Generative AI Pioneers: Exploring and Developing Innovation Capabilities
Project information
Project description
Finland is falling behind in adopting Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), putting its future economic potential at risk. Rapid, widespread GenAI adoption could boost Finland's GDP by €20–25 billion over the next decade. Currently, only 18% of Finnish white-collar workers use GenAI weekly, far below the European and global averages. Catching up to the European average could free up Finnish workers extra hours per week on high-value, innovative tasks.
The "AI pioneers" project is designed to tackle the key challenges preventing Finnish businesses from fully utilizing GenAI in their innovation processes:
Low Adoption & Skill Gaps: Finnish companies aren't effectively integrating GenAI into R&D and innovation. This challenge is magnified by skill shortages and fierce global competition for talent.
Need for a Comprehensive Approach: Successful GenAI integration requires simultaneously focusing on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other attributes (KSAOs) employees need, developing new leadership capabilities, and creating future scenarios to navigate associated risks.
The project will provide:
Actionable Best Practices: Identify and share effective ways companies are currently using GenAI in innovation.
New Leadership Models: Develop management and leadership strategies to build AI-ready teams and foster adaptive work cultures.
Future Foresight: Generate scenarios to help companies and policymakers anticipate and prepare for GenAI-driven transformations.
By working closely with both pioneering firms and adopter firms, we aim to accelerate GenAI use across the Finnish economy, enhancing competitiveness, improving innovation efficiency, and supporting the necessary reskilling of the workforce.