Genelec, the Finnish powerhouse known for its precision loudspeakers and pioneering work in Active Monitoring technology, is once again putting its money where its mission is—supporting the next generation of audio engineers. Celebrating over 45 years of sonic innovation, Genelec isn’t just in the business of designing speakers with extraordinary accuracy and rich, distortion-free sound. The company is equally committed to fostering education, diversity, and progress within the audio industry.
As part of that commitment, Genelec is now accepting applications for its two annual U.S.-based graduate scholarships for the 2025–26 academic year: the Genelec Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship and the Genelec Mike Chafee Audio Pioneering Scholarship. Each award is valued at $5,000 and is administered in partnership with the Audio Engineering Society Educational Foundation (AESEF). The deadline to apply is May 15.
Honoring Innovation: The Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship
Established in 2018, the Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship honors the legacy of Genelec’s founder, a lifelong advocate of innovation in sound and a revered figure within the audio engineering community. Dr. Martikainen was recognized with the AES Fellowship Award in 1993 for his groundbreaking contributions to loudspeaker development and later delivered the prestigious Richard C. Heyser Memorial Lecture in 2015.
A statement from the company discloses that the scholarship is awarded to “students who have a passion of advancing audio through innovation and technology development.” Open to U.S. graduate students who are members of the Audio Engineering Society, this scholarship is designed to support those who, like Dr. Martikainen, are shaping the future of audio.
Championing Inclusion: The Mike Chafee Audio Pioneering Scholarship
Launched in 2022, the Mike Chafee Audio Pioneering Scholarship was created to support the advancement of women in the audio industry. The scholarship commemorates Michael Chafee, a long-time Genelec manufacturer’s representative, sound designer, and tireless advocate for gender equity in audio engineering.
In a statement, Genelec describes the scholarship as supporting “female students who have a passion of advancing audio through innovation and technology development.” Also valued at $5,000, this award is presented annually to U.S.-based female graduate students who are AES members and are committed to pushing audio technology and creativity forward.
How to Apply
Both scholarships are administered through the Audio Engineering Society Educational Foundation. Interested students must be current members of AES and enrolled in a graduate program in audio engineering or a related field. More details and application instructions can be found at aes.org/education/foundation.
From its Smart Active Monitoring™ systems—calibrated to your unique acoustic environment with the help of intelligent DSP and the GLM software—to its decades-long leadership in precision sound, Genelec continues to shape how professionals create and hear audio. Through these scholarships, the company is also helping shape who gets to lead that future.
For more information on Genelec and its mission, visit www.genelec.com.
