Coordinated by Tampere University, the project is one of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s most significant data economy pilot initiatives in Finland. Multidisciplinary research teams from Tampere University and the University of Oulu are joining forces with companies. The business perspective is brought by companies receiving Business Finland funding: Granlund, Fira, and Koja/Chiller. The project consortium covers all stakeholders in the building technology supply chain and data flow lifecycle from design to maintenance. The project emphasizes user-centricity and close collaboration among all participants.
The AI Champion project will develop one hundred “human-like” AI agents to improve automation and information flow in building technology supply chains. When an interface where data does not flow is identified, the information is sent to Tampere University’s GPT Lab, a virtual AI laboratory. AI researchers will integrate the data and develop AI agents to support processes and operating models. The new knowledge and AI agents created in the project will be continuously tested in real work environments within the companies’ own projects. Alongside AI agent research for supply chain management, companies will collaborate closely on developing shared services and products.
The Business Finland-funded project started at the end of the year and will conclude in June 2028. Additional funding comes from ETS Nord, Kiilto, GF BFS, QMG, LVI-Info, STK, and Airlyse.
Koja Provides Device Data as the Foundation for Operations
Koja has been involved in the project from the very beginning, together with its sister company Chiller. The goal of the multidisciplinary project consortium is to enable data to flow through all stages of construction and create a new international data economy.
“Our goal is to create a unified digital experience for customers. At the starting point of the data flow, our task is to ensure that information about the devices we manufacture is transferred in a structured format through interfaces to all stakeholders who need it during every stage of construction. Whereas previously people viewed PDF documents, in the future an AI agent will summarize the essential details about devices in a format that people need,” says Turo Välikangas, Digitalization Manager at Koja.
The data economy pilot project enables broad development work and supports improvements in the company’s own processes.
“It’s great to be part of a project that promotes world-class development. Although the AI Champion project primarily advances from the perspective of building operations, we can simultaneously create a shared technology foundation for Koja Group around these themes in our own project,” Välikangas adds.
Image: Osku Torro (Midjourney) / Tampere University
