Omina Technologies is a proud member of the European Digital SME Focus Group on AI, which was launched in April 2020.
The mission of this Focus Group is to form a network of AI Innovators in Europe that will develop joint activities and positions. The focus group provides SMEs a voice in the European policy on AI.
Yornank Ivanova explained that the European Commission has 2 streams of work:
1) White paper on AI – A European approach to excellence and trust, aiming to develop both a European approach to excellence (Digital Innovation Hub per member state, help SMEs to get equity funding, support testing and experimentation, etc.) and a European approach to trust. A position paper by Digital Europe states the importance of increasing access to funding, know-how and talent through cooperation between SMEs and the need to support SMEs by investing in digital infrastructure, connectivity and improving access to computing resources.
2) A European strategy to data aiming to increase the availability of data: Common European Data Spaces: create a single market for data, where data from public bodies, businesses and citizens can be used safely and fairly for the common good.
Yornank Ivanova announced two actions that the European Commission is doing as follow
up to the European White Paper on AI:
1)The EC is now drafting a horizontal legal framework, with some tailoring to particular use cases. A first draft of this legal framework is expected in early 2021!
2) The commission is analyzing the public consultation results and preparing an impact assessment. The public consultation reveals that the two main concerns are breaching fundamental rights and discriminatory outcomes.
Open calls for SME Funding:
EUHubs4Data: first call expected in December 2020
Digital Europe Program: starts in 2021
Here are the results of the European DIGITAL SME Alliance on AI poll amongst European SMEs on AI use and impacts, a comparison between the May and November polls.
Sources of innovation: more traction for academic research, less trust in internal R&D.
Main applications of AI: Machine Learning still, Natural language and robotics lost a bit, multi-agent systems gained importance.
Main reasons to apply AI for your clients: improve predictions and reduce costs remain important, manage data became more important, manage assets lost a bit.
Resources and barriers to AI innovation: access to data and access to funding remained the two most important concerns, increased concern w.r.t. access to affordable IT and complying with the regulatory framework.
