Cooperation underlies AI advances in Finland, and a new gift is boosting national capacity even further
The Technology Industries of Finland and its Centennial Foundation are donating over 13 million euros to the development and application of artificial intelligence in Finland, through the recruitment of top talent, boosting AI use in business and launching the AI Finland network.
Image: Julius Jansson, Unsplash
This push will have a major effect on AI expertise in Finland as part of a larger movement, says FCAI director and Aalto University professor Samuel Kaski. “This is a very welcome move from the Technology Industries. We already have cutting-edge AI expertise in Finland thanks to the excellent work of my FCAI colleagues, but we need more pull to attract and keep talented people and companies in Finland.”
FCAI already occupies a significant position in ELLIS, the European network of AI research excellence. This donation supports the common goal of gaining institute status for Finland in the ELLIS network.
“This fantastic initiative will trigger a process to expand the current ELLIS Unit to a world-class institute, which will boost the appeal of Finland,” says Kaski.
Nearly four million euros of the Technology Industries’ donation will go towards recruitment of top international talents. The ELLIS Institute proposal also strongly focuses on attracting experts, which is the biggest bottleneck for new R&D investments and innovation in Finland.
Pilot ELLIS recruitment in partnership with a few companies will roll out soon, with the idea that positions can flexibly exist at the interface of universities and companies. These recruitments are timed to match the Finnish government’s wise decision to significantly boost doctoral education in flagship areas including AI. In conjunction with the launch of the Finnish Doctoral Program Network in Artificial Intelligence in 2024, universities and businesses are actively looking to collaborate, diversify and expand AI knowledge.
“AI in Finland is thus on a promising growth trajectory, which is appealing for companies deciding where to invest and individuals deciding where to build their careers,” says Kaski. “Productive cooperation will give Finland the means to ensure competitiveness and local AI expertise, which are vital to renew society and the economy. I have faith this trajectory will continue, given the government’s pledge to raise RDI investments to four per cent of GDP.”
ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) is a European network of AI research excellence. The existing ELLIS Unit Helsinki is projected to grow into a world-class AI research hub, ELLIS Institute Finland, that will bring AI expertise into use for different fields. An innovation ecosystem will develop around the ELLIS Institute, attracting talents, companies and investments to Finland. The ELLIS Institute Finland initiative has gathered support from over 20 top companies, the Technology Industries of Finland, the Confederation of Finnish Industries, and all of the current Research Council of Finland Flagship projects.
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