Pekka Vallittu has earned his degrees in Dental Technology in 1988, Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Philosophy in 1994, received Adjunct Professorship in 1995 and specialized in prosthodontics and stomatognathic physiology (EPA-Recognized Prosthodontist) in 2000. Presently, he is a Full Professorship and Chair of Biomaterials Science in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

He has been Head of the Institute of Dentistry 2004-2014 and 2019-2024 at the University of Turku, the Director of Turku Clinical Biomaterials Centre and Board Member of the University of Turku since 2018. He worked at NIOM AB in Norway as guest researcher in 1995-1996 and presently as Board Member of NIOM. He was Subject Editor for non-metallic biomaterials Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials in 2011-2023 and is Editorial Board Member of several international journals.

His predominating research activity on fiber-reinforced composites has lasted over 30 years since 1980´s. The first clinical applications of fiber-reinforced composites were found in clinical dentistry and thereafter in combination with bioactive glass components and surface coatings in bone surgical applications as non-metallic bioactive implants. He has established and directed several spin-off companies for getting newly developed composite materials for clinical use in dentistry and medicine.

At SHIFT InFlames side event 21.5., professor Vallittu will talk about Leadership in Innovation: How to work at the academia and transfer results to business. Key points of his speech are related to motivation for science and research and how it is basis for success. He will also shed light on the principle “The more you give the more you get” and how it benefits your researcher career but how it can also be dangerous in business.

InFLAMES-lippulaiva on Turun yliopiston ja Åbo Akademin yhteinen hanke, joka hakee syvempää ymmärrystä normaaleista ja väärin kohdistetuista tulehdusreaktioista sekä terveydessä että sairaudessa. Lippulaiva muuttaa immunologisen tutkimuksen ja innovaatiot taloudelliseksi ja yhteiskunnalliseksi voimaannuttamiseksi yhdessä bioteknologia- ja lääkeyritysten kanssa.