WASP in New Partnership with Aalto University

Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is now strengthening Nordic co-operation through a Memorandum of Understanding with Aalto University in Finland. The focus is on the research areas of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software.

Aalto University is far ahead when it comes to AI and has strong research groups in autonomous systems and software. In addition, Finland, through the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence, is strong in AI that collaborates with humans in a complex world. This fits in well with the WASP program’s research areas and ambitions.

“When Sweden, through WASP, invests on a large scale in research in AI, autonomous systems and software, it is important to establish collaborations with leading universities, and in the Nordic region, Aalto University is one of the most important players. We are very much looking forward to creating a close relationship between cutting-edge research in Finland and Sweden through the collaboration,” says Anders Ynnerman, Director of WASP.

Ilkka Niemelä, President of Aalto University, agrees:

”Aalto University looks forward to this new and exciting opening in our cooperation with Swedish universities through the WASP network. Both Sweden and Finland have a lot of expertise in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and through joint efforts we can strengthen our research spearheads, create new innovations, and make our entire region stronger from a global perspective as well. We hope that the WASP model of cooperation can be expanded to other fields as well in the future.”

Postdoctoral program underway

In practice, the collaboration means that WASP doctoral students and researchers have the opportunity for exchanges and joint projects with Aalto University. First out is a postdoctoral program with a call for collaborative projects in the autumn of 2021. Later on, initiatives such as doctoral student exchanges and guest research stays may also be considered.

About Aalto University and FCAI

Aalto has decades of experience in world-class AI research. Today, Aalto coordinates the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) which brings together top AI research in Finland, involving also the University of Helsinki and the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT).

About WASP

Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is Sweden’s single largest private research initiative ever. The aim is to put Sweden at the international forefront in this field. Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation’s financial commitment totals SEK 4.2 billion in the period 2015-2029. Together with co-funding from the universities involved and Swedish industrial groups, the entire initiative is worth SEK 5.5 billion.