The roadmap for Finnish research infrastructures defines the significant long-term national research infrastructures that are part of the Finnish research ecosystem. Research infrastructures are instruments, equipment, information networks, databases, materials and services that serve to facilitate research, promote research collaboration and reinforce research and innovation capacity and know-how.

The MAGICS infrastructure – a consortium of six Finnish universities – is accepted to the roadmap for Finnish research infrastructures and consequently receives 5.3-million-euro funding for the years 2025–2029 from the Research Council of Finland.

MAGICs supports societal and scientific advancement by utilizing new technologies that improve remote interactions, educational accessibility, and cultural participation. MAGICS was established in 2020 by Aalto University, Tampere University, and University of the Arts Helsinki, with three more partners – University of Lapland, Turku University of Applied Sciences, and University of Jyväskylä – joining the network in 2024.

Being on the roadmap bolster MAGICS' efforts to support high-quality scientific and artistic research and practices in socially sustainable digitalization and virtualization.

It enables the infrastructure to expand significantly, including cutting-edge extended reality technologies and measurements of human behaviour under naturalistic conditions. These efforts are strongly cross-disciplinary and on the roadmap MAGICS stands out as the only infrastructure in Finland truly bridging art and science to spur new research and innovations.

The University of Lapland at the intersection of design, art, and technology

The University of Lapland participates in the MAGICS infrastructure at the intersection of design, art, and technology. MAGICS focuses on advancing research infrastructure in areas such as virtual reality, virtual media production, and digital prototyping for product and service design.

The funding allocation from the new roadmap funding for the University of Lapland is about 700,000 euros. Together with this new funding allocation, cutting-edge research infrastructure in Lapland will be developed with about one million euros. The activities of the MAGICS consortium at the University of Lapland are led by professor Jonna Häkkilä at the Faculty of Art and Design.

"Being included as part of the national research infrastructure for the first time is a remarkable merit for the University of Lapland. It will contribute in making us an attractive partner for international research collaboration, and will also benefit research and industry in the Lapland region", says professor Häkkilä.

Empowering research, innovation and art

The new funding allows MAGICS infrastructure to invest in advanced extended reality technologies, mobile labs, and multimodal measurement systems.

New research and innovations are supported in the areas of behavioral and experience studies, human-technology interaction, utilization of AI in design, arts and humanities, digital embodiments, sustainable environments (architecture and design), digitally augmented learning, immersive virtual realities, and metaverse technologies.

Examples of the new infrastructure and technology investments include Aalto's MAGICS cinema/theatre to study collective experiences of tens of subjects simultaneously, Uniarts' AI-enhanced performance spaces, industrial XR metaverse applications at the Turku University of Applied Sciences, a mobile XR studio at the University of Lapland, and XR facilities for educational studies in Tampere and Jyväskylä universities.

The mobile XR studio by the University of Lapland, incorporating virtual and augmented reality equipment, will support especially design and art field research in the Lapland region.

Unique opportunities for the society, companies, and partners

The new MAGICS facilities are open to be used by academic, industrial and societal partners. MAGICS is committed to continue the development of open access policies that provide opportunities for different types of companies and partners to utilize its unique services through joint projects, open calls, and industrial usage.

In addition to science and innovation, MAGICS provides new and unique spaces for creating, researching, and teaching art. The new mobile sensors, display and multisensory technologies, and remote presence equipment have great potential to enhance artistic practices. MAGICS is committed to amplify its existing strong collaboration with artists and cultural organizations, too.

In addition, MAGICS actively collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and the public to shape a future where digitalization and virtualization are developed socially sustainably to increase human well-being. With the new funding, MAGICS is set to spearhead pioneering projects that redefine the relationship between technology and society, positioning Finland as a global leader in transformative research and artistic innovation.

Further information:

MAGICS at the University of Lapland:
Jonna Häkkilä, Professor of Industrial Design, tel. +358 40 484 4203, jonna.hakkila (at) ulapland.fi
Explore more about MAGICS and its vision for the future: magics.fi