Aalto, Sitra and Lovable launch AI Summer Program
Aalto University, Sitra and Lovable are launching the AI Summer Program, a new initiative that pairs university students with Finnish public sector organisations to design, prototype and build real digital services using AI tools, and to turn what they learn into a playbook the rest of the public sector can use.
Public sector organisations are increasingly expected to deliver clearer, more usable digital services to citizens, often with limited resources and long development timelines. AI tools have begun to change what service development can look like, but how to use them well in the public sector context is still an open question. The AI Summer Program is a structured attempt to learn what good practice looks like, and to share those lessons.
Eight students will be hired to work in the program, which runs from mid-June to mid-August 2026. Each student is matched with one public sector organisation and a specific service challenge.
Aalto University runs the program and supports the students throughout the summer. Lovable provides the AI building tools the students will use, along with hands-on training and continuous product support. Sitra funds the program and contributes its expertise and networks on public sector needs and challenges, as part of its Public Sector Productivity –programme.
Kirsi Hanhisalo, SitraSitra’s mission is to renew society and build a successful Finland. In the AI Summer Program, students’ skills and innovative solutions from the private sector meet real challenges in the public sector. We believe the most impactful solutions are created through collaboration between the public sector, private companies and universities. At the same time, we support students’ access to summer jobs and strengthen the attractiveness of the public sector as a career path.
What students will work on
Each challenge has been formulated by the partner organisation around a real problem it is working on. Some projects use AI to streamline tasks that currently consume significant manual effort, others want to improve their existing customer-facing services or build entire new ones. The participating organisations are the Finnish Heritage Agency (Museovirasto), the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), the Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus), the National Police Board of Finland (Poliisihallitus), the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), and the Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom)
In the program students conduct their own user research, build with Lovable, and evaluate the service with real users.
Aino Bergius, LovableUsing AI well is becoming one of the most important skills of this generation, and the best way to learn it is to build something real. The goal for this program is bigger than eight projects, if done right, this could change how Finland thinks about building public services altogether.
Although each student has their own organisation and challenge, the eight work as a cohort throughout the summer. They share progress, give each other feedback, and together produce a playbook of recommendations on how public sector organisations can use AI tools to develop services. The cohort is intentionally interdisciplinary: students from across Aalto's business, arts, and engineering schools are encouraged to apply. No technical background required.
Jens Schmidt, Aalto UniversityAalto University is proud to bring together education, technology, and public impact through the collaboration with Sitra and Lovable. The AI Summer Program empowers our students to co-create meaningful public sector solutions with AI while building the skills and mindset needed to shape Finland’s digital future.
Apply by 17 May
The program is open to all Aalto students. Application deadline is the 17th of May.
Further information
Read more news
International educational project at Aalto University funded by the TFK Programme
The Bio-Design for Low Carbon Architecture (Bio-LCArch) project is a collaborative initiative between Aalto University in Finland and Beijing Jiaotong University in China, geared toward demonstrating how bio-based materials can facilitate the construction industry's transition to net-zero emissions.
Coming soon, ARTEFAKTI26 (3.-9.9.2026)
ARTEFAKTI returns for the fourth year to Helsinki Design Week from the 3rd to 9th of September 2026 at Puristamo hall in Kaapelitehdas
The company established by three anthropologists relied on strong research expertise
Etnografinen tutkimustoimisto Kenno Oy was established in 2014 when its three founders were finalising their master's degree studies at the University of Helsinki and wanted to create an interesting job for themselves.