Open letter:
the development of AI in Romania

This open letter represents a commitment through which actors from all areas of Romanian society (civil society, business, academic and governmental, professional associations, experts from the Romanian diaspora) propose to act to coagulate efforts to support the field of artificial intelligence (AI) ) for Romania, through a unitary, rigorous, coherent and transparent approach. The document aims at the initiation of unitary actions at the national level, as well as the development of partnerships at the European and global level.

An important objective is to accelerate the development of a fair, sustainable national AI system with a global impact, including by ensuring that the development of the AI field in Romania will be human-centered and will identify the ethical principles and values that promote respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.

We invite you to read the text of the declaration below or join the signatories using this link

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Who is it addressed to?

  • Experts, organizations and companies who want to participate responsibly and sustainably in the development of artificial intelligence in Romania.

  • Public decision-makers, with responsabilities relevant to digital transition, including those with roles in managing the risks related to the development and use of AI.

Expectations

  • Demararea unui set de inițiative comune, de tip whole of society la nivelul României prin care decidenții, consiliile și grupurile de lucru vor implementa acțiunile menționate în Declarație.
  • Declarația va continua sub forma unui document deschis, de orientare, ce va fi revizuit și adaptat la evoluția IA la nivel global și în România.

Preamble

Artificial Intelligence, the science and engineering that studies and creates intelligent systems, has become a disruptive force revolutionizing the entire society and economy globally. As a result of the ever-increasing availability of computing power, access to massive amounts of data and the technological advance of sensors, AI techniques create a major potential for automation, predictive analytics and human-machine interaction in all economic sectors.

Recent technological advances have put AI at the forefront of industrial innovation, making AI a powerful driver of digital transformation. Today, digital transformation and sustainability are the main drivers of industrial growth. It is estimated that AI could add more than €2.7 trillion to the European economy by 2030, helping to optimize production processes and increase economic productivity. Romania has directly contributed to the remarkable advances in the technological field in recent decades, but currently our country is among the last EU member states that have not developed and adopted a unified national strategy and approach in the field of AI – a technology that brings impact in all sectors of society and can significantly improve the lives of citizens.

We believe there is a major opportunity for Romania to develop a unified approach at the national level regarding AI, capitalizing on local human resources, top Romanian specialists from the Romanian diaspora, as well as the opportunity to develop a Romanian hub for AI. A whole of society vision will stimulate the participation of private, academic and civil society actors, contributing to joint action by state institutions.

The national and international context

We consider it urgent to create a single national agenda for AI, providing a national approach supported by academia, private and government. Of utmost importance is Romania’s alignment with relevant multilateral organizations, EU, NATO, UN, OECD, ITU, UNESCO, etc., as well as active involvement in the elaboration of their common positions;

Our country continues to train specialists in mathematics and AI. Romania’s human potential must be harnessed, which can lead to a significant capitalization of national advantages. The increase in the quality of the educational system and the training of AI specialists must be supported; digital and data literacy must take place from as young an age as possible;

At the same time, Romania must qualify its workforce and develop its research potential in order to maintain its economic competitiveness, in the context of the ethical use of AI. These efforts can be supported by collaborating with Romanian specialists from universities and global companies of caliber;

A systematic approach to AI and appropriate legislation is needed to ensure a predictable framework for the adoption of the technology and related investments, allowing for robust development and the involvement of all stakeholders;

Investments are needed in a comprehensive ecosystem focused on human resources, quality and accessible data in research, technological infrastructure, as well as global partnerships;

In recent years, multiple initiatives have appeared with the aim of advancing AI in Romania: educational projects, companies that use and/or develop AI systems and solutions, NGOs etc.

Selected examples:

  • The Repatriot AI Group’s initiative in developing a first iteration of the IA strategy. The group organized events to promote AI and collaboration among all stakeholders; the round table in March 2022 enjoyed the participation of the Prime Minister of Romania and the Deputy Secretary General of NATO;

  • The Romanian Association for Artificial Intelligence (ARIA), founded in 2011, is a non-profit scientific association dedicated to supporting AI research and the development of Romanian research and education in the field of AI.

Key areas of collaboration

Development of national capacity

  • Developing Romania’s technological and industrial capacity in the field of AI, increasing research, innovation, technological transformation and adoption processes, as well as improving access to public sector data;

  • Adapting to current social and economic challenges, such as transforming the labor market, modernizing education systems and ensuring a continuous flow of training in AI;

  • Ensuring the framework for the improvement and retraining of citizens, for increasing the level of AI skills at the level of the Romanian population and society.

Public policy

  • Ensuring an adequate legal framework, focused on increasing national competitiveness and based on fundamental rights and values, including human rights, democracy and the rule of law, respecting the confidentiality and responsible use of data, as well as the protection of personal data;

  • Corroboration of the AI Strategy with the strategies of related fields, such as research, digital education, cyber security, etc.

International impact

  • Alignment with the position of the European Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which emphasizes the importance of a coordinated and unitary (Act as One) and immediate (Act Now) approach, where trust is a necessity (MUST) and not just an option (Nice To Have);

  • Identification of international initiatives in the field of AI and Romania’s participation in those relevant for the development of the field of AI;

  • The use of AI to strengthen Romania’s position (AI Diplomacy) in international organizations such as (a) NATO (including the NATO Accelerator for Innovation – DIANA and the NATO Innovation Fund), (b) the OECD (including following the roadmap adopted in 2022), (c) Three Seas Initiative (3SI) and other relevant organizations.

Medium-term actions

Ensuring a national framework regarding the ethical use of AI solutions developed in Romania or abroad, in accordance with the approach of the AI Act, developed at the level of the European Union;

Prioritizing research-development-innovation funding, as well as AI production and implementation, including through technological transfer projects, spin-off projects and development projects in partnership with relevant companies in the field of AI at national and international level;

Leveraging the network of digital innovation centers (DIHs)/eDIHs at national level;

Cooperation in order to strengthen AI research centers, including through strategic partnerships between the Romanian AI Hub and other national institutes and hubs in the EU and globally;

Active participation in the exchange of views with other states regarding AI research agendas and strategies, including creating synergies in relevant R&D-innovation funding schemes;

Providing support for the open science model, ensuring the availability of AI in the public sector, for SMEs in non-technological sectors, etc.;

Dissemination of best practices in the adoption of AI in public administration and ensuring access to public sector data, including open data, improving research data reuse;

Ensuring an exchange of views on the ethical and legal aspects of AI, to ensure a responsible implementation of AI and measures that contribute to the trust of AI solutions, as well as an exchange of views on the impact of AI on the labor market and promoting best practices in capitalizing on positive aspects and mitigating negative ones;

Adopting measures in education and practical training regarding the necessary skills to allow citizens to benefit from AI, ensuring the expertise needs required by the jobs that will be created in the future, ensuring the principles of social inclusion;

Ensuring that people remain at the center of AI development, implementation and decision-making, while informing and evangelizing AI for general public understanding.

Short-term priorities

Romanian Committee for Artificial Intelligence (AIRomânia)

  • It will act as an umbrella entity for AI initiatives in Romania
  • It will have dynamic and flexible governance, coordinating the committees and commissions mentioned below and facilitating a formal framework for discussions with all key stakeholders.

AI Scientific and Ethics Council​

  • A scientific board composed of international and local top AI specialists and resaerchers;

  • It will propose and manage an AI research and development agenda based on a set of strategic priorities in basic and applied research as well as in the responsible use of AI.

Interinstitutional Commission for Romania’s AI Strategy

  • A national, joint commission operationalized by the Presidential Administration of Romania, which will coordinate the development of Romania’s AI strategy and the Action Plan for the implementation of the strategy at the national level;

  • The draft of a national AI strategy will be based on strategic elements such as: vision, major objectives, directions of action, ethics of using AI and related risks, responsible institutions and other relevant actors;

  • We consider of utmost importance the completion by the Authority for the Digitization of Romania of the project Strategic framework for the adoption and use of innovative technologies in the public administration 2021-2027 – solutions for the efficiency of the activity, ensuring support for the partner designated in the project, the Technical University of Cluj Napoca.

Romanian AI Hub

  • The creation of a national hub: a key initiative of MoRID, financed through the POCIDIF program as a strategic project (more than €52 million);

  • Governance will be ensured by a board of representatives of the academia, relevant companies and other key institutions;

  • It will enable collaboration between all stakeholders in the country and the diaspora.

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