A new smart design platform supports engineers in design, robotics and cybersecurity

The REINFORCE project (Automatic detection and correction of industrial design flaws – Towards fail-safe industries) is developing a new type of computer-aided design platform that automates complex tasks, detects flaws early on and generates innovative solutions to address them. This will improve the safety and performance of industrial systems.

Part of Business Finland’s Defence and Digital Resilience programme, the project is a collaboration between its coordinator Tampere University, the University of Helsinki and the University of Jyväskylä.

“We integrate formal industrial design methods with generative AI (GenAI) and neuro-symbolic reasoning into a system capable of both exploring novel designs and verifying their processes and outcomes. This formal foundation is essential for advancing next-generation AI–driven design and enabling explainable automation in the design workflow. The project targets a significant breakthrough in industrial design,” says Professor Sasu Tarkoma, Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Helsinki.

The initial research findings and analyses indicate a breakthrough potential, with industrial process performance improvements exceeding 40 percent. Preliminary estimates suggest that in Finland a 20 percent increase in manufacturing and factory performance could boost the value of annual output by approximately €7 billion.

Together, the partners are establishing an international community for researchers and industrial operators. Also involved are other academic and industrial collaborators. Several European universities and companies have already expressed interest in the project.

The funding for the project is divided between the three partners, the University of Helsinki’s share being €750,000. As the project coordinator, Tampere University will receive a share of €1 million, while the University of Jyväskylä will receive €750,000.

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This news item was originally published on the University of Helsinki website on 20.10.2025