The AIRE center is looking for cooperation with industrial companies to implement artificial intelligence and robotics demo projects in the amount of up to 50,000 euros per project. According to Kirke Maar, head of the center, the center does not provide financial support, but companies are offered university teams to help them test a specific solution or solve some challenges using artificial intelligence or robotics.

Otto Mättas, head of the center's artificial intelligence field, added that researchers can participate in the idea round with an already existing idea or solution that has been waiting on the shelf until now.

"Now it is possible to test and validate it within six to nine months in some company," said Mättas and noted that ideally the researcher should already have contact with an industrial company. The idea round also enables the researcher to further develop some of the ongoing projects, in which he can involve both students and non-university partners.

"If it is not immediately possible for a researcher to involve an industrial company, I still encourage them to submit their ideas. The AIRE center's idea round remains open throughout the year, submitted ideas are evaluated 3-4 times a year, and the next one will take place already in the spring of 2023. So we can be helpful in finding a suitable cooperation partner, evaluate the idea in the next round so that it comes to life," said Mättas.

The documentation of the demo project round will be available on the AIRE website from November 1. Until then, you can look at the demo projects on the AIRE page from the spring round.

For example, in the spring round of demo projects, we solved the following challenges:

• Goal: To solve the logistical bottleneck. Solution: we automated the movement of goods in the packing area of ​​the Kulinaaria OÜ factory in order to increase the logistical speed and production capacity of the factory;
• We worked with an artificial intelligence-based support solution to optimize the production process at robot-based workplaces at Alise Technic OÜ;
• Goal: To have an overview of where goods are located in the company's warehouse and when and where they move. Solution: We developed an artificial intelligence system that can track products stored on pallets and associate them with actual labels at Valdek AS;
• Goal: To reduce steps and save time for hospital staff when moving between the laboratory and patients. Solution: We developed smart robots that could safely navigate crowded indoor spaces;

Background information

Based on the preliminary round of the competition for the creation of the European Digital Innovation Hub, or EDIH center, Estonia was the candidate for the final round of EDIH in 2022. In Estonia, the center was named AIRE (AI & Robotics Estonia), whose seven-year period began on July 1, 2022, and the budget for three years, or 36 months, is 6 million euros. The European Commission announced the positive funding decision on June 1, 2022.

The AIRE center, which has been piloting services since October 2021, has already supported the digitization and increased competitiveness of 75 Estonian industrial companies. The center has advised, trained and brought together the company's needs and the high-tech solutions offered by Estonian researchers. Any small or medium-sized company that needs a development leap or is looking for robotics or artificial intelligence solutions is welcome to AIRE.