The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European DIGITAL SME Alliance have come together to set up a focus group on AI which will shape policy and monitor the impact of AI adoption across the EU. We are excited to announce that Nightingale HQ have been selected to join the focus group, along with 100 other SMEs from across Europe.

Nightingale HQ CEO Steph Locke added "We are delighted to participate as an SME voice. AI has the ability to impact all aspects of our lives from social, economic and cultural perspectives, therefore it's important that we get policy right. We have been selected because of our high level of AI expertise and we will discuss key issues around AI and the challenges to AI adoption.".

Joining the group comes at a good time when the Commission is investing heavily in AI and has increased its annual investment by 70%, bringing it up to €1.5 billion between 2018 and 2020. The aim of this investment is to:

• Strengthen and connect AI research centres across Europe;
• Support the development of an “AI-on-demand” platform, providing access to EU resources for users;
• Support the development of AI applications in key sectors.

Recently elected leader of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen has promised to deliver on AI legislation. She recognises that AI opens up a new world and that it is important that this world has rules. In addition, she has declared a large portion of the EU's €750 billion Covid-19 recovery fund will be spent on digital projects, with a key focus on industrial data, AI and infrastructure.

The focus group will generate valuable feedback and help define the current state of adoption, use and impact of AI and other emerging technologies. Over the following 3-5 years, they will help to build a better understanding of AI in society.

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