The Baltic Sea is more than water to the Vice President at Applied Materials and CEO of Picosun
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Mira Tammisto
Marketing and communications
Applied Materials Finland
mira_tammisto@amat.com
Applied Materials supports John Nurminen Foundation’s work.
Jussi Rautee, Vice President at Applied Materials and CEO of Picosun, why did Applied Materials Finland decide to donate to the Baltic Sea?
We are the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductor devices, and our company’s values revolve around a desire to do good – not only for our customers, but also society. Our activities in this area are encapsulated in our vision: “Make possible a better future”.
Applied Materials operates in 24 countries, and we choose our charities on a country-by-country basis, as we want to promote the wellbeing of our employees and their families locally. Every year, we support projects and organisations working with environmental issues, education, arts and culture, and civic activities. In Finland, we wanted to help the environment. We narrowed our choice down to the Baltic Sea, and finally the John Nurminen Foundation.
Although the final decision on the partnership was made together with our US headquarters, I strongly advocated for the Baltic Sea to be the recipient of our donation in Finland.
What’s your relationship with the Baltic Sea?
I’m from Turku, which is on the Baltic Sea coast, so I have a very strong and close relationship with the sea. When I lived inland for a while, I could always smell the sea as soon as I reached Turku railway station.
Both the sea and archipelago are very relaxing places for me, and the source of many wonderful memories from my youth. I always spend my summer holidays in the archipelago, although it’s a great place to be in other seasons as well.
What attracts you to the Baltic Sea in particular?
When I was young, my friends and I spent ages exploring the Archipelago Sea by boat, and also through scuba diving. We reported changes in bladder wrack and the state of the Baltic Sea to the University of Turku, and dived to the seabed for flounder. But for me, the Baltic Sea is much more than water: archipelago culture is fascinating. I’m also a history enthusiast with an interest in shipwrecks, and the Baltic Sea offers unique opportunities for my hobby.
Do you have any tips for great places to visit in the Baltic Sea?
I like the peaceful, fjord-like bays in the northern Åland Islands, but Aspö is great too. Its fun atmosphere has an immediate effect on you. It’s nice to spend time in a small village where you can chat to the locals about archipelago life.
In the summer, I might sail to Bengtskär from some coffee and a bun. I remember it back in the 80s, when there was nothing there except the lighthouse, which itself was home only to seagulls. Fixing it up was a significant achievement for local culture.
Applied Materials is the world’s largest service provider and manufacturer of production machinery in the semiconductor industry. The company employs about 34,000 employees in 24 countries, and is headquartered in Santa Clara, Silicon Valley, California. Applied Materials Finland (Picosun) develops processes and equipment based on atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology.
