Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data and Robotics are examples of areas where Europe needs a comprehensive plan to maintain a global lead – in business and research. These are defining technologies which are increasingly important for our economy (across all sectors), but that will also significantly influence our society. Europe’s future is dependent on strong, technological capability and capacity to support European values, to improve current business and to create new business. 

Europe has a vision: leading the world in human-centric and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, Data and Robotics, compatible with European Values and Rights. As mentioned by the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen during her recent State of the Union speech, “Europe must now lead the way on digital – or it will have to follow the way of others, who are setting these standards for us. This is why we must move fast” and this is especially important in the areas of Data and Artificial Intelligence .

To achieve this vision, the Big Data Value Association (BDVA), the Confederation of Laboratories of Artificial Intelligence in Europe (CLAIRE), the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), the European Association for Artificial Intelligence (EurAI) and the European Robotics Association (euRobotics) have joined forces in building up an effective innovation ecosystem and driving excellent research in Europe. In collaboration with the European Commission and building on the foundation of the current Big Data Value Partnership (BDV PPP) and the Partnership for Robotics in Europe (SPARC), a new Partnership has emerged: the Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data and Robotics Partnership. This is one of the Horizon Europe proposed co-programmed European Partnership targeting user industries, public sector and society at large.

This Partnership will drive innovation, uptake and acceptance by building on the opportunities these technologies offer. It will support research, development and deployment, foster novel applications and stimulate public and private investment, to create economic, technological and societal value for business, citizens and the environment. It will build bridges between stakeholders that enable a human-centric and trustworthy European vision of AI to flourish 

Today, BDVA, CLAIRE, ELLIS, EurAI and euRobotics are pleased to announce the official release of the Joint Strategic Research Innovation and Deployment Agenda (SRIDA) for the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership, which is available here. In their work on the joint SRIDA, the five organisations consulted broadly with industry, associations, research groups and scientists across Europe through surveys, workshops and requests for written contributions.

Building on the previous release (SRIDA Second Consultation Release, September 2019), the joint SRIDA contains numerous updates and notably three specific “Deep Dive” sections for Artificial Intelligence, Data and Robotics research, as well as an updated list of innovation challenges that Europe needs to tackle soon. It also provides more details on the Investment Areas (IA) and on the possibilities for collaboration with other partnerships, initiatives and communities under Horizon Europe. Furthermore, indicates new business opportunities. This SRIDA will guide the activities of the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership from January 2021 onwards and it will ensure that this initiative achieves its vision “to boost European competitiveness, societal wellbeing and environmental aspects to lead the world in researching, developing and deploying value-driven trustworthy AI, Data and Robotics based on fundamental European rights, principles and values”

As Thomas Hahn, President of BDVA, lead entity of the partnership, put it: “This Partnership will federate and cohere the communities that underpin European AI, Data and Robotics. It will stimulate private investment and orient public funding to address the key challenges. Collaboration within the Partnership will deliver Europe’s vision for a human centric and trustworthy use of AI, Data and Robotics”.

You can find the third release of the SRIDA here.