Fulbright Finland Travel Grantee Kristina Leppälä spotlights fellow alumna Hanna Lehtimäki, a leading expert on circular economy. Her’s research focuses on the current phenomenon of sustainable businesses and society, and studies how linear economic models can be modified through circular ones to meet the growing needs for a sustainable planet.

Professor Hanna Lehtimäki from the University of Eastern Finland’s Business School was a Fulbright scholar in 2014. As a Fulbrighter, Lehtimäki visited George Mason University, in the Washington D.C. area, and was hosted by Professor Tojo Thatchenkery. Their academic cooperation continues to this day, with common research projects, publications, and presentations.

As the founder and director of the Research Center for Sustainable Circular Economy (UEF CECE), Lehtimäki and her research group focus on the current phenomenon of sustainable businesses and society, and study how linear economic models can be modified through circular ones to meet the growing needs for a sustainable planet. 

Fulbright helped to broaden my understanding not only of the U.S. and the rich research life that existed there, but also gave me an academic partnership and connections that are still active today.

Lehtimäki had previously served as the vice-principal investigator of the CICAT2025 project, a large, circular economy themed research project of 100 researchers from five Finnish institutions. This project examined the circular economy from various analytic levels. As the project came to an end in 2022, Lehtimäki was inspired to continue the work, and formed the research center. 

Now well into its third year, UEF CECE consists of post-doctoral and doctoral researchers and other academics. Her group performs research within business disciplines but also works with researchers across disciplinary boundaries. 

Professor Hanna Lehtimäki photographed in front of a river in a forest
Professor Hanna Lehtimäki was an ASLA-Fulbright Senior Scholar at George Mason University during the academic year 2013-14.

Some of Lehtimäki’s current projects include: GOVERMAT, which examines critical minerals and multilevel governance for future electric mobility; PlasticsCircularity, which explores circular economic value in the plastics sector; LeadSus, a three-year research project examining global sustainability leaders; and CE4ALL, a project aimed at creating microcredentials of continuous education for the public and business leaders. 

UEF CECE also hosts morning coffees and webinars related to sustainability and circular economic themes. Under her direction, the research center has grown and continues to increase its impact, networking with researchers worldwide. Lehtimäki is acknowledged worldwide as an expert in circular economy.

Of her Fulbright Finland experience, Lehtimäki is very positive. “Fulbright helped to broaden my understanding not only of the U.S. and the rich research life that existed there, but also gave me an academic partnership and connections that are still active today. For instance, in our LeadSus program, my Fulbright host Professor Thatchenkery is an active collaborator and our research team just published an article together," Hanna says.

"With Tojo, we continue to work together on these important sustainability challenges facing businesses, and have found the importance of leadership in the sustainability sector to be of vital importance," she concludes.

Portrait photo
Kristina Leppälä
2025-26 Fulbright Finland Travel Grant for Research Collaboration

Kristina Leppälä is a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland's Business School in Kuopio. She spent three weeks at Stanford University with a Fulbright Finland Travel Grant for Research Collaboration.