Project: Visegrad Intelligence – the state of AI in V4
Digital economic transformation is driven by megatrends such as AI-supported automation and robotization. It should not be seen as a threat, but as an opportunity for the CEE and V4 countries to modernize national economies, raise wages, and overall welfare.
The project conducted by the Institute of Politics and Society together with partners and supported by the aims to map and review existing AI policies, R&D centres and strategies in V4. Based on that it will formulate recommendation for policies and joint V4 projects in the field. It will thus help better coordinate resources and policies, avoid duplicities and formulate joint statements on regional (EU) and global level (UN, OECD)
Together we stand, divided we fall
Visegrad group countries have huge research and business potential in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Yet, when acting on their own, they can neither implement globally relevant commercial projects, nor can they properly prepare for the political and economical impact of AI on our societies.
To fully utilize this opportunity countries need to invest in and cultivate innovation. Unlike Lisbon or Stockholm, none of V4 major cities are listed in global rankings of startup hubs. V4 needs strong ecosystem based on AI and high-performance computing. Both technologies are the cornerstones of the Digital Agenda for Europe 2021 – 2027. V4 requires right policies, regional R&D cooperation and strategic international partnerships.
Some coordination takes place in the EU, e.g. via Strategies Smart Specialisation (RIS3). They build on the assets and resources available in specific regions. However they need more calibrating among V4 countries. Few steps to strengthen cooperation were outlined in the 2017 Warsaw and 2018 Budapest Declarations. On operational level, a good start is the Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Innovation that V4 signed with Israel. Still, V4 needs more common AI projects, both in R&D and policy, to remain competitive and better prepare for AI future, which will affect young generations.
Improved AI policy
This project aims at a more efficient and impactful use of intellectual capacity, infrastructure and financial resources, which are now separately streamlined to innovation and AI in all four countries. To achieve that, the Group first needs to know what is available. Only then, better policies, innovation programs and collaboration can be implemented.
Public policy and R&D efforts are scattered among too many public and private stakeholders. First, public and private R&D centres work on similar projects. Second, politicians only slowly start to reflect the political importance of AI. It will change the structure of labor markets and supply chains, which by itself is a regional issue. AI will also shift power globally.
The mission of the Institute is to improve policy making by means of supporting professional and open discussion among independent experts, government representatives and politicians. Thereby it creates a living platform that identifies key political and economic challenges, analyzes their impact on society and offers evidence-based solutions. This project will enable us to better navigate in the needs of V4 partners in the area of innovation and AI. The mapping will be a helpful database of stakeholders, problems and existing regulation of artificial intelligence. The recommendations proposed as part of the project will help us and our partners to create more meaningful work agenda for the upcoming years.