Research and development now needed to boost sustainable growth in Finland – Turku University of Applied Sciences is leading the way in meeting the need

The Research and Innovation Council, which supports the Prime Minister, has published new National Strategic Priorities for RDI policy and activities. Applied research at Turku University of Applied Sciences seeks solutions to the societal problems of our time.

Data and data-driven value creation

The Insight research group at Turku University of Applied Sciences has developed generative AI methods, especially in the creation of synthetic data. Synthetic data is real data created using machine learning methods, which can be used, for example, in AI development instead of real data when availability or data protection requirements prevent the use of the original data. For example, the use of health data is highly regulated.

To create synthetic data, a computing environment for companies and organisations has been published in cooperation with the University of Turku, the Southwest Finland Wellbeing Region and Business Turku. The group is exploring the use of synthetic data, for example with healthcare data, in the EU-funded PHASE IV AI and EOSC-ENTRUST projects. An ERP system has been implemented for the Eerikkilä Sports Academy, where the well-being and performance of athletes and teams can be managed using sports data.

PHASE IV AI – Enabling AI developers to access larger data pools
EOSC-ENTRUST – Creating a European network of secure research environments
INSIGHT – Intelligent Sensing and Computing Technologies

Breakthrough technologies

Turku University of Applied Sciences is developing unmanned or autonomous surface vessels and related research infrastructure. Surface vessels can be used, for example, to improve surveillance of the maritime area. The challenging conditions in Finland require special preparation for different weather conditions.

Turku University of Applied Sciences has developed a fully electric autonomous test vessel e/Ms Salama. The system also includes a fleet of smaller vessels, drones, a remote operation centre and a data platform for a situational awareness system. This research infrastructure will be used in the USVA project, coordinated by Turku University of Applied Sciences and funded by BusinessFinland, to develop together with companies (e.g. Patria and Marine Alutech) resilience features for unmanned surface vessels, such as navigation without satellite positioning, interference-free data transmission and cyber-physical security of vessels. The Nemesis project will further develop the research infrastructure for autonomous vessels together with other universities in Turku.

– The technology is maturing rapidly, but the key to the sustainable deployment of autonomous vessels is cooperation between authorities, companies and research organisations,” says Juha Kalliovaara, a leading expert at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

USVA – Unmanned Surface Vehicles for the automated protection of critical infrastructure in the maritime domain

Health and well-being

The quality and accessibility of healthcare is facing major challenges, with an ageing population, rising costs and a shortage of skilled staff. Cancer incidence in Europe is projected to increase by a quarter over the next decade. The Advancing Supportive Cancer and Palliative Care (CARE) research group at Turku University of Applied Sciences has a special expertise in developing the whole continuum of care for people with cancer and people in palliative care.

The MELODIC research project at Turku University of Applied Sciences is improving the mental health and well-being of young adults with cancer and their loved ones. This will be done by developing more systematic assessment of symptoms and needs and by addressing mental health and psychosocial support needs early enough during the first year after cancer diagnosis.

Supporting the mental health of young adults diagnosed with cancer (MELODIC)
Cancer and Palliative Care (CARE) research group

Climate, environment and the Arctic dimension

Coastrider, a research concept developed by Turku University of Applied Sciences, is changing the way we think about coastal waters. Instead of traditional sampling, the Coastrider research vessel acts as a mobile laboratory infrastructure that provides a precise snapshot of ecosystem function. The method combines simultaneous measurements of water quality, physics and greenhouse gases. This allows conservation action to be targeted where it will have the greatest impact. Coastrider is part of a local thematic research infrastructure funded by the Academy of Finland, and its results are also used in national monitoring of water and marine management.

– We have long treated the coast as if it were a simple pool, when in reality it is a complex machine. With this method, for the first time we can see behind the symptoms – not just the state of the water, but the invisible cogs and mechanisms that regulate the functioning of the whole ecosystem,” says Matias Scheinin, a specialist in the field.

Coastrider We study water quality with a mobile and continuous measurement platform

Security, resilience and defence

Europe has experienced a wide range of hybrid threats, such as instrumentalised immigration and other hybrid threat campaigns such as information interference, cyber-attacks and sabotage. These should also be prepared for in Finland, especially in order to protect critical functions of society. Critical infrastructure includes energy production, water and waste management, transport and logistics, information and communication systems.

Turku University of Applied Sciences is involved in developing new solutions to hybrid threats to critical infrastructure. A recent BusinessFinland-funded research project is creating a snapshot of hybrid threats from all sectors of society based on extensive data analysis. The work will include collecting data on weak signals related to threats and analysing existing hybrid threat campaigns.

– Signals of hybrid threats can be strong or weak, but by linking the phenomena together and analysing the overall picture, we can be prepared,” says Päivi Mattila, coordinator of the Hybrid Threat Protected Critical Infrastructure (HUSKI) project at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

HUSKI – Critical infrastructure protected against hybrid threats

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