With AI to the future!

The next AI workshop takes place on the 2nd and 10th of May!

In case of any queries, don’t hesitate to reach out to anu.puusaag@tehnopol.ee.

The artificial intelligence workshops are tailored to bolster businesses in their quest to harness AI solutions. With two enriching workshops annually, we aim to bridge the gap between businesses with AI aspirations and the solution providers.

Over two days, participants collaborate to draft a pilot project, outlining technical solutions, validating commercial value, and crafting a comprehensive project plan. And the best part? Expert mentors guide you every step of the way.

Based on the applications, a select number of companies and solution providers are invited to the workshops.

Why join?

• Participation in the development marathon is free
• The bootcamp is in hybrid format – come and join us in person or via video stream.
• Projects in the workshop have a funding pool of €250,000, within which the maximum support amount for one company is 75,000€*!

Companies of different sizes and from various industries, facing  challenges that can be tackled using AI, are encouraged to apply to the AI workshops.

Emerging and established companies, researchers, specialists, and students — anyone with the capability and desire to explore the development and application of artificial intelligence — are invited to apply to the AI workshop as solution providers.

*The grant is considered a de minimis aid.

Day 1: This day is dedicated to brainstorming and collaboration. Teams, alongside solution providers and mentors, work diligently to craft a comprehensive project proposal. The goal is to develop a proposal robust enough to secure funding for their AI initiatives.

Day 2: On this day, teams present their innovative ideas to an esteemed panel of judges, comprising industry experts. This is the moment where teams get to pitch their concepts, showcasing the potential impact and viability of their AI solutions.

A total of €250,000 is available for financing the projects. Each team has the opportunity to secure up to €75,000 for their individual project. This funding aims to support and accelerate the implementation of groundbreaking AI solutions.

The main focus of these AI workshops is on creating AI solutions through teamwork. All companies undergo an artificial intelligence feasibility assessment of the project before entering the workshop.

The project duration is 6 months, with exceptions extending up to 8 months.

For each completed project, a one-minute video is produced, which can be used to promote awareness about artificial intelligence and for marketing purposes related to the program.

Agenda:
Day 1
Tehnopol, at Mäealuse 2/1, 2nd floor, room UK lounge:

09:00 – 09:15: Coffee and gathering;
09:15 – 10:15: Introduction to the AI workshop, expectations, and introductions of companies and mentors;
10:15 – 12:00: Teamwork on AI project planning with mentor assistance;
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch;
13:00 – 15:00: Continued teamwork with mentor guidance;
15:00 – 15:30: Coffee break;
15:30 – 15:45: Presentation training;
15:45 – 18:00: Continued teamwork with mentor guidance.

Day 2
Tehnopol, at Teaduspargi 6/1, Tallinn, room SATURN:

10:00 – 10:30: Coffee and gathering;
10:30 – 10:45: Introduction of the day and expert panel members;
10:45 – 12:15: AI project presentations with Q&A sessions;
12:15 – 13:00: Lunch;
13:00 – 14:15: Continued AI project presentations with Q&A sessions;
14:15 – 15:15: Expert panel deliberation;
15:15 – 16:00: AI workshop summary, feedback, and announcement of funded projects.

Participants are able to join the workshop in person or online.

The best way to get to Tehnopol is described here.

Data-intensive, early-phase ideas based on artificial intelligence need capital to enter the market. Without that capital, those ideas will remain in the laboratory or as hobbies for the development teams.

The pilot project round brings funding, support and advice from mentors, and acceleration for the pilot projects that have been through the development marathon and been selected by the expert panel. This step helps artificial intelligence solutions become market-ready and attract additional private capital!

To recieve funding, all the pilot projects will be evaluated in 5 different categories:

• Complexity and uniqueness of the pilot project
• General impact of the implemented project
• KPI’s, timeline and budget
• Team.

A total of approximately 250 000 euros will be distributed in the AI workshop to implement the pilot projects!
During the entire development program, companies are supported with up to €2 000 000 over two years.
Funding for pilot projects is classified as de minimis aid.

The pilot project round is for:

• Teams that have taken part in the Tehnopol AI development marathon and whose project plans and operating schedules have been voted worth funding by the expert panel;
• Pilot projects that have been technically and commercially validated, that are feasible, and that could demonstrate a return on investment;
• Teams that are ready to launch their project as they have access to the data they need and are prepared to put in the time needed;
• Teams that are ready to consider their pilot project as a research and development activity and that are ready to publish a description of a methodology of the pilot;
• Teams that are ready to put up at least 30% of the funding themselves.

The Tehnopol AI development programme supports the launch and research work of 25 projects over two years. The projects are selected by the expert panel of the development marathon.

The amount of investment depends on the plans submitted by the team and on their capital needs, and can range from 15,000 to 75,000 euros. The decision on the amount of funding is also taken by the expert panel. The eligible costs are labour costs, the costs of bringing in external experts, research work that is bought in, and technical hardware and software tools.

A contract is signed with the legal entity representing the team or company receiving the pilot project funding, and it regulates the implementation of the project receiving the funding, the use and commercialisation of intellectual property, and the financial reporting obligations. Tehnopol supports the pilot projects in achieving their goals through mentoring and the Startup Incubator AI accelerator from the first project round.

The time for implementing the pilot projects is 6 months (with exceptions up to 8 months). At the end of that time, the results of the project are submitted to the expert panel and, to the extent agreed, are released to the public through the Tehnopol channels.

The application for AI accelerator has closed.

If you’re interested in the next round, please leave your details here.

The Tehnopol Startup Incubator AI accelerator helps bring to the market new and strong technology companies working with artificial intelligence, whose solutions can take the production, processes or products of small and medium-sized businesses to a new level.

The AI technology accelerator is open to startup companies and spin-off teams from established companies, and to teams of researchers and students whose ideas and solutions use artificial intelligence and are aimed at industrial or data-intensive companies.

The AI accelerator programme of the Startup Incubator helps:

• AI technology companies to grow strong under the guidance of experienced mentors using a training programme;
• Bring together participants in the artificial intelligence ecosystem and experts;
• Ideas based on AI reach the pilot phase faster and with less testing;
• Make contacts who can help bring in additional capital.

To enter the programme:

• The team must have the skills needed and be able to develop the idea proposed into a pilot during the accelerator programme;
• The business ideas must suit not only the needs of one individual company, and must be possible to scale up in foreign markets as well;
• The team must be ready to commit the time needed to reach the minimum level of pilot readiness by the end of the accelerator programme.
• It would be good to have an agreement to pilot the idea with at least one potential client or partner.

The following development cycles will be completed during the programme:

• Putting together a business model and a strong team
• Creating product development and prototypes based on AI technology
• Defining the problems of clients and designing the value proposition
• Validating client cases, piloting, and setting a strategy for market
• entry
• Protecting intellectual property and agreements about it with other parties
• Being ready for investors and finding sources of funding

A specialist training series focused on AI together with mentors and experts who are among the best in the business will help participants complete the development cycle, and the mentors will work each week with the teams. The teams participating in the accelerator programme can use the physical working space of the Tehnopol Startup Incubator.

The AI accelerator will run after the development marathon and will offer teams taking part in it immediate support in growing into strong startups developing AI technology. It is not required to take part in the development marathon to access the AI accelerator, but the winning teams in the development marathon are guaranteed direct entry into the accelerator.

The next Tehnopol Startup Incubator AI Accelerator begins in April 2024.