How to harness artificial intelligence in the packaging industry?

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important driver of productivity and efficiency in organisations around the world. It can help businesses automate routine tasks, predict future trends and help make better decisions.

AI, paper package, MOMAI — The MOMAI project aims to help packaging companies adopt data analytics and artificial intelligence. PHOTO: Illustration photo

Smart Innovation Norway, together with the Circular Packaging Cluster, has launched the MOMAI project to help companies in the packaging value chain adopt data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Through the project, companies can gain general skills and understanding of the possibilities for using AI, identify challenges and opportunities in their businesses. They can also be introduced to technology companies that develop solutions for each company's needs.

AI and data: The key to industry's challenges?

The European Commission has presented a comprehensive proposal for a new Packaging Regulation with requirements and provisions on waste, reuse and recycling. The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste, increase the quality and use of recycled raw materials in packaging, and set requirements for increased use of reuse solutions.

But how can this be done while satisfying product quality needs and customer requirements for functionality? Some of the solutions are likely to lie in data analytics and automated intelligent systems.

Data management is the first step towards circular development

Artificial intelligence can, among other things, make material use more efficient by ensuring that good decisions are made for a more circular flow of resources, help customise packaging and optimise logistics and distribution.

But building such systems depends on having access to good quality data.

Looking for forward-looking businesses

The Circular Pacaging Cluster and Smart Innovation Norway believe that companies in the packaging industry can gain significant business benefits from adopting data analytics and artificial intelligence. We are now looking for forward-looking companies that want to identify their potential to become more data-driven.

For more information and to fill in the contact form, visit the project website!

MOMAI (Mobilisation and Maturation for AI) is partly funded by Viken County Council.

The Cluster for Applied AI and NCE Smart Energy Markets offer free continuing education to their members.

Valery Naumova — Valeriya Naumova is the general manager of Simula Consulting and one of those who have prepared the free further and continuing education course that members in the Cluster for Applied AI and NCE Smart Energy Markets are offered. - It is important that company managers understand what artificial intelligence is and how they can use the technology strategically in their company, she says. PHOTO: Private

- Managers without knowledge of artificial intelligence miss out on many opportunities

Having a conscious relationship with artificial intelligence and understanding the potential of the technology can take companies to new heights.

Compared to the traditional industry that arose in the 19th century, artificial intelligence is a new type of technology. But the truth is that the term "artificial intelligence" arose in the 1950s, and the dream of creating intelligent machines can be traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks, according to an article from Teknisk Ukeblad .

Nevertheless, it is a challenge for many of today's managers to understand how to use artificial intelligence in a strategic way in their company.

- It is important that company managers understand what artificial intelligence is, and not least that they understand what this technology can do for them and how they can use it strategically. If not, they miss out on many opportunities, says Valeriya Naumova, general manager at Simula Consulting.

- Huge potential

Simula Consulting is a company that builds a bridge between research environments and businesses within the public and private sector, and which, among other things, works to train managers in artificial intelligence. The company is also a member of Smart Innovation Norway's business cluster Cluster for Applied AI (CAAI). It is therefore natural that Simula is among the contributors to the continuing and further education scheme offered to the cluster members at CAAI and NCE Smart Energy Markets in the autumn.

- If you are to be successful with innovation for sustainable growth, working with in-house skills development is essential. Artificial intelligence is a technology that has enormous potential for businesses in the years to come, and the beauty of this course is that the training takes place on the premises of the businesses, says Marianne Bjerkman, head of CAAI.

Gain better understanding

The training course in artificial intelligence is intended for managers and middle managers from different businesses and domains. The training takes place in September and October and is carried out with physical meetings at various locations in Eastern Norway.

After completing the training course, the participants should understand, among other things, what artificial intelligence is, what kind of problems the technology is suitable for solving, what role data plays and how to secure a good enough data base to work with artificial intelligence, what dangers arise from using data mistakes, how artificial intelligence should be implemented in the company's business model, and what kind of competence is required in the business.

Several partners

- There is a big difference between traditional technology and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is an interactive technology that is constantly being developed and improved by adding new data. But it's not just about getting started with using artificial intelligence. The company's infrastructure, data base and employees must go through adaptation and training to get the best possible benefit from the technology, says Valeriya Naumova.

The further and continuing education course offered by the clusters of Smart Innovation Norway is supported by Viken County Municipality. This means that the offer is free for the cluster members. The aim of the county council's support scheme is increased economic value creation, strengthened competitiveness and more jobs in Viken through the realization of business development projects.

The training is developed and delivered by experienced technologists from Simula Consulting and the Institute of Energy Technology, and Digital Norway and Smart Innovation Norway contribute with their broad expertise related to training, networking and facilitation.

Questions?

Contact Marianne Jansson Bjerkman on +47 924 14 854 or by e-mail .

Now we have become even better at contributing to innovation

Europe does it, and Smart Innovation Norway does it. The Halden company is betting on "communities" and is strengthening its cluster activities, the Smart City initiative and its research work. By working more closely together and distributing resources better, more innovation is created.

In today's world, cooperation, community and participation are becoming increasingly important. It is felt outside Europe, and it is felt at home.

As a consequence of this societal development, Smart Innovation Norway is strengthening and expanding its investment in business clusters, smart cities and social science research. The company launches Smart Innovation Communities and prepares itself for further work by hiring more wise minds, entering into new and exciting agreements, working further

- A strength for being awarded new EU projects

- This is very exciting. There is naturally a difference in innovation by the municipalities in the Smart City work and by the private business life in our clusters, but many times there are the same drivers and the same challenges that are faced, and often the same tools that we need to use in use. Although we work in slightly different ways in the different areas, a lot is about creating security and commitment to driving innovation through sustainable thinking and making use of digitization opportunities. The Smart City work and the cluster economy are very closely linked, says manager of Smart Innovation Communities, Eli Haugerud.

Outside of Europe, there is a large and ever-increasing focus on the human aspect of research projects and innovation work. Smart Innovation Norway's research area for this is called Social Innovation. This competence is very relevant for both municipalities and cluster partners. Customer, citizen and user understanding is central to all innovation, and Social Innovation will therefore also focus on Smart City research going forward.

- We want to put the users in focus, and that is exactly what our social science researchers are doing. They look at the users and the users' needs and how innovation affects them, says Haugerud.

Each focus area will stand stronger by working even more closely together. Municipalities in Smart City work can be pilots in several social science innovation projects both in Norway and in the EU. The clusters know the business world and can contribute with the right research partners. The social science researchers contribute to the smart city projects and the cluster work with the human approach to the innovation work.

- This will be a strength for us when it comes to being awarded new and relevant EU projects, states Haugerud.

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More learning between private and public actors

Over half of all value creation in Norway takes place in the public sector. One of Smart Innovation Norway's most important tasks is to help others become better at innovating, and the municipalities and public companies are important players both as customers and as clients for Norwegian business.

Creating a good interaction between the public and private sectors is absolutely essential, and the managing director of Smart Innovation Norway, Kjell Reidar Mydske, clearly sees that Smart Innovation Communities will improve and increase the innovation work of both parties.

- It is a strength of ours that we can use the expertise we have in and around the public and private sectors to mutually strengthen each other so that we both get better. Through Smart Innovation Communities, resources can work more and better crosswise, expertise is shared more, and we open up even more learning between the private and public sectors, he points out.

Mydske is satisfied that the Halden company is further developing its many years of good work within Smart City. The EU is very clear that Smart City and user participation are important, and the term "communities" describes a methodology which, among other things, is about working openly and together in order to be able to realize and commercialize research.

- We must invest in open innovation. We have to cooperate. The alternative is for the technologies to be developed and the innovation to take place in companies in China and the USA which will next come here and sell their services here. The EU will counteract that. That's why the EU is betting on "communities", and that's why we're betting on Smart Innovation Communities, says Kjell Reidar Mydske.

CONTACT:

Eli Haugerud,
Manager, Smart Innovation Communities

Telephone: +47 995 44 711

FACTS:

• Smart Innovation Norway AS conducts independent, applied research and specializes in research-based business development within smart energy, smart societies and new technology.

• One of Smart Innovation Norway's main tasks is to promote innovation among public and private actors.

• Many years of experience with innovation work is behind the company's launch of Smart Innovation Communities, which is a strengthening and expansion of the company's investment in cluster operations, Smart City work and social science innovation.

• In order to be able to contribute to innovation in an even better way in both the private and public sector, Smart Innovation Norway links the professional areas even more closely together and opens up for more collaboration across the board.

• The aim is to increase the pace of innovation and to realize and commercialize even more of the innovation through Smart Innovation Communities.

Contribute to a new national centre that will speed up the use of artificial intelligence

Smart Innovation Norway is one of the partners behind the new venture Nemonoor. The scheme will give businesses in production, health, smart cities and communities, as well as energy systems/carriers access to knowledge about applied artificial intelligence (AI). - Having a center like Nemonoor so close to business will make it easier for companies to test AI, says managing director Kjell Reidar Mydske. PHOTO: Anja Lillerud/Mari Kristine Buckholm .

Business gets an even shorter route to some of the country's best players in artificial intelligence when Smart Innovation Norway and seven other strong national players join forces and establish the Nemonoor initiative.

In recent years, Smart Innovation Norway has been heavily involved in artificial intelligence (AI). Among other things, the company has built up the Cluster for Applied AI, a business cluster where companies with expertise in AI can develop further and test out the technology with new partners.

Together with a number of strong players within AI, including Digital Norway, Smart Innovation Norway has now been granted a major EU application. They will form a so-called European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) which will accelerate the use of artificial intelligence in Norwegian businesses throughout the country. The center will be called Nemonoor.

- This is a prestigious assignment and a fantastic opportunity for Norwegian companies to increase their investment in artificial intelligence through access to both the best resources in the country and a close link to strong professional environments in the EU, says Eirik Andreassen, head of Nemonoor.

Provides access to knowledge

The scheme is aimed at private and public enterprises throughout the country. The purpose of the scheme is to give businesses access to the knowledge about applied artificial intelligence (AI) that has been built up on the basis of many years of research, development and innovation.

By accessing the knowledge, the test centers and the network, the aim is for them to succeed in adopting AI as an integrated part of the business.

- Having a center like Nemonoor so close to business will make it easier for companies to test this out. AI is referred to as one of the most important technological developments of our time. In order to maintain a competitive business life in the future, it is important to use artificial intelligence for the benefit of the customers, says managing director at Smart Innovation Norway, Kjell Reidar Mydske.

Initially, Nemonoor will contribute to businesses that work in production, health, smart cities and communities, as well as energy systems/carriers. Application will primarily focus on solutions based on prediction, machine vision and language models.

- We look forward to working closely with the other national and European innovation hubs to ensure that businesses get access to the very best and most relevant services they need, says Andreassen.

EDIHs in all EU member states

European Digital Innovation Hubs (pronounced "eddi") are a central instrument in the EU's new seven-year DIGITAL programme. The purpose is to ensure that private and public enterprises are equipped to adopt advanced digital technologies.

As of today, the EU has committed to the establishment of 136 EDIHs distributed among all EU member states with the aim of ensuring that the knowledge found in each individual country is made available to businesses in other EU countries.

Norway was granted two EDIHs, Nemonoor and Oceanapolis.

Nemonoor consists of DigitalNorway, Institute of Energy Technology (IFE), NORA.ai/UiO, Norway Health Tech, NTNU, SINTEF, Smart Innovation Norway and Ålesund Knowledge Park (ÅKP), and the activities will start in autumn 2022.

CONTACT PERSON:

Eirik Andreassen,
Leader Nemonoor

Email
Telephone: +47 402 00 598