Digitalisation of industry and big data

Big data and machine learning applications: developing a research area

The need for data analytics in today's public and private sectors is far greater than the data science professionals working in them can meet. This could be alleviated by automated machine learning and computational artificial intelligence application platforms that maintain data privacy, are adaptive, self-learning and have transparent and comprehensible decision-making processes.

The aim of the research project is to develop a demo version of an open source solution that will enable the wider use of data science methods in different domains.

This is based on four principles:

• automation, to minimise the labour costs of creating machine learning workflows;
• preserving privacy to ensure the privacy of data subjects while allowing for the sharing of non-personally identifiable data;
• adaptability and self-tuning to ensure flexibility in handling fast data flows;
• explainability, by providing robust personalised explanation techniques to increase user confidence.

Data collection and analysis from manufacturing companies and other institutions: developing a research area

Data and data-driven methods are the foundation for applying the latest research and modern high technology to automate industry, but also to empower other sectors. This is why it is important to create the conditions and technical solutions for data collection, processing and validation in production-based digital applications, such as flexible manufacturing and human-robot collaboration. 

The project will develop data-driven methodologies based on the needs of industry and develop both hardware and software frameworks for their application. A robotics laboratory will be set up at Narva College to study and test high-tech hardware developments in practice. 

The research group also supports the development of engineering skills in Ida-Viru County. In September 2025, a new master's programme in technology will be opened at Narva College to teach robotics and artificial intelligence.