

Scientists are developing an inexpensive portable blue-green algae detector.

Scientists are developing eco-friendly composite materials containing peat fiber and beet pulp.