SmartDesign

The Digital Tools for Intelligent Design

Project information

Project	The Digital Tools for Intelligent Design (SmartDesign)
Duration	1.12.2024–1.11.2026
Partners	Tampere University Häme University of Applied Sciences
Funders	Regional Council of Häme Council of Tampere Region
Budget	502 870 € of which: 201 830 € in funding from Pirkanmaa for Tampere University Foundation, including 86 497 € as the self-financing share 150 148 € in funding from Kanta-Häme for Häme University of Applied Sciences, including 64 395 € as the self-financing share

The project supports businesses in Kanta-Häme and Pirkanmaa in adopting new digital tools for smart design. Through 25 workshops, companies will have the opportunity to experiment with extended reality, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies in practical applications.

SmartDesign builds on the earlier Extended Reality in Häme Regions project by expanding its technological focus. Alongside extended reality and game engines, the project introduces artificial intelligence and reality capture technology. By leveraging these tools, companies can develop new ways to design and visualize their products, as well as enhance their production and service processes.

During the workshops, participants gain hands-on experience with the technologies without needing to make significant independent investments. Tampere University and Häme University of Applied Sciences provide equipment, software, and experts, enabling each company to choose the solutions that best fit their development needs. These new technologies offer opportunities to create entirely new business models and enhance existing practices by leveraging the latest research and development expertise in the field.

Project main page

Target group

The main target groups of the project are companies in the manufacturing, real estate, and construction industries. Municipalities, cities, and other research institutions and organizations are also involved in the activities. The triple helix of academia, industry, and the public sector lays the foundation for sustained regional vitality, which is also something the project is looking to promote.

Operating area

The project primarily benefits the Kanta-Häme and Pirkanmaa regions.

HAMK’s role in the SmartDesign project

In the SmartDesign project, our focus is on applying game engine technology to meet business needs through practical experimentation. We organize workshops for companies in the Kanta-Häme and Pirkanmaa regions, providing guidance on leveraging the capabilities of the Unreal Engine 5 game engine in business operations. Our goal is to implement at least two pilot projects where companies test new prototypes and enhance their expertise.

Additionally, we are involved in building an international network to provide Finnish companies with access to the latest industry knowledge and connections to foreign experts.

Contact information

The project manager for the SmartDesign project is Jaakko Kinnunen from Tampere University. The project manager overseeing HAMK’s contribution is Mikael Bowellan.