A strong commitment from industry and national ecosystems provided DREAM doctoral students opportunities to strengthen their skills with concrete, real-life industry challenges.
To train future experts and support Finland’s long-term research, development and innovation goals, the FAME Flagships collaborates closely with the Doctoral Education Pilot for Mathematics of Sensing, Imaging and Modelling (DREAM). With its high-quality expertise and extensive networks, FAME seeks to establish opportunities for doctoral researchers to hone their skills in an industry-driven environment.
On 28 April 2026, the MAKE AI Buildathon brought together around one hundred Finnish industry experts and doctoral researchers to solve real production and manufacturing challenges using AI. Taking place at the Aalto University Otaniemi campus, the event was organised in collaboration by the digital technology company Brillian, the FAME-DREAM network, the Intelligent Work Machines (IWM) doctoral programme, the manufacturing industry ecosystem MAKE in Finland, Technology Industries of Finland, and the sustainable marine and energy industries-focused Wärtsilä.
The aim of this collaboration was to bring doctoral researchers closer to industry, improve their employment opportunities, and ensure that the industry has a sufficient pool of skilled talent in the future. Through concrete use cases and learning together, the Buildathon facilitated development of new capabilities and lasting competence that remains within organisations after the event.
The idea for the event originated from an expert network meeting within the MAKE in Finland ecosystem, led by the industry digitalization innovation hub DIMECC Ltd, where a similar approach to collaborative development proved to be an effective way to learn and innovate.
“Collaboration is not a one-way transfer of knowledge from research to industry, but continuous learning in both directions. Doctoral researchers deepen their understanding of industrial processes and constraints, while companies gain access to the latest research and methods. At the same time, experts from different companies and doctoral researchers learn from each other, share their experiences, and build networks across organisational boundaries”, says Eija Syrjämäki, Ecosystem Lead at MAKE in Finland.
Strong industry commitment
Initiated by companies, the Buildathon was based on genuine industrial development needs with the aim to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in industry and to strengthen collaboration between companies and research communities.
By bringing strong industrial and technological expertise to the Buildathon, Brillian and Wärtsilä played a key role in organising the event. They have supported the teams in understanding the challenges, coached the development of solutions, and helped connect business needs with the possibilities of AI. In addition, the companies have provided technical guidance and practical insights that have helped teams turn ideas into viable solutions.
“The biggest impact of AI comes from people learning how to use the technology. It is transforming how industrial ecosystems continuously improve flows and create added value for customers,” says Christian Sundman, General Manager, Innovation, Wärtsilä.
Wärtsilä has a learning model where 70% is learning by doing, 20% by sharing and 10% in formal trainings.
“From that model, a buildathon covers 90%! For us, this kind of approach fits perfectly, you get to learn by doing and share what you know.”
During the event, a total of 14 interdisciplinary teams worked on concrete industrial challenges provided by 13 companies to produce solution concepts or early-stage prototypes. A total of 33 organisations took part in the event.
“What makes an event like this valuable is that companies have to start with the data and documentation they already have. And that’s actually more than most people assume. Years of maintenance records, shift notes, and other operational documentation are now within reach for AI. The raw material was always there. The Buildathon is where you find out what you can actually do with it”, says Jussi Järvinen, CEO of Brillian.
FAME and DREAM wish to thank Brillian, IWM, MAKE in Finland, Technology Industries of Finland, and Wärtsilä for their invaluable contribution in shaping the skills of the next generation of technology experts!
The Doctoral Education Pilot for Mathematics of Sensing, Imaging and Modelling (DREAM) is part of the Finnish Government’s initiative to train 1 000 new doctors. With the total of 100 doctoral researcher positions placed across the FAME Flagship’s seven partner universities, DREAM provides high-quality scientific and industry-driven training with the help of FAME’s expertise and networks.
