Projects per year
Personal profile
Short bio
I study how science, technology, and innovation policies can support a more sustainable future. As a social scientist, I focus on the people, organizations, processes, and policies that shape innovation. I lead research projects and work with companies and public organizations to find effective ways of promoting sustainable change.
Research interests
I’m interested in how new ideas and practices spread, and how more disruptive or radical initiatives manage to gain a foothold within organizations and wider ecosystems. I’m drawn to how innovation processes can be managed to break away from traditional routines and overcome the inertia that often slows down change.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctorate, Doctor of Science (Tech), Innovation management, Aalto University
Award Date: 26 Jun 2018
Master, Master of Social Sciences (Economics), University of Helsinki
Award Date: 20 Jun 2012
Skills and expertise
- Innovation Management
- Innovation Policy
- Cross-sectoral collaboration
- Sustainability
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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NORDLEAD: Cultivating Nordic lead markets: Cross-border collaboration as a catalyst for internationalization
Pihlajamaa, M. (Manager), Valovirta, V. (Participant), Hämäläinen, H. (Participant), Komonen, P. (Participant) & Suominen, A. (Participant)
16/09/24 → 15/09/26
Project: Business Finland project
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GOWELL: Governance of new technologies towards sustainability and well-being
Lehenkari, J. (PI), Lähteenmäki-Smith, K. (CoPI), Valovirta, V. (Participant), Pihlajamaa, M. (Participant), Leväsluoto, J. (Participant), Hämäläinen, H. (Participant), Ailisto, H. (Participant), Lähteenmäki, J. (Participant), Nurmi, O. (Participant) & Valkokari, K. (Owner)
1/08/24 → 31/07/26
Project: Business Finland project
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Tech Policy 2024: Technology Policy 2024 Review
Suominen, A. (PI), Pihlajamaa, M. (Participant) & Deschryvere, M. (Participant)
15/08/24 → 15/12/24
Project: Consultancy
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TALPOL: Evaluation of Finnish Innovation Fund's Sustainable Economy training
Lähteenmäki-Smith, K. (Manager), Hyytinen, K.-M. (Participant), Pihlajamaa, M. (Participant) & Hämäläinen, H. (Participant)
26/06/24 → 31/12/24
Project: Consultancy
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COSU: Co-designing sustainability-oriented innovation policy: experiences, instruments and solutions
Pihlajamaa, M. (Manager), Nieminen, M. (Owner), Hyytinen, K.-M. (Participant), Rilla, N. (Participant), Kivikytö-Reponen, P. (Participant), Pikkuaho, P. (Participant), Palomäki, K. (Participant), Horn, S. (Participant) & Salo, H. (Participant)
1/10/21 → 31/03/24
Project: Business Finland project
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Four archetypes of organizing corporate foresight at the intermediate maturity stage: A multiple case study
Pihlajamaa, M., Komonen, P., Huuhanmäki, J. & Kurki, S., Jun 2025, In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 215, 124117.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile126 Downloads (Pure) -
Preparing a social impact bond in a Nordic welfare state: governance challenges and hybrid responses
Pihlajamaa, M., Merisalo, M. & Saari, P., 12 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Public Procurement.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access -
Transformative Innovation Policies for Sustainable Food Packaging: Challenges and Opportunities
Pihlajamaa, M. & Åkerman, M., 26 May 2025, Sustainability in Food Packaging: Systems, Actors and Innovation. Tynkkynen, N., Hakala, H., Leinonen, I., Varho, V., Åkerman, M. & Harlin, A. (eds.). Springer, p. 245–263Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter or book article › Scientific › peer-review
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Capabilities for transformative sustainability management in cities
Bhatia, R., Pihlajamaa, M., Hyytinen, K. & Jäntti, A., 2025, In: Public Management Review. 27, 4, p. 1179-1203Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)52 Downloads (Pure) -
Kykyä ja halua talouden uudistamiseen: Sitran kestävän talouspolitiikan johtamiskoulutuksen arviointi
Lähteenmäki-Smith, K., Hyytinen, K., Pihlajamaa, M. & Hämäläinen, H., 27 Jan 2025, SITRA. 54 p.Research output: Book/Report › Report
Open Access
Datasets
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What does it take to generate new growth - Survey data on company perceptions on innovative behavior
Suominen, A. (Creator) & Pihlajamaa, M. (Creator), Zenodo, 5 Jan 2022
Dataset
Prizes
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Best Paper 2020 Award, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management
Lorentz, H. (Recipient), Aminoff, A. (Recipient), Kaipia, R. (Recipient), Pihlajamaa, M. (Recipient), Ehtamo, J. (Recipient) & Tanskanen, K. (Recipient), 1 Apr 2021
Prize: Honorary award for a career
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Outstanding Reviewer Award, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management
Pihlajamaa, M. (Recipient), Apr 2022
Prize: Honorary award for a career
Activities
- 4 Dissertation examiner or opponent
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Doctoral thesis examiner at the University of Tasmania
Pihlajamaa, M. (Reviewer)
30 Jul 2025Activity: Evaluation, assessment or examination types › Dissertation examiner or opponent
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Doctoral thesis examiner and opponent at the University of Deusto
Pihlajamaa, M. (Reviewer)
9 Sept 2024Activity: Evaluation, assessment or examination types › Dissertation examiner or opponent
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Doctoral thesis examiner at the Tampere University
Pihlajamaa, M. (Reviewer)
13 Jun 2023Activity: Evaluation, assessment or examination types › Dissertation examiner or opponent
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Doctoral thesis examiner at the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT
Pihlajamaa, M. (Reviewer)
24 Mar 2020Activity: Evaluation, assessment or examination types › Dissertation examiner or opponent
Press/Media
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Suomen innovaatiot jäävät kuolemanlaaksoon – Keinoja auttamiseen olisi
Pihlajamaa, M. & Valovirta, V.
31/08/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Kestävä kasvu edellyttää yritysten sisäistä luovaa tuhoa
Malmelin, N. & Pihlajamaa, M.
19/05/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Perinteinen yritysten tutkimuksen ja kehityksen tukeminen ei enää riitä
Pihlajamaa, M. & Åkerman, M.
15/10/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Miljardien lisäykset tutkimukseen ja kehitykseen tulee käyttää oikein – Nämä viisi asiaa huomioitava
13/11/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Ennakointi vauhdittaa yritysten kestävää uudistumista
Malmelin, N. & Pihlajamaa, M.
26/08/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media