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The south node is ready to take the next step

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

After three intensive months of planning, workshops and discussions with more than 90 people from organizations based in south Sweden, the south node of AI Innovation of Sweden is now taking its next step towards full establishment.

 

During the fall of 2019, Mobile Heights lead a prestudy regarding the establishment of a south node of AI Innovation of Sweden, a national center for AI related research and innovation. At the final presentation, held on December 17th , stakeholders from all over south Sweden were gathered to share the results and take part of the future plans.

A wide commitment

The interest has been significant. During the prestudy, as many as 50 organizations and more than 90 influential stakeholder participated, which provided a large and wide spectrum of insights and ideas. In addition to the reference group, an active advisory group consisting of AI experts from several different perspectives have contributed with relevant perspectives.

"It has been gratifying to see all the engagement and energy, and that already during the preparation, several organizations found synergies and started to work on common challenges"

“During the preparation process, organizations from different sectors sat down together to find solutions to common challenges in the area. They were given the opportunity to define how to best accelerate applied AI research and innovation with activities and tools, but also to find ways to contribute to the overall AI knowledge in Sweden”, tells Malin Larsson, responsible for the pre-study at Mobile Heights.

"It has been gratifying to see all the engagement and energy, and that already during the preparation, several organizations found synergies and started to work on common challenges",  Malin continues

A great potential in Southern Sweden

"Skåne and Blekinge have a strong regional collaboration culture, a vibrant startup landscape, strong relationship to Denmark and growing markets in the Baltic Sea area, as well as high-profile universities and institutes with strong research capacity, knowledge and competence”, says Martin Svensson, Co-Director at AI Innovation of Sweden.

“I’m grately impressed by the team at Mobile Heights and I’m very much looking forward to see the south node contributing to accelerate and strengthen applied AI research and innovation on both a regional and a national level”

What will happen next?

With the current funding of SEK 7.5 million from Vinnova, the academia, the business community and other regional players, Mobile Heights will now continue to develop and start to build the South Node that will cover both Skåne and Blekinge.

“Now we are ready for action! Only opportunities lie ahead of us"

“Focus for 2020 is to, together with signing partners, establish key functions and resources, identify projects with value creation cross sectors and kick off crucial activities to accelerate knowledge and collaborations”, explains Malin Larsson and continues:

“Within 6-12 months the south node of AI innovation of Sweden should be fully established and running several important projects of national interest. Now we are ready for action! Only opportunities lie ahead of us”.

For more information, please contact Malin Larsson: malin.larsson@ai.se

Facts:
The prestudy has been led by the cluster organisation Mobile Heights. The preliminary study has been financed by AI Innovation of Sweden, Region Skåne and Vinnova.  The south node of AI Innovation of Sweden will cover both Skåne and Blekinge. Among the first organisations from south Sweden to join the partnership are Sony, City of Helsingborg, Lund University, Malmö University, Blekinge University of Technology, Blue Science Park and Region Blekinge