University of Jyväskylä

01/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/15/2025 02:30

Peter Sarlin’s substantial donation to strengthen AI research in Finland – 13 new professorships in Finnish universities and the ELLIS Institute

Peter Sarlin's substantial donation to strengthen AI research in Finland - 13 new professorships in Finnish universities and the ELLIS Institute

The substantial donation supports AI research at thirteen universities: 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 the Arts Helsinki, University of Turku, University of Vaasa, and Åbo Akademi University. Additionally, the donation supports the activities of the international ELLIS Institute.
Peter Sarlin makes a substantial donation to support AI research in Finland. Picture: Foundation PS
Published
15.1.2025

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.

"We are extremely grateful for the donation made by Peter Sarlin," says Rector Jari Ojala of the University of Jyväskylä. "The donation is a great way to support Finnish expertise in the field of artificial intelligence, while strengthening the competitive edge of Finnish society globally. It helps to further develop our research into artificial intelligence at the University of Jyväskylä."

Pasi Tyrväinen, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, says that artificial intelligence plays a major role in the current research on information technology.

"At the Faculty of Information Technology of the University of Jyväskylä, different artificial intelligence techniques are being developed for the needs of healthcare, decision-making, cyber security, and learning analytics," explains Tyrväinen. "Sarlin's donation strengthens our skills to develop new methods in this diverse range of areas."

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, specializing 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, top-level research and impact.

ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems), founded in 2018, is a European network of leading AI organizations 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. Currently, there are 41 ELLIS Units and 1 Associate Unit in 17 countries. Prior to Europe's second ELLIS Institute in Finland, the first ELLIS Institute was set up in Tubingen 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.

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact

Heli Thóren
PR & Communications
Foundation PS
+358 (0)50 572 9377
[email protected]

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