Catalan Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (Catalonia.AI)
About this good practice
Department of Business of the Catalan Government, with the participation of other departments and agencies. The strategy aims at deploying a multi-sectoral, cross-cutting people-centred plan that prioritises sectors such as health, mobility, sustainability, productive economy, the agri-food sector, and public services. The strategy is designed under 6 axes: (1) ecosystem, to foster governance and stakeholder coordination; (2) research & innovation, to make use of the technology to foster R&D outcomes and competitiveness; (3) talent, to attract and keep experts to foster AI development in the country; (4) infrastructure & data, to ensure an appropriate and safe logistical framework; (5) AI adoption, to expand the role of AI within and outside the public administration; and (6) ethics & society, to ensure that AI developments meets the societal needs respecting values, legal aspects, and international standards. The strategy serves as a roadmap for AI in Catalonia, which all actions, initiatives and programmes relating to AI must take into consideration; additionally, the different governments are to follow its strategic indications and guidelines. The strategy is based on the logic that any action is to be carried out jointly by public and private sectors, academia, R&I centres, and other bodies to ensure an ethical development of artificial intelligence, translating into a social and economic improvement for the country and its citizens.
Resources needed
The strategy is developed throughout several programmes and initiatives which adapt to the economic/societal needs, as well as the technology's developments, with evolving budgets. The main technical resources foreseen in the strategy are those based on staff and infrastructures for AI projects.
Evidence of success
Since the approval of the strategy, over 5 years ago, AI has experienced a major development worldwide. In this context, progress has been major. Examples include the AINA project, which is based on AI models the integration of Catalan in AI for business; the AI accelerator programme, to attract and retain AI experts and develop new companies in this domain; or the LabORA initiative, which merges AI and robotics to identify socio-health needs and develop new technologies to address those.
Potential for learning or transfer
The strategy can be of reference for other public administrations in territories with characteristics that assimilate to the Catalan context. The strategy may especially serve of guidance for regions and countries where AI can be a tool to update traditional industries or those where there is a need to further develop technology and knowledge transfer to foster innovation, where AI becomes a key element.