AIKnowIT reports

AIKnowIT Project Results

Discover how universities and SMEs across the Baltic Sea Region collaborated to identify barriers to AI adoption, develop practical support tools, and build a sustainable knowledge-sharing ecosystem for responsible artificial intelligence implementation.

Project at a Glance

Between 2024 and 2026, AIKnowIT brought together universities, innovation experts and SMEs from Lithuania, Sweden, Poland and Germany to better understand how small businesses can adopt AI in a practical, secure and sustainable way.

4 Countries
5 International Workshops
8 Practical AI Use Cases
1 Knowledge Sharing Toolbox
What Did SMEs Tell Us? +

Main Opportunities Identified

  • Improving efficiency and productivity
  • Automating repetitive tasks
  • Supporting business decisions and forecasting
  • Creating marketing and communication content
  • Developing innovative products and services
  • Supporting business growth and scalability
SMEs clearly recognize the value of AI but need practical guidance to transform interest into implementation.
Barriers to AI Adoption +

Most Common Challenges

  • Lack of AI expertise and implementation knowledge
  • Need for employee training and upskilling
  • Data privacy and GDPR concerns
  • Cybersecurity risks and data protection issues
  • Implementation and integration costs
  • Limited trust in AI-generated outputs
Trust, cybersecurity and legal compliance were often considered equally important as the technology itself.
How AIKnowIT Responded +

The AIKnowIT Platform

Based on interviews, surveys and international workshops, partners developed AIKnowIT.eu as a practical knowledge-sharing environment connecting SMEs with academic expertise.

  • AI knowledge resources
  • Practical AI use cases
  • Questions & Challenges section
  • Data Privacy guidance
  • University-business collaboration opportunities
  • Networking and support resources
AIKnowIT Knowledge Sharing Toolbox +

A Practical Framework for SMEs

Rather than creating new AI technologies, AIKnowIT focused on helping SMEs identify and implement existing AI solutions that address real business problems.

The toolbox includes:

  • AI implementation guidance
  • Practical business use cases
  • Data Privacy and Responsible AI resources
  • Expert support mechanisms
  • University-SME collaboration tools
The AI Adoption Methodology +

7-Step Approach

  1. Assess organisational readiness
  2. Identify business challenges
  3. Define measurable objectives
  4. Map challenges to AI applications
  5. Evaluate technical and legal readiness
  6. Select appropriate AI solutions
  7. Pilot, evaluate and scale implementation
A key lesson of the project was that successful AI adoption should start with business problems, not technology.
Lessons Learned +
  • SMEs value practical guidance more than technical explanations.
  • AI adoption should be driven by business needs.
  • Trust, privacy and cybersecurity are critical.
  • Universities can act as effective knowledge brokers.
  • Co-creation with stakeholders leads to better solutions.

Key Project Outcome

The most significant result of AIKnowIT is the creation of a sustainable Knowledge Sharing Toolbox and AI Technology Identification Methodology available through AIKnowIT.eu. Together they help SMEs identify, evaluate and apply AI solutions according to their business needs while promoting responsible and secure AI adoption.

Building a Sustainable AI Ecosystem

AIKnowIT demonstrates that successful AI adoption requires more than technology. It requires knowledge, trust, collaboration and practical support. Through continued cooperation between universities and SMEs, the AIKnowIT platform will remain a resource for innovation, learning and responsible AI implementation across the Baltic Sea Region and beyond.