23 Applications Submitted for AIRE Demo Projects

A total of 23 project ideas were submitted to the demonstration round of the AI & Robotics Estonia (AIRE) centre, from which suitable candidates will be selected for demo projects.

AIRE centre director Katre Eljas described the 23 applications as a pleasant surprise. “This confirms that the impact of AIRE demo projects has been noticed and that we are known. The project ideas submitted this time are thoroughly prepared — investment roadmaps have been developed and return on investment calculations completed. The submitted projects span a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing to energy, as well as animal husbandry, social welfare, maritime industries and smart training. The applicants are at very different stages of maturity, ranging from zero-revenue startups to long-established companies.”

Eljas was also pleased to note that more than half of the applicants plan to make use of high-performance computers (HPCs) and Testing and Educational Facilities (TEFs). “This means that the companies face technologically complex challenges, and AIRE can help by providing access to some of Europe’s largest high-performance computers and TEFs.”

The projects selected for the demo phase will be announced by the end of June.

The primary purpose of a demo project is to pilot innovative products and services based on AI applications, or to develop a company’s internal processes. One of the key requirements for a demo project idea is that it must be innovative — no similar solution may already exist on the market. During the demo project, an AI prerequisite technology or AI-based solution is tested, trialled or validated.

A demonstration project is an important milestone on the path to technology adoption, helping companies trial their chosen solutions in a real working environment. The goal of a technology outcome tested or validated through a demo project is to give companies confidence before committing to a full-scale technology investment.

By adopting new technological capabilities, companies can make their processes more efficient, which in turn supports improved competitiveness. A demo project does not provide direct funding to the company — instead, it covers the costs incurred by AIRE’s partner research and development institutions in connection with testing, trialling or validating the technological solution.

AIRE offers extensive support to selected projects in cooperation with Tallinn University of Technology, University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tallinn University, IMECC and Tartu Science Park.

The project will not result in a ready-made solution for the company, but through testing in a real environment, clarity will be gained on whether the chosen technology has investment potential.

Companies implementing a demo project may use up to €49,500 in state aid. No co-financing is required.