AI Hub Tampere

AI Hub Tampere is an artificial intelligence research center hosted by Tampere University and funded by public instruments. The center has organized workshops, helpdesk sessions, experimental piloting and support for adopting AI  in local companies from 2018 to 2023. Our principle is to make AI easy to reach and affordable, and thus all our services are free of charge, neutral and equal for all companies active in Pirkanmaa. The center is part of nationwide network of AI centers that is developing fast.

Our aim is to assist local companies in boosting their competitive edge in the aftermath of Covid-19. Our focus has been on health technology, sustainable AI, and energy efficiency. The methods and devices we often work with include collaborative robots and self-driving vehicles.

Our 3-Step Strategy

With the help of AI Hub Tampere, companies located in the Pirkanmaa region can advance from beginners to AI experts by taking three initial steps towards AI maturity.

Firstly, the company can attend one or more of our free workshops, which we organise several times a year. Some of these workshops are beginner friendly, while others are more advanced. Some are held as online or hybrid sessions. Our goal is to shed some light on the possibilities and restrictions of AI, machine learning, and other related methods. Our workshops encourage companies to network with other attending companies and inspire representatives to book a helpdesk session or pilot with us.

Secondly, the next step in the AI strategy is choosing what to develop, and what data to use in the AI project. For this purpose, AI Hub Tampere offers free helpdesk sessions, during which we can figure out which problems are best solved with AI or machine learning, or how to develop more human-centric AI. Some problems are not ideally solved with AI at all, and having a university expert review the original plan might save countless hours of work. Critical views might help define the right AI problem worth developing.

Thirdly, and once we have defined a good problem that offers potential for machine learning or AI application in a helpdesk session, the next step is to cooperate in an experimental pilot project. We offer the input of one-week (five working days) pilots, during which we can use the company data and develop or test AI solutions for the company. We sign a contract with the company, and will not disclose all the details, although we do require a certain level of openness, as we would like to showcase general examples of our pilot projects in social media.

Having accomplished a pilot project, the company will have received valuable work hours from the university specialists, together with a written report of the tests, calculations or other results of the pilot experiment. With this preliminary material, it is easier for the company to open up to the local ecosystem and apply for further development funding from for example Business Finland.

We offer demo opportunities as well as ‘try before buy’ and ‘test before invest’ opportunities. Contact us for more info.