2021-02-02 Inje Oh, Helsinki Trade Center, Finland
– Since the announcement of the Finnish government promotion policy in 2017, companies using artificial intelligence technology have tripled
-Need to prepare for changing market trends by referring to Finnish artificial intelligence use cases-
Finnish government actively investing in AI industry for post-COVID-19 era
The Finnish government announced Finland's Age of Artificial Intelligence (Tekoälyaika) policy in 2017. Through the successful introduction of AI, it aims to increase GDP by 2023 billion euros (200% per year on average) and increase the employment rate by 8% by 5. Since the announcement of the AI promotion policy, the number of companies using AI has tripled, and 3% of Finnish companies with 5 or more employees use artificial intelligence technology for their daily work.
<Trend of companies using AI by year>
Source: ETLA, FAIA (Finland's AI Accelerator)
In recognition of these achievements, Finland was ranked in the top group in the AI readiness (2019) published by McKinsey, and in the Government AI Readiness Index (2019) published by Oxford insights, it was ranked 5th after Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany.
The Finnish government's AI promotion policy consisted of human resources training and education, research and development, and adoption.
1) Manpower training and education: Elements of AI
Since May 2018, the University of Helsinki has been implementing Elements of AI, a free online AI course for all citizens, together with IT consulting company Reaktor.
Elements of AI aims to provide AI education to 1% of the Finnish population (5 people), and consists of 5 subjects that can be completed within 6 weeks. The Finnish government has decided to provide free education to people around the world, including EU citizens, with a budget of 6 million euros from 2019. As of January 170, more than 2021 people in 1 countries around the world are contributing to AI education.
Related Link: https://www.elementsofai.com/
2) Research and development: Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI)
The Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI), a research community established in 2018 with the Aalto University, the University of Helsinki and the Finnish National Institute of Technology (VTT), is a key institution for AI research in Finland. The government plans to provide 2019 million euros to FCAI from 2026 to 250, and more than 20 municipalities, research institutes, and corporations are involved in Modeling Tools, Health, Assistant, and Environment. We are jointly developing 5 research topics that can be applied to 7 fields, including, Materials.
Related Link: https://fcai.fi/
3) Application support: Finland's AI Accelertor (FAIA)
The Ministry of Employment and Economy has been conducting an accelerating program to expand the use of AI technology with the Technology Industries of Finland since 2018. Together with SILO.ai, the largest AI consulting company in Northern Europe, it is strengthening the AI capabilities of companies and institutions through a six-month program.
Related Link: https://faia.fi/
<Main fields of use of AI>
Source: FAIA (Finland's AI Accelerator)
According to a survey conducted by FAIA, Finnish companies are mainly using AI to enhance products and services, and are also applying it to efficiency of back office work such as production management and customer management.
Let’s take a look at the future trends that AI technology will change in the post-COVID-19 era through Finland’s best practices for AI utilization by major industries.
1) Public infrastructure such as airports, ports, and smart cities
Since Finland is located in a high latitude region, it was difficult to operate the airport due to unpredictable weather conditions during winter. Finland Airports Corporation (Finavia) introduced an optimization solution using machine learning and used it for flight schedule management. As a result, departure delays caused by inevitable conditions at the airport such as bad weather decreased by 61%, and waiting times due to delays decreased by 66%. This saves 50 euros in cost and carbon emissions per month.
Not only airports but also port logistics have introduced Smart Port as a Service (SPaaS) developed by Awake.ai. By sharing issues by port service agency through a real-time web application, it greatly contributed to the rapid handling of cargo volume.
SILO.ai is actively applying the smart city business using AI to Helsinki City. Together with Helsinki Energy (Helen), a 30-hour heating demand prediction system was built with a machine learning-based solution that reduced errors by more than 40% compared to the previous one. Helsinki Environment Corporation (HSY) has been piloting a solution that predicts in advance the point where clogging may occur in the sewer network in the metropolitan area over 2020 km in length with SILO.ai from 3,000. SILO is also providing AI technology to Finland's Korea Meteorological Administration and the prediction of cyclone intensity using satellite images.
Source: Company website (https://www.awake.ai/)
2) Production management and back office efficiency improvement
Major Finnish companies are also adopting AI technology in production and customer management. Stora Enso, a leading paper maker, minimized the use of chemicals during pulp production with Top Data Science's intelligent IoT solution.
The Finnish Posti has significantly improved productivity by automating manual tasks through an intelligent invoicing automation solution based on machine learning. A-Lehdet, a media service and content provider, was able to process daily customer services such as service subscriptions and cancellations faster through an artificial intelligence chatbot service (GetJenny).
3) medical
The Finnish medical community is actively introducing AI in medical imaging fields such as MRI and CT and patient management. Helsinki Medical School is benefiting from the introduction of deep learning algorithms to research on tumors and Parkinson's disease. Aiforia, a deep learning solution, has made it possible to check cranial nerves in less than 45 seconds, which took more than 5 minutes, and is using artificial intelligence solutions for medical imaging in the field of tumor research. GE Healthcare, together with Finnish startup Top Data Science, has developed an AI model to streamline the operation of the intensive care unit. By combining the data of about 3000 patients with the data of intensive care unit patients, it predicted the risk and decided whether to move to a general ward, thereby reducing the burden on the medical staff and enabling effective treatment.
implication
Machine learning and artificial intelligence technology advances in leaps and bounds will greatly change our future. Finland is actively investing in technology development and private companies to establish itself as a global leader in the AI industry. We understand the importance of artificial intelligence technology to improve the global competitiveness of major industries such as chemicals, machinery, pulp and paper.
In Korea, a number of research institutes and companies are also increasing investments in related research to survive the global AI technology war. KAIST is actively engaged in the development of research manpower and technology, such as establishing an AI graduate school, and major companies are also building AI capabilities by establishing an AI center, attracting talent, and acquiring companies. In line with this, the government is preparing an institutional environment for the use and spread of AI by announcing a roadmap for restructuring the AI legal system at the end of 2020.
Building an ecosystem suitable for Korea by referring to the organic industry-academia-research ecosystem that has made Finland a leading AI country will help Korea to develop into an AI powerhouse. In addition, it is expected that more opportunities will be found if Korean startups and research institutes participate in the Finnish Open Eco System.
A business Finnish official said, "I look forward to seeing many new business opportunities in Finland for Korean AI startups." It is hoped that by increasing exchanges between the two countries' start-up industries, domestic artificial intelligence companies will advance into the global market.
Source: Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA), Academy of Finland, FCAI FAIA, website of each company and synthesis of local media