Cutting-edge research centre on big data and AI granted continued funding
Linnaeus University’s cutting-edge research centre Linnaeus University Centre for Data Intensive Sciences and Applications (Lnuc DISA), which works with big data and AI (artificial intelligence) – that is to say, the collection, analysis, and utilisation of large quantities of data – has been granted SEK 16 million in continued funding over the next four years. In addition, the faculties guarantee another SEK 40 million in research hours.
“DISA contributes with unique competences that help us meet sustainability challenges in Linnaeus Knowledge Environments”, says Peter Aronsson, vice-chancellor.
During the first funding period, DISA established the foundation for interdisciplinary research within the field. The centre applies technologies like machine learning, data visualisation, and statistics within a broad spectrum of thematic areas like, for instance, construction, forest, eHealth, language, physics, mechanical engineering, and social sciences. What is more, the researchers have created a calculation centre that can handle the large quantities of data and large-scale computing required in big data and AI research. DISA has strong and close collaborations with companies and organisations in society, primarily through its industry graduate school Data Intensive Applications (DIA), which is funded by the Knowledge Foundation and the industry.
During the new funding period, DISA will focus on active participation in applications for both national networks and research networks as well as on infrastructures and projects within the EU to increase its visibility both nationally and internationally. At the internal level, the work to profile the cutting-edge research environment moves forward, as does the work to increase its academic excellence in big data and AI, with focus on synergies between core technologies and thematic areas. At the time being, the centre works with a number of project applications and new companies that wish to employ the next generation of doctoral students on the industry graduate school DIA.
“After all the hard work during the last five years, we are proud to have received recognition as a centre with cutting-edge competence at Linnaeus University, from the external reviewers as well as from the university’s senior management team. Roughly 50 researchers and administrators have contributed to this and we are happy to have been given the opportunity to show the full potential of big data and AI technologies, and of DISA as a platform for our researchers, research disciplines, and the university”, says Welf Löwe, research director for DISA.
About Linnaeus University Centres
Linnaeus University Centres (Lnuc) constitute the foremost research environments at Linnaeus University. The research that is conducted within these five centres is to be of the highest quality and be nationally as well as internationally recognised. The centres are funded by the faculties and through specifically allocated funds from the University Board, decided on by the vice-chancellor.