Seinäjoki Multidisciplinary Open IoT Hub (MOI)

The Seinäjoki Multidisciplinary Open IoT Hub (MOI) is a project that aims to promote digitalization in the Seinäjoki area, focusing on the possibilities of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Although the advantages of digitization are well known, many companies and industries do not make enough use of the advantages brought by new technologies. SMEs operating with limited resources in particular have difficulty identify-ing and adopting technologies that benefit them. This project aims to change the situation by creating a MOI Hub which is focused on affordable and open tools for developing and testing new IoT applications. The effectiveness and possibilities of these tools should be better brought to the attention of companies in the region and related expertise should be increased and thus the threshold for utilizing new technologies should be lowered.

In short, MOI Hub's know-how is spread throughout the region by organizing workshops, practical pilots, and acting as a link between university research and companies. Concretely, Hubi forms a meeting place that offers a practical learning and experimentation environment for local companies. On a practical level, the Hub can test new IoT-related ideas and build prototypes.

Workshops and training sessions promote the exchange of information and increase competence. Student visits organized within the framework of the project to Seinäjoki and local companies from the uni-versities of Vaasa and Tampere offer an opportunity to attract expertise to the region. In addition, the project enables the hiring of research assistants and gives them the opportunity to participate in the development of digitalization and the business cooperation at the center of the project, gaining valu-able practical experience. The pilot projects at the core of the project act as essential components of the ecosystem and as indicators of its potential.

Pilot 1 aims to utilize inexpensive and open tools for tracking warehouse shelves, and serves as a multipurpose example of their possibilities, but also leads to the development of new technology on a concrete level.

The goal of Pilot 2 is to set up an open LoRaWAN network to support the development and testing of various wireless sensors in the area of Frami and possibly also in the center of Seinäjoki or other areas. This network acts as a platform that lowers the threshold to innovation with low cost by utilizing inexpensive and open tools.

MOI Hub is based on the experiences and results of previous projects, such as the fullness monitoring of textile collection bins based on inexpensive and open tools developed in the Kiertodigi project. This is an initiative that concretely puts previous research results into practice and aims to increase similar activities and continuity also with regard to ongoing research. MOI Hub is part of a broader vision related to bringing university research and its results closer to companies, for example also in terms of digital manufacturing. The MOI Hub works in close connection with the professorships of digital manufacturing and production economics/logistics systems, and it is supported by University Consortium of Seinäjoki and the universities of Tampere and Vaasa. The project creates a center that continues the tradition of cooperation and innovation and at the same time functions as a physical space in the University Consortium of Seinäjoki, which promotes the transition of Seinäjoki's companies towards digitalization. Hub also has a virtual dimension on project pages and different platforms (GitHub, social media, etc.).

1. Promote awareness and use of inexpensive and open-source digitization tools: A significant deficiency for companies is a weak awareness and understanding of the possibilities of inexpensive and open-source digitization tools. Therefore, the main goal of this project is to increase knowledge and encourage the use of such tools in companies, thus promoting innovation and development.

2. Establishing a Multidisciplinary IoT Hub (MOI): In order to promote cooperation and information exchange, the project aims to establish a Multidisciplinary IoT Hub (MOI). This center serves as a platform where companies, researchers and innovators can come together to research, experiment and create new solutions for the digital age. In other words, a research group focused on the topic will be established, a regional cooperation network will be strengthened and its regular meetings will be established, a website will be created that gathers news and actors related to the topic in one place.

3. Develop and implement low-cost tools and open-source IoT pilots: In order to demonstrate the practical application and effectiveness of low-cost and open-source digitization tools, the project develops and implements two IoT pilots. The first pilot will focus on creating a tool for monitoring warehouse shelves, and the second will create an open LoRaWAN network to promote innovation in the Frami area of Seinäjoki and possibly also in the city center and other areas.

4. Enhance innovation and business development: Ultimately, the goal is to utilize the MOI Hub and related initiatives to promote business development. By providing the tools, platform and information necessary for digital transformation, the goal of the project is to promote innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth of local companies.

5. Provide knowledge and research opportunities: With the establishment of the MOI Hub, another important goal is to provide a practical knowledge sharing and research environment. The center facilitates opportunities for students and researchers to take advantage of the practical possibilities of IoT, which promotes a culture of continuous learning and innovation. With concrete steps, we expect that the project will offer R&D cooperation to at least two young experts.

6. Connects students and companies: The student company visits organized during the project narrow the gap between students and companies looking for new talent.