The European Commission has unveiled a series of measures aimed at supporting start-ups and European SMEs with developing AI that ‘respects EU values and rules’. It follows the provisional agreement of the new EU AI Act.

The proposals seek to implement a clear strategy for boosting innovation and support for start-ups whilst aligning the development of AI with the rules contained in the EU AI Act. 

Setting up AI factories

The Commission will establish AI Factories to provide AI startups and researchers with access to three key resources or ‘pillars’: AI-dedicated supercomputers, data storage facilities, and supercomputing services. The supercomputers will enable the training of AI models on large-scale data sets, which will be stored and shared in data centres connected to the Common European Data Spaces. The supercomputing services will offer programming, algorithmic support, testing, evaluation, and validation support for AI development.  

AI Office

A new AI Office will be created with a broad remit to oversee the strategic approach to AI and supervise policy and regulatory activities in Europe. Additionally, the AI Office will supervise the implementation and enforcement of the forthcoming EU AI Act. The AI Office will sit within the Commission and will have an important role to play in collaborating with key stakeholders to shape the EU’s approach to the development of trustworthy AI. 

Other initiatives

Further, the Commission has adopted a communication which explains the Commission's own strategic approach to the use of AI and outlines additional support measures for startups. 

It has committed to creating clear guidelines for users, developers, or procurers of AI on how to put AI systems into operation.  

Additional support packages include financial support through Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme and encourages public and private investments through initiatives like the EIC Accelerator programme. The GenAI4EU initiative is aimed at supporting the development of novel use case and emerging applications in Europe’s 14 industrial ecosystems.

The announcement of support will be encouraging to SMEs and startups. The fact that the timing of the announcement is so close to the adoption of the EU AI Act is unlikely a coincidence and it remains to be seen whether this package of measures allays concerns over the EU AI Act's potential impact on innovation through alleged overregulation.

The Commission’s press release with further details can be found here. The adopted communication outlining the additional support can be found here.

This article was written by Liz Smith and Sam Efiong

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