The 1st AI & Big Data Innovation Summit: From Technology to Socially Beneficial Solutions
ABOUT
On 2 – 5 December, the Knowledge4Innovation Forum under the Patronage of the European Parliament hosted the first AI & Big Data Innovation Summit, as stakeholders, policy makers and entrepreneurs gathered to discuss issues at the forefront of the political debate on AI and big data developments.
As the new Commission took office on December 1 and its president Ursula Von der Leyen has promised to propose legislation to address the human and ethical implications of AI during her first 100 days in office, it was the right moment to discuss all aspects of an AI future, balancing a favorable environment for the advances and contributions that AI can and should make to our society, with the protection of basic human as well as social and economic values.
According to the European Commission itself, the challenge will be developing legislation that reflects European norms and values while also avoiding overregulation that might hinder innovation and investment, in other words, finding the right balance.
The first edition of the summit fostered a lively and necessary debate about reaching that balance, about the opportunity for Europe to become the global leader in AI and data driven innovations and how policy can support and if necessary, regulate its developments.
OVERVIEW OF THE EVENTS
The four-day event covered numerous debates on various aspects of AI and big data, including legislation, applications, ethics and human control and how the technology will transform industry, society, media and policy making.
The event was launched by the K4I Forum chair Maria da Graça Carvalho, followed by a high-level dinner that brought together a great variety of stakeholders and policy makers.
On Tuesday, 3 December, we kicked off the debate with a discussion on “Digitalisation in the Raw Materials Sector” in cooperation with EIT RawMaterials. Conference Sessions on the “Legislative Framework for AI in Europe” followed, as well as on “AI Initiatives, Strategies and Digital Innovation Hubs”, in cooperation with the Initiative for applied artificial intelligence.
The afternoon started with a discussion on the particular challenges AI startups face when it comes to regulation, funding and specific needs and support, in cooperation with EUTOP50 and knowco by collabwith and the day came to a close with a debate on “Photonics for Digital Sovereignty” by European Photonics Industry Consortium EPIC.
The third day of the Summit started with a discussion on a “European Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics” – a Breakfast Debate in cooperation with BDVA and euRobotics .
In the afternoon, we discussed together with The Data Science Initiative by The Municipality of The Hague on “How to Collaborate in Europe to Develop Artificial Intelligence for Peace, Justice and Security”.
Finally, we closed the Summit on its fourth and final day with a debate promoted by Cefic, ESTEP, EMIRI and A.SPIRE on “Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and European Upstream Industries”
All these topics have challenged thinking and created connections for furthering the development and impact of AI in Europe.
Stakeholders, entrepreneurs and professionals shared their views, knowledge and success stories creating a favorable habitat for inspiration on how to reach the new Commission’s ambitions and make Europe a global leader in AI.
Throughout the event it became obvious that in every domain of economy and society, understanding and controlling AI applications will be paramount in maintaining Europe’s competitive advantage and core values.
Preparations for the 11th European Innovation Summit: “Implementing Horizon Europe – From Policy to Impact”, have already started and we invite all innovation stakeholders to contribute to the discussions about making Horizon Europe a success.