Romania and Spain are joining three EU initiatives that aim to speed up the digitisation of Europe’s society and economy and boost European digital performance globally. Romania is due to sign the European Blockchain Partnership, the Declaration of Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Innovation Radar, while Spain will join the Innovation Radar.
The Innovation Radar focuses on helping high-potential innovations developed within the FP7, CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme) and Horizon 2020 funding programmes to reach the market. On 10 April 2018 at the Digital Day in Brussels, the Commission also launched an Innovation Radar data-driven online tool that provides public access to innovations and innovators supported by EU funding, and 17 EU countries signed a declaration to make use of it to promote innovative excellence nationally.
23 EU countries have previously joined the European Blockchain Partnership, a platform for exchanging experience and expertise in technical and regulatory fields and preparing for the launch of EU-wide blockchain applications across the Digital Single Market, for use in both the public and private sectors. 25 countries are already part of the Declaration of Cooperation on AI and have committed to working together on the key issues raised by AI, from ensuring Europe’s competitiveness in its research and deployment to dealing with social, economic, ethical and legal questions. On 25 April, the Commission also presented a Communication on “Artificial Intelligence for Europe”, which proposes a European approach to AI that focuses on staying ahead of technological developments, preparing for the socio-economic changes AI is likely to bring, and developing an appropriate legal and ethical framework.