Press Release

EU Invests €3.6 Million in Åbo Akademi University’s international master’s programme EDISS

The EDISS master’s programme has positioned Åbo Akademi University as a leading institution in education in computer engineering and artificial intelligence. Since its launch in 2020, the programme has attracted 108 top-tier students from around the world, with application numbers continuing to rise. The European Commission has now granted the programme €3.6 million in additional Erasmus Mundus funding.

EDISS is a two-year international Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree programme in computer engineering, coordinated by Åbo Akademi University in collaboration with Mälardalen University in Sweden, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila in Italy, and Universitat de les Illes Balears in Spain. 

Thanks to the new funding, the programme will continue until 2031, and the consortium expects to award an additional 50 Erasmus Mundus scholarships in upcoming admission rounds. Since its inception, EDISS has received a total of €8 million in funding from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). 

“EDISS attracts global top talent, with students from world-leading universities. This is evident not only in the fact that all graduates have completed their studies on time, but also in the large number of scientific publications produced during the programme,” says Patrik Henelius, vice-rector for research at Åbo Akademi University. 

A global collaboration with strong Finnish impact 

Students spend their first year in Turku, Finland, before choosing a specialisation track at one of the partner universities. 

“Although students spend their second year abroad, the majority return to Finland after graduation: over 80 percent of alumni are recruited by Finnish companies, strengthening the country’s competitiveness in software engineering, AI, machine learning, and computer science,” says professor Sébastien Lafond, director of EDISS. 

Through collaborations with 40 industry partners and 11 universities worldwide, EDISS has had a significant economic and industrial impact in Finland. 

“At Silo AI, we see EDISS as a shining example of how Europe can combine academic excellence with industrial collaboration to strengthen its competitiveness in AI. The programme doesn’t just educate top talent – it connects them with real-world challenges and opportunities. Many of its graduates are already shaping Finland’s AI landscape, and with this new funding, EDISS will continue to nurture the kind of expertise that both research and industry urgently needs” says Peter Sarlin, co-Founder and CEO at AMD Silo AI.  

Finnish companies play a key role in the EDISS programme, where students build networks and industry-relevant skills through internships and thesis projects. 

“Our partnership with Åbo Akademi University, particularly through the EDISS programme, supports student development and strengthens Finland’s technology sector. At Nokia, we have hosted many EDISS students for internships and thesis projects, giving them valuable experience while fostering skills essential across industries”, says Mikael Lindblad, Espoo Technology Center Project Manager  

‘’Our collaboration with EDISS master’s students has been highly fruitful. They consistently show strong technical skills, motivation, and professionalism, making their contributions valuable and rewarding to our work’’, says Dr. Pontus Boström from Groke Technologies Oy. 

“We’ve had excellent collaboration with EDISS and Åbo Akademi University. Several of our top experts are EDISS graduates, and we’ve worked on multiple joint projects. With the renewed funding, we look forward to advancing cutting-edge research and nurturing top talent in data-intensive software systems—for the benefit of both research and business’’, says András Vajda, CEO and co-founder of Iconicchain Oy, a leading provider of software solutions for financial institutions. 

This autumn, the next application period is open from 3 November to 8 January, and in autumn 2026, the sixth intake of EDISS students will be welcomed to Turku. 

For more information, please contact: 

Sébastien Lafond, Professor of computer engineering (software engineering), director of EDISS
Email: sebastien.lafond@abo.fi
Phone: +358 405 464 024
More information about EDISS: https://www.master-ediss.eu/