Vili Lehdonvirta

Vili Lehdonvirta is a prominent social scientist and professor with expertise in digital technologies, economic sociology, and technology policy. He currently holds dual positions as Professor of Technology Policy at Aalto University's Department of Computer Science and Professor of Economic Sociology and Digital Social Research at the Oxford Internet Institute.124

Academic Background and Career

Lehdonvirta completed his engineering degree at Helsinki University of Technology (now part of Aalto University) in 2005 and earned his PhD in Economic Sociology from the Turku School of Economics in 2009.3 His academic journey includes postdoctoral research in Tokyo and London, followed by a position as an assistant professor at the Oxford Internet Institute, which he started in 2013.3

Research Focus

Lehdonvirta's research primarily examines the socioeconomic and political implications of digital technologies. His work has covered various aspects of the digital economy, including:

• The centralization of digital markets and platforms
• Economic and political power of large technology companies
• Regulation of digital giants
• Geopolitics of digital infrastructures
• Impact of cloud computing on international relations and digital sovereignty

Recently, he has shifted his focus to the physical infrastructure underlying the digital world, exploring how the location and centralization of data centers, servers, and cables influence policy and shape the digital landscape.3

Achievements and Recognition

Lehdonvirta has received significant recognition for his research:

• Awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant in 2024, worth up to €2.5 million2
• Published a well-received book titled "Cloud Empires" summarizing seven years of research on the digital economy3
• Former Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute2

Current Projects

His latest ERC-funded project will investigate the geopolitics of cloud computing, examining how government policies interact with technology companies' strategies to shape global digital infrastructures and, consequently, global politics.2

Lehdonvirta's work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting the broader impact and relevance of his research to global issues.1