Description of the call
The objective of IPCEI AI is to build a strong European AI ecosystem that responds in particular to the needs of industry and other strategic sectors. The initiative covers the AI value chain from data availability and management to the development, deployment and operation of AI models, AI services and sector-specific applications.
In this Finnish call, only Associated Partners and Indirect Partners are sought. The role of Direct Participant is not available in this call.
Funding for IPCEI projects is granted in accordance with the Act on Discretionary Government Transfers (688/2001) and the Government Decree on the Funding of Research, Development and Innovation Activities (1444/2014). Any possible funding will be assessed in accordance with Business Finland’s applicable funding terms, available appropriations, and the national and EU-level conditions related to the IPCEI process.
Application period
The call opens on 3 June 2026 and closes on 5 August 2026 at 16.00 Finnish time.
Funding decisions are made by Business Finland in accordance with the applicable national funding terms and the requirements of the IPCEI process. The projects will not be notified to the European Commission; decisions will be made under the General Block Exemption Regulation.
Focus areas
IPCEI AI focuses on key areas of the AI value chain and AI deployment. The main focus areas are:
- the use of high-quality, secure and regulation-compliant industrial data
- the development and application of AI models, foundation models and sector-specific models
- AI deployment, operations, fine-tuning, inference solutions and AI-as-a-Service-type service models
- the integration of AI into practical applications in companies, value chains and the public sector
- open and interoperable solutions that strengthen European ecosystems
- energy-efficient, secure and responsible use of AI.
Target group of the call
The call is open to companies and other eligible organisations operating in Finland that have the capability to connect to the European IPCEI AI initiative as Associated Partners or Indirect Partners.
Participation as an Associated Partner is based on the organisation’s own project, which supports the objectives of IPCEI AI and has a demonstrated link to European IPCEI actors. An Indirect Partner may be connected to the initiative, for example, through value chains, use cases, technological solutions, RDI cooperation, piloting, dissemination of knowledge or ecosystem cooperation.
This call does not seek Direct Participants / Direct Partners.
Roles are defined: Participating in an Important Project for Common European Interest (pdf)
Prerequisites for granting funding
Applicants must demonstrate how their planned participation is linked to the European IPCEI AI initiative and how it strengthens the connection of Finnish expertise, technologies and business activities to European AI value chains.
The project must constitute research, development and innovation activities that create significant added value in relation to the current state of the art and support the European objectives of IPCEI AI.
Applicants must describe in particular:
- the project’s link to the objectives and focus areas of IPCEI AI
- cooperation or planned cooperation with European IPCEI actors
- the project’s technological, business and European added value
- the project’s impact on the international integration of Finnish expertise and business activities
- how the resulting knowledge, expertise, technologies or solutions can be used more widely in the European ecosystem.
A project can be supported with public funding only if the general prerequisites for granting funding are met and the project demonstrates a funding need or market failure.
Obstacles to granting funding
At the time of the funding decision, the company must not be an undertaking in difficulty as defined in the European Commission's State aid rules. Read more:
Funding cannot be granted for activities that do not meet Business Finland’s general funding terms, the applicable State aid rules or the objectives of this call.