Nordic Healthcare Group supported DigiFinland in creating an AI vision for social and healthcare services that places human in the center.
Various AI solutions are rapidly entering the social and healthcare services sector. That’s why the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health launched the Sote AI (Social and healthcare AI) Ecosystem last year, coordinated by DigiFinland. DigiFinland quickly began building a shared AI vision for Finland, which was completed this year.
“The rapid development of technology led the ecosystem’s stakeholders to realize that we need a shared, ambitious AI vision,” says Jenny Vuollet, Director of Business Development at DigiFinland.
Around 300 members of the Sote AI Ecosystem participated in discussions on an online platform and in two workshops in March–April 2025. Nordic Healthcare Group supported DigiFinland in planning, facilitating group work, and drafting the vision.
“NHG combines strong industry expertise with research and technological know-how, making them a reliable and valuable partner for us,” Vuollet says.
Strong enthusiasm for development in the social and healthcare sector
A wide range of ecosystem members took part in the vision work: researchers, system developers, private service providers, public sector representatives, consultants, and IT leaders.
“The workshops generated an enormous number of great ideas”, Vuollet says.
Tommi Kemppainen, Vice President of Digital transformation at Nordic Healthcare Group, was surprised during the vision process by how much enthusiasm and potential there already is within the social and healthcare sector for utilizing AI.
“There’s a lot of positive buzz around AI in the social and healthcare sector. Now we just need to decide together which ideas from the vision are worth pursuing and investing in,” Kemppainen says.
” There’s a lot of positive buzz around AI in the social and healthcare sector.”
Tommi Kemppainen, Vice President, Digital transformation at NHG
AI coach to support client wellbeing
One of the central goals of the vision is to improve service accessibility through AI-based kiosks, robots, and remote services. AI can also assist in prevention by identifying risks at both the individual and population level and suggesting actions. Each client could be supported by an AI coach that promotes wellbeing and acts as a personal health guide and a link to various professionals.
According to Vuollet, the AI coach is tied to the vision’s core idea of elevating the individual from a service user to an active agent responsible for promoting and maintaining their own health.
“Bringing the client’s own agency to the forefront would challenge the current system, which, in the end, may still be more professional-driven than patient- or client-centered,” Vuollet says.
Vuollet believes Finland has strong potential to be a pioneer in adopting AI in social and healthcare, thanks to its extensive national data resources.
“However, implementing AI requires not only investment but also courage—at the individual level, within organizations, and nationally. Does Finland want to be at the forefront of AI development in Europe, or simply observe what happens elsewhere and adopt good solutions later?” Vuollet reflects.
”Does Finland want to be at the forefront of AI development in Europe?”
Jenny Vuollet, Director of Business Development at DigiFinland
According to Vuollet, the next step is to roll out the AI vision across the social and healthcare sector, where many different AI pilots are already underway.
“The goal is to launch even more trials and share best practices. In any case, I’m certain the change is already here. It’s inevitable that processes and decision-making will be increasingly automated with the help of AI.”
Project highlights
Challenge
A need for a shared national AI vision emerged within the social and healthcare sector. Stakeholders lacked a common direction for how artificial intelligence should be practically applied to improve services.
Solution
DigiFinland led the Sote AI Ecosystem in developing a national AI vision, with around 300 members participating in workshops and an online platform. Nordic Healthcare Group supported in facilitation and drafting the vision.
Results
A shared AI vision was created, emphasizing client empowerment and improved service accessibility. Implementation and pilot projects are already underway.
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