Âé¶¹´«Ã½

News

New Fundamentals: ELLIS Institute Finland launches with bold scientific ambitions

The new institute aims to develop artificial intelligence and machine learning for transforming R&D, enhancing human-AI teamwork, and creating exciting new science.

Finland has taken the next step in expanding the —a new ELLIS Institute has started operations. This marks a major advance for AI and machine learning research in Europe, with a successful first call for principal investigators and startup premises for the institute secured on the Âé¶¹´«Ã½ of Aalto University.

ELLIS Institute Finland pre-launch on May 21, 2025

    Four people in business attire hold colourful ribbons at an indoor event.

    Aalto University president Ilkka Niemelä, ELLIS Institute director Samuel Kaski, Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie, Åbo Akademi University vice-rector Reko Leino and others cut the ELLIS Institute ribbon. Photos by Matti Ahlgren/Aalto University

    Man in a suit unveiling a blackboard next to a large whiteboard and projector screen.

    Samuel Kaski unveils the blackboard, the starting point for great ideas 

    A person holds a chalkboard with 'Hybrid Intelligence' written on it in front of an ELLIS Institute Finland banner.

    Hybrid intelligence inspires Guoying Zhao (University of Oulu)

    A man holding a chalkboard and writing with a green chalk. A glass of champagne is next to him.

    Mika Grundström’s (University of Vaasa) New Fundamental is ‘collaboration’

    A person wearing a black outfit gives a presentation with a laptop on a table. A large screen shows text on the right.

    Peter Sarlin, CEO and co-founder of AMD Silo AI, is a strong supporter in establishing ELLIS Institute Finland. Sarlin's Foundation PS is funding over a dozen professorships that are co-affiliated with the ELLIS Institute.

    The pre-launch of the ELLIS Institute on May 21 was attended by representatives from partner universities across Finland, as well as key supporters such as Mari-Leena Talvitie, Minister of Science and Culture, and Peter Sarlin, CEO and co-founder of AMD Silo AI. At the event, founding director and Aalto University professor Samuel Kaski outlined the vision for the institute: establishing new fundamentals for applied AI, collaborating across domains and attracting global talent. “We are scaling up the institute very quickly, with the first principal investigator recruitments currently being finalized and other operations kickstarting,†says Kaski. “We aim to renew the very core of R&D by making machine learning better and more widely applicable, and want to partner across academia and industry to make this happen.â€

    To illustrate how world-changing ideas can start small, Kaski unveiled an inaugural blackboard at the pre-launch. The blackboard is both a nod to the logo of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent (ELLIS) and a symbol of the institute’s ambition to bring new fundamentals of machine learning from the drawing board towards transformative applications. “Companies and society at large are now beginning to benefit from the wealth of basic research in AI and machine learning, but it is also obvious that many important problems have not been solved yet,†says Kaski. “We need research on new fundamentals that make machine learning more applicable, and we are also setting up ‘new fundamentals’ in how we work with partners to solve those problems with our combined expertise.†  

    About ELLIS Institute Finland

    Established in 2025, is the second institute in ELLIS, the pan-European AI network of excellence. It functions as a world-class research hub in AI and machine learning and a unique gateway to collaboration Europe-wide and globally. For researchers, the institute offers a dynamic, international research environment, access to cutting-edge computing resources (including EuroHPC LUMI supercomputer), and close ties to both academia and industry in Finland and beyond. The institute operates in partnership with Finnish universities, RDI organizations and businesses, and is funded by Finland's Ministry of Education and Culture, partner organizations and private sources, such as Foundation PS.

    . A larger scientific and celebratory . 

    A lit motorway crossing the sea, with buildings and sky visible

    Finland is strongly investing in AI and establishing an ELLIS Institute to accelerate research and attract talent

    Public and private sector investment are coming together to launch ELLIS Institute Finland.

    News
    Undergraduate centre / Photo by Tuomas Uusheimo

    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.

    News
    Logo of ELLIS Institute Finland with a striped map of Europe above and multicoloured letters 'ellis'.

    ELLIS Institute Finland is a world-class research hub in AI and machine learning and part of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS).

    • Updated:
    • Published:
    Share
    URL copied!

    Read more news

    Person in dark blazer leaning on railing in bright room with large wooden-framed windows, face blurred
    Appointments Published:

    Rodrigo Serna-Guerrero appointed Dean of the Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering

    Serna-Guerrero will start his five-year term on 1 December 2026
    Abstract close-up of colourful glass with swirling patterns in orange, blue, and purple hues.
    Research & Art, Studies Published:

    New DPSP tool for doctoral studies published

    A new digital DPSP tool has replaced the old DPSP tasks on students’ MyStudies portal and the approval method for supervising professors on Student Success Hub.
    Red service break notice from IT Services with progress bar
    University Published:

    Zoom service maintenance on 13 and 20 June between 00.00 and 07.00

    Users may not be able to start or join meetings during these times
    Drawing of two doctoral students each holding a paper, with doctor's hats shining on their heads.
    Research & Art, Studies Published:

    Pre-examination and graduation schedules over the summer 2026

    Information for doctoral students on preliminary examination of doctoral thesis, public defence and graduation over the summer 2026