The European Commission (EC) has published their new Data and AI strategy, which sets out plans to expand Europe’s technological and AI capacities. The whitepaper ‘White Paper on Artificial Intelligence: a European approach to excellence and trust’ outlines the institution’s plan to develop an “ecosystem of excellence” and an “ecosystem of trust.” The idea is to create a legal framework that would address the risks for fundamental rights and safety related to AI, all the while introducing initiatives to support and facilitate the adoption of the technology.

The EC’s whitepaper on the proposed AI and data strategy is the first part of the EU’s new digital strategy, which aims for people and businesses in the region to fully benefit from technology, all the while helping to achieve the target of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The EC wants to expand the region’s super-computing capacity and develop a vibrant start-up ecosystem.

The European Commission highlighted a seven-point policy action plan:

1. Establishing a world-leading artificial intelligence computing and data infrastructure in Europe.
2. Federating knowledge by reinforcing European excellence centres for artificial intelligence.
3. Supporting research and innovation by setting up a ‘Leaders Group’ to stay at the forefront and create new markets.
4. Fostering the uptake of artificial intelligence by strengthening the Digital Innovation Hubs. The Digital innovation Hubs will support key sector such as healthcare, including artificial intelligence for health imaging, genomics, testing medicines and medical devices.
5. Ensuring access to finance for artificial intelligence innovators. A pilot scheme will be launched to provide equity financing for artificial intelligence and blockchain innovative developments.
6. Ensuring access to data for EU businesses and the public sector is of the outmost importance.
7. The European Commission is willing to develop a common European data spaces in order to redress the problem of data access.

President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen commented: “This digital Europe should reflect the best of Europe – open, fair, diverse, democratic, and confident … and must protect and empower citizens, businesses and society as a whole.”

The EC is inviting stakeholders to comment on its AI and data whitepaper until 19^th May 2020.