Germany to invest €5 billion to strengthen its Artificial Intelligence Strategy and support private

BERLIN, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Recently, the German government decided to make revisions to the 2018 version of the national Artificial Intelligence Strategy in light of the changing situation in the past two years and the real needs brought about by the new crown epidemic, among others, and plans to increase funding for artificial intelligence (AI) from 3 billion euros to 5 billion euros by 2025 through an economic stimulus and future package.

　　The task of updating the AI Strategy was carried out jointly by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The update, which is also the result of seven expert forums, focuses on current developments in the field of AI and covers areas such as research and expertise, transfer and application, regulatory frameworks and society, sustainability, environmental and climate protection, the fight against pandemics and international and European networks will be the focus of new initiatives.

　　Specific elements include: training, recruiting and retaining more AI experts in Germany; establishing efficient and transparent research structures with the most modern AI/computing infrastructure; creating an internationally attractive AI ecosystem based on excellent research and transfer structures to accelerate the application of research results in operational practice, especially in SMEs; creating safe and reliable AI systems that strengthening the framework for innovative and human-centred AI applications in Germany and Europe; supporting civil society to network and participate in the development and use of AI, etc.

　　With a strong programme and more investment in AI, we will ensure the innovative strength of tomorrow and the competitiveness of today," said German Federal Minister of Economics and Energy Peter Altmaier (12.420, -0.13, -1.04%). The key is to improve the transfer of research results to practical applications and to initiate the widespread use of AI among SMEs. We are therefore expanding our AI train-the-trainer programme. In response to the challenge of the new crown crisis, we will fund crisis management and preparedness for AI as part of the AI innovation race. For safe AI systems, we will be expanding a relevant institute under the German Aerospace Centre."

　　For her part, German Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Kalicek emphasised, "We want Germany to be the most attractive AI research centre in the world, attracting the brightest minds from all over the world. This is why we are supporting new AI professorships and young scientists through various programmes. We want to make Germany the main innovation driver for future AI technologies in Europe, to ensure that the EU can hold its own in the face of fierce international competition and to set global standards in the future. It is important that we increase Europe's technological sovereignty in future areas such as AI."