Professor Mikko Koria

After researching and teaching in design, architecture and business studies in Brazil, Finland and the UK, Mikko’s research has focused on interdisciplinary learning, extreme projects and design business innovation. Over the last thirty years, Mikko has been widely engaged in management practice, research and teaching in various universities and the private, public and the third sectors in both industrialised countries and emerging economies.

Mikko has led complex, multicultural and interdisciplinary initiatives and organisations, building teams and meaningful solutions in humanitarian work and business contexts, in many cases linking technical and social goals. He has continuously expanded his design and architecture background to include expertise in the fields of management, economics, and innovation while always being conscious about wide and inclusive value creation for those involved.

Mikko's research, teaching and enterprise activities have taken him to Brazil, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, Spain, Finland and the UK for long term engagements. He has also been involved in long and short terms project work in with organisations such as the EU, the World Bank, the Red Cross and UNICEF in over twenty countries in South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania and Europe.

After studying at the Faculdade de Arquitectura e Urbanismo (FAU) of the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil, Mikko obtained a masters degree in Architecture from the Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. He later obtained an MBA in Design Management from the University of Westminster, UK, and a PhD in Economics and Business Administration from the Helsinki School of Economics, Finland.

Over the last few years, Mikko engaged in teaching and research in the areas of managing design in business and innovation at various universities in Finland, Japan, China, Brazil, and Chile. Before coming to the Institute for Design Innovation at Loughborough University London, Mikko was the Professor and Programme Director of the International Design Business Management programme School of Business of the Aalto University, Finland.

Britta Boyer – PhD title: Intercultural dialogues on creativity and worldmaking.

The research investigates a design anthropological lens on creativity and the building of knowledge ecologies for design.

Auri Evokari - PhD title: “Design Innovation for Entrepreneurship Ecosystems — Fostering Start-up Culture in Southern Africa.”

The research aims to understand the local start-up culture in Namibia, South Africa and Zambia, as well as the practices that foster it, in order to design an actionable model for facilitating entrepreneurship ecosystems in Southern Africa.

Mikko is very interested in the study of interdisciplinarity, linking various disciplines in novel ways to produce new combinations that are both meaningful and create new opportunities. Music is another area of interest and he has been producing music for a very long time. Mikko also enjoys craft and building work as a way to engage thought into hands-on action.

As Associate Dean for Enterprise, Mikko provides strategic and operational leadership of the campus’ enterprise activities and long-term goals. Mikko works closely with the University’s Enterprise Committee and Stakeholder Management Team to raise awareness of our enterprising opportunities amongst all students.