In the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, the Finnish AI Region (FAIR) innovation hub stands out among seven digital innovation hubs dedicated to assisting SMEs in harnessing digital technologies for their benefit.
FAIR is committed to overcoming obstacles hindering widespread AI adoption by regional companies. Leveraging its expertise, the innovation hub supports businesses in developing AI-based innovations into marketable products and optimizing their internal processes.
Erja Turunen, Business Area EVP at VTT, the national technical research center involved in the hub, explained, “We help companies identify the business opportunities created by AI and support their use, simultaneously strengthening the extensive international network of experts.”
The hub concentrates its efforts on digital services, smart cities, and health, with a notable emphasis on the health sector, where half of startups already integrate AI. In Finland, health-related startups demonstrate a faster transition from application to implementation compared to other sectors.
FAIR aims to enhance collaboration between universities and companies, facilitating the flow of AI-related ideas and results from basic research to practical applications in our daily lives.
Scheduled to commence operations on October 1 this year, the innovation hub offers primarily free services across four categories: test platforms, financial support, competence development, and the establishment of an innovation ecosystem with networking support.
FAIR’s collaboration includes VTT, the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa, the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, Haaga-Helia UAC, Metropolia UAC, CSC, KIRAHub, and EIT Digital. The partnership also ensures access to the latest scientific knowledge through collaboration with the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI).
Finland boasts a total of seven digital innovation hubs under the EU’s Digital Europe program, each dedicated to helping companies develop products, processes, or services using digital technologies. These hubs play a vital role in shaping the future of AI innovation and technological advancement in Finland.