PoDoCo spring grants fund research on AI agents and textile waste assessment
The Foundation for Economic Education has awarded €64,000 in grants in the spring 2026 call of the Post Docs in Companies (PoDoCo) programme for research projects to be carried out in Finnish companies:
Adusei Akwasi (University of Oulu) – 32,000 €
Integrating AI Agents for Advanced Horizontal and Vertical Product Portfolio Management in Software Business, Haltian Ltd.
The project develops and validates AI-based portfolio tools for the needs of software business and strengthens companies’ ability to make product portfolio decisions based on data and artificial intelligence.
Antti Koistinen (Aalto-yliopisto) – 32,000 €
Analytical framework for the characterization of refined fibers from textile waste, Valmet Technologies Ltd.
The project develops methods for systematically assessing and improving the quality and usability of fibres refined from textile waste, particularly in open-loop recycling solutions where waste fibres are used in applications other than textiles.
The PoDoCo pool brings together academia and companies by funding collaborative projects between young doctors and companies. PoDoCo’s funding foundations are Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, Foundation for the Advancement of Technology, Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, The Support Foundation for Civil Engineering, KAUTE Foundation, Foundation for Economic Education.
The programme is open to companies in all sectors that are Finnish or conduct business in Finland, as well as to individuals who have recently completed their doctoral dissertation or will defend it in the near future. Two application rounds are organised annually, in the autumn and spring.
