The first EU AI strategy was introduced by the EU Coordinated Plan on AI in 2018. The ambition was to make EU a world-class hub for AI and ensuring that AI is human-centric and trustworthy. In the plan all EU member states were encouraged to produce national AI strategic plans. The EU AI strategy also sat the path for how AI initiatives should be integrated in the coming Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programmes (2021-2027) as well as for AI Act drafted in 2021 and approved by the EU Parliament December 2023. Following this recommendation the Nordic countries each developed their national AI strategies, reflecting their unique approaches and priorities in AI development. In some cases, the first national strategies have been updated with more specific sector-oriented strategies. Several countries are also preparing new digital strategies. See Annex 2 for a more detailed description of the national AI strategies.
Finland's AI Strategy (2017, 2018, 2020)
Finland's approach emphasizes business competitiveness through efficient data use, rapid AI adoption, and developing top-tier expertise. The strategy also stresses AI's role in public services and security preparedness, aiming to establish Finland as an AI leader. This strategy balances technological innovation with ethical considerations, aiming to leverage AI for economic growth and societal advancement. The Finnish AI strategy was further elaborated and updated in 2018 and in 2020.
Sweden's AI Strategy (2018)
Sweden’s AI strategy is broad and emphasises utilizing AI for societal and economic gains. It prioritizes education, training, and research in developing AI competencies and addresses concerns like data bias, transparency, and ethical AI usage. The strategy encourages cross-sector collaboration to enhance Swedish competitiveness and welfare, aiming to use AI responsibly and innovatively. In December 2023 the Swedish government initiated an AI commission in order to strengthen Swedish competitiveness.
Denmark's AI Strategy (2019)
Denmark's strategy is comprehensive, positioning the country as a leader in ethical and responsible AI development. It focuses on enhancing AI capabilities in the business sector and public services, underlining a commitment to ethical principles and digital competencies. Key goals include increasing AI investment, especially in healthcare and transportation, embodying Denmark's vision of balancing technological progress with ethical considerations for societal welfare.
Norway's AI Strategy (2020)
Norway’s AI strategy emphasizes the use of AI for economic growth and societal benefits focusing on ethical and human-centric AI development. It tackles issues like data privacy, bias, and transparency. The strategy promotes AI integration across sectors such as healthcare, energy, and public administration, highlighting the need for digital competencies, innovation, infrastructure and cybersecurity. Norway seeks to balance technological advancement with ethical considerations, aspiring to be a leader in responsible AI usage.
Iceland (2021)
Iceland's policy on Artificial Intelligence was published in 2021 but without an English version. The policy's key objectives are to build and maintain a strong ethical basis for the development and use of AI, based on good knowledge of the technology while understanding the security challenges it entails.
Other Nordic Countries
The Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland do not have distinct AI strategies. Science policy is within the sovereign policy domain in case of Greenland and the Faroe Island. However, these countries have been consulted with in the course of the work with this paper, and they report that they are following the development of AI and are interested in participating in Nordic cooperation in this area.
Summary
Some common threads in the national strategies include the recognition of the potential of AI for economic growth, innovation, and increased competitiveness. There is a desire to use AI to benefit various sections of society, such as the welfare and public sectors. The strategies also emphasise the importance of fostering and attracting skillsets and competencies to enable the capitalisation and development of responsible AI and minimise risks and harmful consequences. Investments in research and innovation and improving data and infrastructure is also a common feature.