NestAI’s develops physical AI for unmanned systems with the support of Business Finland
NestAI, a rapidly growing European physical AI lab, builds next-generation AI across domains such as logistics, inspection, surveillance, security and defence. NestAI’s core is its open, modular, and interoperable platforms for unmanned systems and command and control (C2). NestAI initiated the development in early 2025, with instrumental support from Business Finland, which enabled building the first working prototypes.
- NestAI and Business Finland pilot a new agile ecosystem model
- NestAI's vision is an AI-based command centre
- The goal is technology that expands people's situational awareness and operational reach
NestAI is a rapidly growing European physical AI lab that builds next-generation AI technologies. Headquartered in Finland, NestAI focuses on open, modular and interoperable platforms and physical AI for unmanned and command-and-control systems across domains such as logistics, inspection, security, surveillance, defence and critical infrastructure. Backed by PostScriptum, NestAI develops AI designed for real-world readiness and long-term resilience — building boldly to shape the trajectory of physical AI and Europe’s technological edge.
NestAI’s ambitious R&D journey, expedited by Business Finland
In the spring of 2025, NestAI initiated an ambitious R&D program spanning unmanned systems, embedded software, AI, swarm intelligence, and edge-to-cloud architectures. While the program is a multi-year initiative to build next-generation AI for unmanned systems, it was launched last spring with Business Finland funding. The Business Finland funding allowed NestAI to swiftly initiate its long-term development, whilst accelerating its R&D at an early stage to build its first prototypes within months.
This agility is essential in sectors where technological advantage and rapid iteration define competitiveness. This also responds to the broader need to strengthen Finland’s and Europe’s defence capabilities rapidly as the operational environment and demands are changing at a high pace.
As defence technology development is moving toward an agile ecosystem model, Business Finland’s role as a dynamic partner capable of supporting high-impact R&D plays an important part.
“With NestAI, we piloted a new agile way of working. The collaboration with NestAI has been excellent, enabling quick progress and an outstanding outcome. Defence and security are among Business Finland’s key focus areas. Business Finland aims to enable the emergence of new, strategically important ecosystems. The space and gaming industries are good examples, and we want to help drive similar development in the defence sector as well,” states Lassi Noponen, Director General at Business Finland.
Our goal is to support the emergence of new, strategically important ecosystems.
From real-time data toward AI-enabled autonomy
At the core of NestAI’s vision is an open, modular and interoperable AI command centre. To this end, it integrates data from multiple sources — including UAV sensors, edge devices and situational intelligence platforms — and uses it to automate operations and decision support in order to drive rapid and efficient action in critical environments.
“AI and autonomous systems used in critical environments must be robust, transparent and reliable at all times. By building open, modular and interoperable systems from the start, we can ensure adaptability, security and long-term technological sovereignty. Business Finland’s support was a key factor in accelerating development and highlights how vital a strong ecosystem is for Europe to remain resilient and competitive in this field”, says Peter Sarlin, Chairman of the board at NestAI and PostScriptum, and co-founder and CEO of AMD Silo AI.
NestAI’s systems are designed for multi-domain applications in demanding and constantly evolving environments — where autonomous coordination and rapid situational understanding are equally critical. The result is a technology that extends human situational awareness and operational reach, while remaining safe, transparent and adaptable to mission-specific goals.
European frontrunner in physical AI
NestAI’s technology emerges at a pivotal moment for Europe, as technological sovereignty and rapid innovation have become crucial to security and competitiveness. After emerging from stealth mode in September, NestAI has announced one of its early partnerships with the Finnish Defence Forces followed by a strategic partnership with Nokia. NestAI continues to pioneer a new model of European cooperation built on strategic, mission-driven collaboration. These partnerships demonstrate how deep-tech innovation and industrial scale can accelerate the development of sovereign European capabilities. By replacing slow and fragmented development cycles with rapid, integrated and mission-driven progress, the partnerships also reflect the change in European innovation mindset in defence capability development: deeper cooperation for value-driven impact to protect what matters the most.
Business Finland has launched its new strategy at the end of November 2025, with artificial intelligence, defence and security forming a central focus of Finland’s future innovation agenda.
Peter Sarlin, PostScriptum/NestAI and Lassi Noponen, Business Finland.