Artificial intelligence (AI) and the promotion of digitalisation in all sectors will be the main topics of a video conference held by digitally advanced EU countries on Monday 22 June 2020. Finland will be represented by Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. Denmark will host the meeting.
“The international competitive situation requires the creation of a responsible environment where people-oriented innovations and investments can be made for the development of artificial intelligence and digitalisation,” says Minister Lintilä.
The meeting aims to find solutions to speed up the development and introduction of AI and to discuss the development of AI at the European level. The successful development and introduction of AI is estimated to increase the total output in the EU by one-fifth by 2030.
"As a result of the coronavirus crisis, the EU’s need to invest in reliable and safe AI across sectoral boundaries has increased," the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment stressed in a press release.
A regulatory framework
The meeting will discuss the Commission’s initiatives to outline a regulatory framework and policy measures to advance investment in AI research and innovation, to improve competence and to promote the utilisation of AI in small and medium-sized enterprises. "Another important objective is to strengthen citizens’ trust in AI and services using it.," the Finnish government says.
D9+ is a ministerial group of digitally advanced EU countries that promotes the utilisation, implementation and sharing of best practices of digitalisation. In addition to Finland, the group includes Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Finland ranks among the top EU countries in digital skills.
The European Commission evaluates the digital capacity of the EU countries and its development with the annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). DESI monitors digitalisation in the EU countries in five areas: connectivity, human capital (including digital skills), use of internet services by citizens, integration of digital technology by businesses, and digital public services.
In the latest Digibarometer, Finland ranked second after Denmark.
