Almost SEK 10 million for BTH projects – to help Swedish software companies become competitive

BTH has received almost SEK 10 million from the Knowledge Foundation for two new projects. One will investigate how AI is changing the way software is developed. The other will develop data-driven methods that help companies improve their software development.

Together with technology giants such as Ericsson, Axis Communications and Fortnox, the researchers want to see how generative AI – i.e. AI that can create text and code – can make development work faster, cheaper and more accurately.

“The goal is to free up time so that developers can focus on creative problem solving instead of routine tasks, and to increase quality through AI support in development,” says professor and project manager Niklas Lavesson.

The project involves testing and integrating AI tools such as GitHub Copilot directly into companies’ workflows. This includes understanding what new skills are needed, how ways of working need to be adapted – and what obstacles may stand in the way.

“The background is clear: while countries such as the United States, China and Canada are racing ahead in AI, Sweden also needs to step up a gear to avoid falling behind. GENESIS is therefore developing expertise and methodology to help Swedish industry make the best use of AI technology both within organisations and in products and services,” says Niklas Lavesson.

As well as supporting industry, the project is also strengthening the research and education environment at BTH, developing new course materials and case studies so that students can learn how AI is actually used in the real world, providing both excellence and confidence in the future.

The second project aims to develop smarter, data-driven practices supported by AI tools that can help companies continuously improve their work.

“It’s about showing how to make improvements in your work processes and invest in code quality – not just because it looks good in the short term, but because in the long term it leads to happier customers, more useful products and software that lasts longer and is easier to customise,” says project leader Javier Gonzalez Huerta.