European AI platform launches with EUR 20m EU funding
Image by Alejandro Zorrilal Cruz
(BARCELONA) - The EU's AI4EU artificial intelligence project officially launched Thursday with a view to mobilising Europe's AI community to build the first European on-demand Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform.
AI4EU brings together 79 top research institutes, SMEs and large enterprises in 21 countries to build a focal point for artificial intelligence (AI) resources, including data repositories, computing power, tools and algorithms.
The AI4EU project will offer services and provide support to potential users of the technology, help them test and integrate AI solutions in their processes, products and services.
The project is being led by the French company Thales, and receives a total funding of EUR 20 million over the next 3 years. The platform will be set up in the course of 2019.
The open and collaborative AI platform will also provide upskilling and reskilling courses. The AI4EU project team will work closely with the Digital Innovation Hubs for robotics and the future network of AI excellence centres to further facilitate access to AI technology.
"Europe can only reap the full benefits of AI innovations if this technology is easily usable by all," said Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip and Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel: "The AI4EU project will help bring AI to small businesses, non-tech companies and public administrations across Europe."
Overall the Commission is increasing its investment in research and innovation in AI to EUR 1.5 billion for the period 2018-2020 under the Horizon 2020 programme.
Total public and private investments in the EU should reach at least EUR 20 billion by the end of 2020. Building on its strategy, the Commission presented in December a coordinated plan to foster cooperation with EU Member States, Norway, and Switzerland in four key areas: increasing investment, making more data available, fostering talent and ensuring trust. More information is available online.