Peter Sarlin’s substantial donation to strengthen AI research in Finland – 13 new professorships in Finnish universities and the ELLIS Institute

The forthcoming professorships represent a significant step in strengthening the AI research ecosystem in Finland and Europe and in promoting long-term competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence, while also supporting the activities of the international ELLIS Institute.

Foundation PS, established by Peter Sarlin, aims to continue supporting world-class AI research in Finland, with a particular focus on the activities of the PS Fellow network formed through the professorships.

'In today’s world, AI is a key driver for competitiveness and growth, and Finland's success relies on world-class expertise and talent. To succeed, we must strengthen our AI capabilities in research, education, and industrial applications. My donation is intended to foster and grow an attractive environment for world-class AI expertise and breakthroughs across multiple disciplines. Together, we can accelerate Finland’s and Europe’s competitiveness on the global AI stage,' says Peter Sarlin.

'Peter Sarlin’s donation is an invaluable contribution to strengthening Finland's critical AI expertise. This donation helps us advance our research and also provides excellent support for our education in a field that is of utmost importance to Aalto University. We plan to use Peter Sarlin’s donation to support a new professorship in the field of AI,' says Aalto University President Ilkka Niemelä.

'Investment in AI research paves the way for significant breakthroughs in AI applications as well. Peter Sarlin's visionary donation for AI research strengthens the high-quality and ambitious AI research conducted at the University of Helsinki. The donation will be allocated to establishing a new AI professorship,' says University of Helsinki President Sari Lindblom.

'This donation towards ELLIS Institute professorships will strengthen and expand our already world-class expertise and competitiveness,' says Samuel Kaski, Aalto University professor and director of ELLIS Institute Finland. 'The ELLIS Institute will enable us to ambitiously recruit global talent.'

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Peter Sarlin is the co-founder and CEO of Silo AI, Europe’s leading private AI lab. The company’s acquisition by US-based AMD was the largest AI acquisition in Europe‘s history. Sarlin, who holds a PhD in machine learning, also serves as Professor of Practice at Aalto University, specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Peter Sarlin established Foundation PS to strengthen Finland’s and Europe’s AI research ecosystem and competitiveness. By funding professorships and supporting world-class research, the foundation aims to drive innovation, attract top talent, and solidify Finland’s and Europe’s position as a global leader in AI.

ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems), founded in 2018, is a European network of leading AI organizations that focuses on fundamental research, technical innovation, and impact. ELLIS is creating a network of research sites distributed across Europe and Israel consisting of ELLIS Units and ELLIS Institutes. Currently, there are 41 ELLIS Units and 1 Associate Unit in 17 countries. Prior to Europe’s second ELLIS Institute in Finland, the first ELLIS Institute was set up in Tubingen in 2023. The long-term goal is to establish a set of world-class ELLIS Institutes, each acting as the core of a local AI ecosystem.

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Heli Thorén
info@foundationps.com
+358 50 572 9377