Nordic data companies unveil a new integrated data set combining AI road weather forecasts and with real-time connected car data

Vaisala Xweather and NIRA Dynamics are first to release an integrated data set which connects road weather forecasts and computer vision observations with real-time connected car data, setting a new standard for data-driven road safety and maintenance.

The integration draws on NIRA Dynamics’ expansive data from billions of data points gathered from connected vehicles, paired with Vaisala Xweather’s advanced AI and ML-based road weather forecasting models, which achieve accuracy levels 50% higher than those of publicly available forecasts.

The future of driving is going to be heavily dependent on more accurate and real-time road weather and road condition data as the availability of autonomous and assisted driving features are highly influenced by the driving conditions. Currently, as seen on many Electric Vehicles (EV), the assisted driving functionalities are disconnected to secure driver safety based on crude weather and road condition estimations, such as temperature drop to under 4 degrees Celsius or change in tire rolling resistance.

Real-time data from connected vehicles on tire grip, road friction, surface quality, and weather conditions combined with leading industry-specific weather forecasts, the aggregated data set has multiple use cases already today. This offers significant practical uses today, including reducing accident likelihood by expanding the availability of autonomous and assisted driving features in adverse road and weather conditions, assessing road quality with computer vision to optimize maintenance efforts, and reducing resource usage – such as minimizing winter road salt application. The benefits extend to all road users, from improved safety and reduced environmental impact to cost savings for road authorities and municipalities.

By integrating NIRA Dynamics’ connected vehicle data into Vaisala Xweather’s platform, this partnership creates opportunities for future advancements in road safety and autonomous driving. The combined data opens doors to further applications such as EV range optimization, traffic management, insurance risk assessments, and reducing accident rates.

“At NIRA Dynamics, our mission is to deliver data-driven solutions for safer, more efficient journeys,” says Lisa Åbom, CEO of NIRA Dynamics. “With Vaisala Xweather, we’re able to offer access to road weather data which helps road maintenance professionals, automotive manufacturers, and navigation providers become future proof. We all understand the impact of weather on road safety, and with Vaisala Xweather, we are pushing the industry forward.”

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Enterprise Ireland doubles size of delegation to Slush Finland as exports to the Nordics soar

Enterprise Ireland, has announced it will be doubling its presence at Slush Finland this year, to showcase 24 of the country’s most innovative companies. This increased presence at Slush, the largest gathering of venture capital in the world, reinforces Enterprise Ireland’s support for Irish businesses to scale and succeed in global markets and follows strong interest from client companies in the Nordic region.

Enterprise Ireland client companies have nearly doubled their exports to the Nordic region over the past five years, growing from €877 million in 2018 to €1.7 billion by 2023. This impressive growth highlights the success and achievements of Irish companies in the wider Nordic market, where over 560 Enterprise Ireland companies export to the region.  The Nordic region has become a key export market, on par with other major European export destinations such as Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

Director of Nordic Region Hannah Fraser says “As Enterprise Ireland’s Director for the Nordic Region, I’ve seen how well the Nordics’ focus on innovation and sustainability aligns with Ireland’s strengths. We’re thrilled to double our presence at Slush this year, bringing 24 clients to connect with global partners and investors. The Nordic market has become a powerhouse for Irish businesses, with exports nearly doubling over the past five years to €1.7 billion and more than 560 Irish companies thriving in the region. This strong partnership continues to open exciting growth opportunities.”

For several years, Enterprise Ireland has built a strong presence at Slush, a showcase of groundbreaking innovation where start-ups, industry visionaries, and global investors come together. Slush offers Enterprise Ireland clients unparalleled opportunities to expand their reach in the Nordic market and beyond. Recognising the importance of this event to Ireland’s innovation landscape, the Finnish Embassy launched Ireland’s 2024 presence at Slush with a celebratory mixer on November 7th, once again highlighting the close ties and shared commitment to innovation between Ireland and the Nordic region.

Speaking on this, Ambassador of Finland to Ireland Leena Gardemeister, said, “We are excited by the growing interest from Irish businesses in both Finland and Slush, which has become a key platform for connecting innovators and investors globally. The collaboration between Irish and Finnish companies continues to thrive, and we look forward to further strengthening these ties in the future, driving new opportunities for growth and innovation on both sides.”

The Enterprise Ireland clients attending Slush 2024 include Konree Innovation Ltd, Sonalake, Numra, Cytidel, Vaultree, Tracworx, Lua Health, Lative, Spanish Point Technologies, Galvia, Manna Drone Delivery, EVERYANGLE, Ardanis Technologies Limited, Provizio, Chirp, Coroflo, VRAI, W4 Games, RDI Hub Company, Equal1, Binarii Labs, Oblivious, Tracworx & Outmin.