Joint AI network to strengthen companies around the Baltic Sea

The newly launched project BRAIN brings together organisations from Sweden, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania in a joint effort to develop knowledge, methods and networks related to artificial intelligence in manufacturing companies. By working across national borders, the project seeks to create structures that strengthen companies’ ability to adapt in a rapidly changing environment.

Companies’ use of AI – a shared regional challenge

In many parts of the Baltic Sea region, industry is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises that face similar challenges when it comes to making use of the opportunities offered by AI. According to Mats Larsson, Project Manager for BRAIN at IUC Syd, many smaller companies have an interest in AI but lack the practical conditions needed to take the first steps.

“We know that many smaller companies are curious about AI but lack the time, resources and the right skills to get started. That is where we want to make a difference”.

Although national initiatives to support digitalisation exist, support, knowledge and expertise are often fragmented and organised separately. Mats Larsson explains that, by working transnationally, the project aims to pool experience, resources and expertise from several countries and create a more coherent support structure for companies that want to use AI in their operations

“The starting point is that AI must be understandable and directly applicable for manufacturing companies in order to create value”.

Common approaches and mutual learning on AI

A key element of the cooperation is the development of a shared training model that shows how companies can begin to use AI applications in practice. Project partners in the different countries work closely with companies to identify common needs, test working methods and share the results within the network.

Mats Larsson highlights that working across borders makes it possible to draw broader conclusions than would be possible at national level alone.

“Working together allows us to see patterns that do not emerge within a single company or country. This creates better conditions for developing methods and structures that actually work in different contexts”.

Workshops and joint activities play an important role in this process by creating meeting places where companies, cluster organisations and other support actors can exchange experience and knowledge.

Building AI networks for manufacturing companies

Although BRAIN is a preparatory project, its ambition is to create results that extend beyond the project period. Mats Larsson explains that the work is intended to lay the foundation for a transnational network – the Baltic AI Centre – which will serve as a shared platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange and continued development.

“The goal is to build long-term structures that companies across the Baltic Sea region can benefit from even after the project ends”.

The project also lays the groundwork for continued cooperation between partners and for larger international initiatives, where experiences and tools developed within BRAIN can be scaled up and made available to a wider group of manufacturing companies around the Baltic Sea.