Haaga-Helia’s influence extends through two major European networks, each serving distinct but complementary purposes.

Through the Finnish AI Region (FAIR) consortium, part of the EU’s European Digital Innovation Hub network, the university provides Finnish companies with direct access to advanced technologies including AI, extended reality, high-performance computing, and cybersecurity. The initiative deliberately maintains a “low barrier to entry” – companies need not possess deep technical expertise to benefit from cutting-edge resources.

“FAIR essentially translates complex AI capabilities into solutions businesses can actually implement,” explains a consortium spokesperson Martti Asikainen. The initiative aims to level the playing field for Finnish SMEs competing across Europe.

Haaga-Helia’s international reach extends even further through the Ulysseus European University alliance, which unites eight universities and approximately 220,000 students across the continent. The university leads Ulysseus’s Applied Artificial Intelligence for Business and Education innovation hub, a role that places it at the intersection of academic research and commercial application.

Unlike traditional academic AI research focused primarily on publication, the hub prioritises practical outcomes. Students tackle genuine business challenges as part of their education, whilst companies gain access to the latest research findings translated into implementable strategies.