Peter Sarlin makes a substantial donation to strengthen AI research in Finland
The substantial donation supports AI research at thirteen universities. Besides Uniarts Helsinki, the donation benefits Aalto University, Hanken School of Economics, National Defence University, Tampere University, University of Eastern Finland, University of Helsinki, University of Lapland, University of Jyväskylä, University of Oulu, University of Turku, University of Vaasa and Åbo Akademi University.
The forthcoming professorships represent a significant step in strengthening the AI research ecosystem in Finland and Europe and in promoting long-term competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence, while also supporting the activities of the international ELLIS Institute.
Foundation PS, established by Peter Sarlin, aims to continue supporting world-class AI research in Finland, with a particular focus on the activities of the PS Fellow network formed through the professorships.
“In today’s world, AI is a key driver for competitiveness and growth, and Finland’s success relies on world-class expertise and talent. To succeed, we must strengthen our AI capabilities in research, education and industrial applications. My donation is intended to foster and grow an attractive environment for world-class AI expertise and breakthroughs across multiple disciplines. Together, we can accelerate Finland’s and Europe’s competitiveness on the global AI stage,” says Peter Sarlin.
“Peter Sarlin’s donation is unique in scale when it comes to investments in AI research. I’m especially thankful for the fact that the donation also takes the special characteristics and possibilities of art into consideration in the development of the discipline. I believe that the professorship combining fields of art and AI research is an important expansion to the Finnish AI expertise, and it will promote both scientific and artistic breakthroughs,” says Rector of Uniarts Helsinki Kaarlo Hildén.
“This donation towards ELLIS Institute professorships will strengthen and expand our already world-class expertise and competitiveness,” says Samuel Kaski, professor at Aalto University and director of ELLIS Institute Finland. “The ELLIS Institute will enable us to ambitiously recruit global talent.”
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Peter Sarlin is the co-founder and CEO of Silo AI, Europe’s leading private AI lab. The company’s acquisition by US-based AMD was the largest AI acquisition in Europe’s history. Sarlin, who holds a PhD in machine learning, also serves as professor of practice at Aalto University, specialising in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Peter Sarlin established Foundation PS to strengthen Finland’s and Europe’s AI research ecosystem and competitiveness. By funding professorships and supporting world-class research, the foundation aims to drive innovation, attract top talent and solidify Finland’s and Europe’s position as a global leader in AI.
Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence FCAI is a community of experts in artificial intelligence in Finland, initiated by Aalto University, University of Helsinki and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. FCAI is one of the Research Council of Finland’s Flagships, hubs of top-level research and impact.
ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems), founded in 2018, is a European network of leading AI organisations that focuses on fundamental research, technical innovation, and impact. ELLIS is creating a network of research sites distributed across Europe and Israel consisting of ELLIS Units and ELLIS Institutes. Prior to Europe’s second ELLIS Institute in Finland, the first ELLIS Institute was set up in Tübingen in 2023. The long-term goal is to establish a set of world-class ELLIS Institutes, each acting as the core of a local AI ecosystem.