AI, Digitisation Strategies Unveiled

Friday saw the presentation of Luxembourg's strategies for artificial intelligence (AI) and the continuous digitisation of priority economic sectors.

On 24 May 2019, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who is also Minister of Digitalisation, and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy Étienne Schneider presented the political guidelines for AI and the data-driven innovation strategy to support the emergence of a sustainable and trusted economy in the Grand Duchy.

The development of a strategic vision of AI in Luxembourg has become a national priority, intended to be beneficial to society and its citizens. In a data-driven society, AI is the channel through which countless amounts of data can be transformed into instantaneous exploitable responses. 

It is in this context that Prime Minister Xavier Bettel launched an inter-ministerial consultation process to define a strategic vision for AI in Luxembourg. This vision has three major ambitions: to make Luxembourg one of the most advanced digital companies in Europe and in the world, to create a sustainable, data-driven economy and to build a citizen-centred ("human centric") artificial intelligence. Indeed, this will not be a one-time strategy but is rather the first version of a political vision that will be regularly updated and redefined as needed.

This approach involves identifying in which areas Luxembourg can stand out at the global level. To this end, the government will look seriously and critically on the role it wants to give to AI in society. According to Xavier Bettel: "As a diverse and innovative nation, we will determine the impact this technology will have on human rights, the lives of citizens and our democratic values. Artificial intelligence is ready for its exploitation. It's up to us to determine what the implications will be".

Taking into consideration technologies such as AI, big data, robotics or the Internet of Things, the data-driven innovation strategy supports the digital transformation of priority economic sectors: the manufacturing industry 4.0, logistics, environmental technologies, health technologies, the space industry and financial services. The field of information and communication technologies (ICT) is considered the transversal driver of the digital transformation of these sectors that have been actively developed for more than ten years in order to further diversify the national economy. Development in all these sectors has a common characteristic: data analysis should revolutionise their current business models and at the same time create new business opportunities.

Defined by the Ministry of the Economy, the strategy of innovation describes on 47 pages for each of the economic sectors targeted the general context as well as the current situation and proposes concrete actions to be implemented to increase productivity and ensure their development in a data economy. The proposed measures are divided into three areas: strengthening the digital infrastructure, supporting businesses to integrate innovative digital technologies and creating a legal and financial environment that encourages the data economy.