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© Leevi Kontula
  • © Leevi Kontula
  • © Leevi Kontula
  • © Leevi Kontula

Artificial Intelligence in Science, Business and Society: Research & Innovation Conference 2026 in Helsinki

How does generative AI impact cybersecurity risks for small and medium-sized enterprises in the service sector? How can we learn and teach languages in the future with, through, and despite AI? Will AI save the world? These and other questions were discussed by the participants of the Ulysseus Research & Innovation (R&I) Conference 2026, held on 6 October 2026 in Helsinki.

The conference was co-organized by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, the Technical University of Košice (TUKE), and the University of Münster, and brought together more than 110 participants from research, business, and civil society, including scholars from all eight universities of the Ulysseus Alliance. With diverse contributions – from classic academic presentations to performative interventions – the participants contributed to an inspiring conference programme.

Following introductory remarks, a keynote by Anu Passi-Rauste, CBO at HeadAI, opened the event, offering insights into AI-driven skills intelligence and its implications for education and business development. In parallel panel sessions across three thematic tracks – Applied AI in Business; AI in Education; and Sustainability, Responsibility and Trust – 35 speakers presented current research and provided food for thought and a basis for stimulating discussions. The afternoon was dedicated to researchers in qualification phases: in the interactive poster session, early-career researchers presented their work in scientific poster format. Doctoral candidate Martin Covanec (TUKE) was awarded the Young Researcher Award for his work on “AI-Assisted Point Cloud Completion for Low-Cost Digitisation of Industrial Assets.

The R&I Conference provided a space for presenting the latest research on technological developments, entrepreneurial application, and critical reflection on AI in science, education, and society. Further information on the conference and upcoming offers of the Ulysseus European University Alliance can be found here.