Finland helps SMEs develop and utilise AI technology

A project coordinated by the universities Haaga-Helia and Laurea will develop an AI innovation ecosystem

Earlier this year, Finland’s Haaga-Helia University announced that it will implement a new project to promote the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The AI-TIE project will take place from 2021 to 2023 and support SMEs in developing, growing, and adopting AI-based solutions.

SMEs have untapped potential

In July, TheMayor.EU reported the European Investment Bank conducted a study to assess the digital adoption efforts of firms in the EU. Its findings revealed a large digital divide between large companies and SMEs. At the time, EIB Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix noted that firms must increase their efforts as digitalisation has numerous advantages, especially in times of crises.

Haaga-Helia University echoed these findings, noting that large companies benefit from AI technologies while SMEs lag behind and struggle to adopt AI-based solutions. For this reason, it reports that is coordinating the AI-TIE project to support the creation of digital and web-based solutions and ensure business viability in crises, such as the pandemic.

How will AI-TIE support SMEs?

To facilitate the development and adoption of AI, the AI-TIE project will act as a new collaboration arena where SMEs can team up with large companies, higher education institutions, expert organisations and stakeholders. In other words, AI-TIE develops “an AI innovation ecosystem” where the aforementioned bodies can come together to offer their services and increase sales.

Beyond this, the university reports that the project will advance the development of industry-specific AI applications. In particular, it will focus on the fields of cleantech and wellbeing, as well as social and health industries. Thus, the project will offer industry-specific training, materials, and web content to SMEs.

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is implementing the AI-TIE project alongside the Laurea University of Applied Sciences. The main collaboration partners of the two universities are Finland’s Artificial Intelligence Accelerator FAIA and MyData Global.