Meyer Turku has donated funds to establish a new professorship at Finland’s Aalto University, according to a press release.

With the €800,000 donation, the University will establish a five-year Professor of Practice in Interdisciplinary Naval Architecture, with the search for the person to fill the role to start later this year.

Aiming to help modernize the shipbuilding industry and address its growing skills shortage, the role will combine marine technology and engineering with economics, finance, contract law, as well as architecture and design.

“Our order book extending to 2030 and a framework agreement with our customer through 2036 bring unprecedented predictability to the company’s operations. They enable exceptionally long-term investments in competence, research, and international collaboration.

“These investments support the education of a new, broadly qualified generation of shipbuilders and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Finnish marine industry,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.

The donation is part of Meyer Turku’s collaboration with educational institutions, aiming to improving the industry’s visibility and attractiveness to research.

The company also runs its own Shipbuilding School (Laivanrakennusoppilaitos), in operation for over 60 years.