A new project will tap into the potential of Finnish SMEs to grow their businesses through identifying and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions.
The AI Innovation Ecosystem for Competitiveness of SMEs (AI-TIE) project, coordinated by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, will focus on the health, social care, cleantech and wellbeing sectors.
It aims to help develop AI competencies and support collaborative networking between solution providers, RDI institutions, expert organisations and other key actors.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council has awarded European regional development funding and state funding to create a bundle of services directed at SMEs to facilitate the planning, piloting, and adoption of AI-based solutions.
SMEs will be provided with training materials and web content on the business use of AI to help increase staff competency.
They will also be encouraged to develop digital and web-based solutions, in addition to physical products, to ensure business viability in crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main partners in the project are Finland’s Artificial Intelligence Accelerator FAIA as a part of Technology Industries of Finland, and MyData Global, the developer of the internationally renowned MyData model have collaborated.
Other collaborators include Laurea University of Applied Sciences, the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce, West-Uusimaa Chamber of Commerce, East-Uusimaa Development Organisation Posintra, Regional Federation of Finnish Entrepreneurs of Uusimaa, NewCo and Health Capital Helsinki.
WHY IT MATTERS
According to Finland’s artificial intelligence accelerator FAIA, Finland needs to focus more on cooperation in the field to strengthen its position at the top of the international AI arena.
The AI-TIE project will help develop a new collaboration arena which enables SMEs, large companies and corporations, higher education institutions, expert organisations and other stakeholders to collaborate and offer their products and services with the objective of increasing sales.
THE LARGER CONTEXT
Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released new guidance on ethics and governance of AI for health, following two years of consultations held by a panel of international experts appointed by WHO.
In the guidance, WHO warns against overestimating the benefits of AI for health at the expense of core investments and strategies to achieve universal health coverage. It also argues that ethics and human rights must be put at the heart of AI’s design, deployment, and use if the technology is to improve the delivery of healthcare worldwide.
ON THE RECORD
Dr Anna Nikina-Ruohonen, AI-TIE project manager, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, said: “Industry specific AI capabilities are needed, especially in SMEs, and wellbeing, social and health services is one of the main focus areas in AI-TIE.
“Finnish SMEs from this industry are supported in the development of their internal business processes, and product and service innovations through AI. In the long run this work enables industry-specific AI expertise, sustainability and ecosystem development.”
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