Project
Generative AI Pioneers: Exploring and Developing Innovation Capabilities
Project sponsors
At the heart of the GenAI Pioneers project is the question of how pioneering companies leverage generative AI in product development, innovation processes, and the creation of new innovations. We are particularly interested in understanding the kinds of leadership approaches, competencies, and organizational capabilities required for a smooth and successful AI-driven transformation. Our goal is to capture best practices and generate research-based insights that can help other organizations make their own impactful leap into the age of AI.
The project responds to a growing need to strengthen both leadership and workforce capabilities in the use of generative AI for product development, innovation activities, and business renewal. Companies increasingly recognize the need for a human-centered approach to AI development and leadership, one that supports creativity, commercially viable innovations, and sustainable growth while anticipating future opportunities and challenges.
Through the GenAI Pioneers project, we examine current AI practices in Finland and internationally. Building on these insights, we generate new scientific knowledge on the use of generative AI in innovation activities as well as on the ethical questions arising from AI adoption. The project delivers research-based knowledge, practical recommendations, and tools that support companies in harnessing AI for business development, growth, and leadership.
By strengthening leadership capabilities, organizations can enhance their readiness to adopt AI and foster curiosity toward emerging technologies. The project's activities and outcomes will help both businesses and policymakers anticipate the implications of ongoing AI developments and make informed decisions about their future strategies.
The project brings together a broad network of companies committed to exploring the opportunities and challenges of AI-driven transformation.
- Wärtsilä Finland Oyj
- Elisa Oyj
- Advania Finland Oy
- Aava & Bang Oy
- Valtra Oy
- Wideflow Oy
- Woolman Oy
- FUTUAI
For further information:
Anna-Mari Simunaniemi
Project Manager, Principal Researcher
JAMK University of Applied Sciences
anna-mari.simunaniemi@jamk.fi
+358 50 476 5695
Project results
The project has involved nearly 50 research interviews across 13 Finnish companies, ranging from micro-enterprises to multinational corporations.
Through interviews with experts and leaders at the forefront of AI-driven transformation, we have identified:
- key factors that enable or hinder AI adoption
- the competencies and capabilities required to successfully implement and lead AI initiatives
- leadership tensions emerging from the use of AI and their organizational implications
- possible future scenarios related to the evolving role of AI
Since spring 2026, we have been running the Becoming an AI Leader programme, which provides participating companies with early access to our research findings and an opportunity to validate and refine them together with the research team. The programme will continue through the end of 2026.