During strategy period 2013-16, the department has profiled itself in three main areas: machine learning and algorithms, data networks and services, and software systems. In research, the following key areas will be emphasized in the strategy period:

• algorithms theory and new computation paradigms,
• 'big data',
• computational creativity,
• neuroinformatics,
• data security,
• ubiquitous computing and interactive technologies, and
• development of software systems, coaching developers, and software measurement.

Machine learning and algorithms. The research includes method development and applications in modern data analysis: machine learning, data mining, information-theoretical modelling, and computational creativity. At the department, this research is concentrated to the Algodan Centre of Excellence and Helsinki Institute for Information Technology. This research has a strong application field in the data analysis of biological data, which is also one of the focal areas of research of the whole faculty. In addition to that, some research groups of the department are participating in three other centres of excellence: Cancer Genetics Centre of Excellence,  Computational Inference Centre of Excellence (COIN), and Inversion Problems Centre of Excellence.

Networking and services. The research pertains to networked systems and their premises: middleware (including service and application platforms, management of middleware, trust, and safety), mobility (independence of device and location, wireless communications), information networks, service networks, context-awareness, ubiquitous computing and interaction research. This area combines the department's traditional research into wireless and mobile computing with new emerging research themes on interactive systems and ubiquitous computing.

Software systems. The main challenge in the research on software systems is how we can develop large and complicated software systems to fullfill the requirements and expectations put onto them. The focus of the software research at the department is on empirical software engineering, especially its certain subareas like requirement management and understanding of user needs, software architectures, variability modelling and management, software measurement, and rationalisation of software development.

Nearly 30 research groups are working in these focal areas at the department.

One of the teaching and research laboratorities at the department is the Software Factory.

Photographer: Veikko Somerpuro