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Ulysseus R&I Conference 2026: Applied AI in Business and Education: Research, Innovation, and Responsibility

Ulysseus R&I Conference 2026: Applied AI in Business and Education: Research, Innovation, and Responsibility

On 6 October 2026 join us in Helsinki for a Ulysseus R&I Conference 2026 to explore current trends in the applied AI in business and education: research, innovation, and responsibility. The conference will play a vital role in strengthening research networks, supporting innovation-driven territorial transformation, and showcasing Ulysseus as a driver of excellence in European R&I cooperation.

About the Conference

Joint us on 6 October 2026 for a R&I conference to explore current trends in the Applied AI in Business and Education: Research, Innovation, and Responsibility. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping both business practices and educational systems, from decision-making and process automation to teaching, learning, and assessment. The conference focuses on research-based, practice-oriented AI applications that create value in business and higher education while addressing sustainable, social, and organizational implications. Particular attention is given to the translation of research into practice, including experimentation, pilots, and collaboration with external partners. This R&I conference brings together researchers, educators, innovation actors, doctoral students, and external partners to explore how AI is applied in real-world business and educational contexts, and how research-driven innovation can be developed and implemented collaboratively across the Ulysseus alliance.

The conference will play a vital role in strengthening research networks, supporting innovation-driven territorial transformation, and showcasing Ulysseus as a driver of excellence in European R&I cooperation.

Whether you are advancing cutting-edge science, scaling a breakthrough solution or seeking the next collaborative opportunity, Ulysseus R&I Conference 2026 to explore current trends in the Applied AI in Business and Education: Research, Innovation, and Responsibility offers the platform to connect, learn and co-create a sustainable, digitally empowered future.

Researchers, innovators, start-ups, students and regional stakeholders will have an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, showcase results and forge new partnerships in three thematic tracks:

Applied Artificial Intelligence in Business

use cases, innovation processes, and organizational change.

Artificial Intelligence in Education

teaching (with) AI, learning analytics, assessment, and faculty development.

 

 

Sustainability, Responsibility and Trust

bias, transparency, and (societal) implications.

Events Highlitghts

The conference addresses how applied AI can:

  • support innovation in business models, processes, and decision-making,
  • enhance teaching, learning, and assessment in higher education,
  • be developed and implemented in responsible, human-centered ways.

The conference also encourages young researchers to present their research and give a platform for joint Ulysseus R&I groups in the conference’ topics to showcase the joint R&I activities they conducted within the Ulysseus European University.

Introducing Conference Topics

Ulysseus European University aims to foster joint research and innovation activities across the alliance by creating an integrated and inclusive innovation ecosystem rooted in its eight Ulysseus Innovation Hubs.

One of the key instruments supporting this goal is the organization of regular Ulysseus Research & Innovation (R&I) Conferences. These conferences serve as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and community building—bringing together researchers, innovators, start-ups, students, and regional stakeholders to present results, share expertise, and explore collaborative opportunities. With a focus on applied research, young researchers, and talent matchmaking, the conferences play a vital role in strengthening internal networks, supporting innovation-driven territorial transformation, and showcasing Ulysseus as a driver of excellence in European R&I cooperation.

After successful previous edition in Münster, Germany (2024), Košice, Slovakia (2025), this year conference will be hosted by the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland, encourages researchers, innovators, startups and young researchers to converge and share insights under three focused tracks:

Track 1: Applied Artificial Intelligence in Business

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming business models, value chains, and decision-making processes across industries. This session explores practical applications of AI in business contexts, focusing on real-world use cases, innovation processes, and the organisational transformations required for successful adoption. Contributions may address topics such as:

  • AI-driven product and service innovation,
  • Data-enabled business models,
  • Process automation,
  • Human-AI collaboration,
  • Change management strategies.

The session also welcomes perspectives on barriers to implementation, skills requirements, governance structures, and the role of leadership in AI transformation. The aim is to foster dialogue between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers on how organisations can responsibly leverage AI for competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable growth.

Track 2: Artificial Intelligence in Education

AI technologies are reshaping teaching, learning, and assessment in higher education. This session focuses on how AI can be integrated into educational practice, both as a subject of learning and as a tool that supports teaching and institutional development.

We invite contributions on:

  • AI-supported pedagogies,
  • Generative AI in the classroom,
  • Learning analytics for student success,
  • New assessment formats in the age of AI,
  • Strategies for academic integrity.

The session also highlights faculty development, digital competencies, and institutional policies needed to navigate AI-driven change in education.

By bringing together educators, researchers, and educational developers, the session aims to explore how AI can enhance learning experiences while preserving critical thinking, creativity, and ethical awareness.

The Track 2 focus areas include:

  • Research centres – fostering cutting-edge digital innovation.
  • Industry collaboration – building strong partnerships with the private sector.
  • Education of digital leaders and coaches – preparing skilled professionals for the digital age.
  • Innovation ecosystems and start-ups – supporting entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer.
  • Sharing best practices – promoting successful models and strategies across institutions.

Track 3: Sustainability, Responsibility, and Trust

As AI systems become embedded in societal infrastructures, questions of responsibility, fairness, and trust are increasingly urgent. This session examines the ethical, social, and sustainability dimensions of AI deployment.

Topics include:

  • Algorithmic bias and discrimination,
  • Transparency and explainability,
  • Accountability frameworks,
  • Environmental impacts of AI,
  • Regulatory developments,
  • Public trust.

Contributions may also address participatory approaches, inclusive design, and the role of universities in shaping responsible AI innovation. The session seeks to advance interdisciplinary perspectives on how AI can be developed and governed in ways that align with democratic values, social justice, and long-term sustainability.

Programme

(Please note that this agenda is subject to changes.)

Tuesday, 06 October 2026

09:30-10:00 Arrival & Registration

10:00 – 10:15 | Opening & Welcome
Conference opening, objectives, introduction to the theme

10:15 – 11:00 | Keynote
Framing the role of AI in business, education, and society incl. Q&A

11:00-11:30 | Coffee Break & Networking

11:30 – 12:30 | Plenary Session: AI Across Sectors
Short impulse talks or panel connecting the three themes to creates common ground before splitting into topics

12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break

Parallel Sessions

13:30 – 14:45 | Parallel Sessions Round 1: Thematic Tracks

  • Session 1: Applied AI in Business
  • Session 2: AI in Education
  • Session 3: Sustainability, Responsibility, and Trust

(Interactive formats encouraged: case discussions, short presentations, or panels)

14:45 – 15:15 | Coffee Break & Networking

15:15 – 16:15 | Parallel Sessions Round 2 Young Network

Closing

16:15 – 16:30 | Plenary Wrap-Up & Outlook
Key insights from sessions, future collaboration opportunities, closing remarks

Event Organiser and Venue

The event is organised by the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland, as an activity of Ulysseus European University, to be followed by a two-day presentation of Haaga-Helia’s Ulysseus Innovation Hub of Applied AI in Business and Education on 7-8 October 2026. Both events will be a part of the Ulysseus Helsinki Week.

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, established in 1991, is one of Finland’s leading practice-oriented higher education institutions, known for its strong business focus and close ties to industry. It is a community of 11,000 students, 700 specialists, and 49,000 alumni, and operates on five campuses in Helsinki, Porvoo, and Vierumäki. It offers bachelor’s and master’s degree studies in business, information technology, hospitality and restaurant management, sports management, and related fields. The university emphasizes cooperation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and internationality, and its education is closely connected to research, development, and innovation activities that support companies and working life.

The conference will be held at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences Pasila Campus.

Ulysseus Helsinki Week

Running 6-8 October 2026 at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Ulysseus Helsinki Week is positioned as one of the alliance’s flagship events, uniting a series of activities within a coordinated programme.

The event will engage the wider community through two headline public events: the Ulysseus R&I Conference on Applied AI in Business and Education: Research, Innovation, and Responsibility and the two -day presentation of the Ulysseus Innovation Hub at Haaga-Helia. By convening outward-facing forums and collaborative activities on applied artificial intelligence in business and education, alongside sustainability, responsibility and trust, Ulysseus Helsinki Week will bring together a range of activities within a coordinated programme, showcasing Ulysseus research, innovation and civic engagement across Europe.

More information about Ulysseus Helsinki Week: soon to come.

More Information