Romania is actively shaping its future with National Strategic Framework for Artificial Intelligence (2023-2027), led by the Authority for the Digitisation of Romania. This initiative falls within the broader “Strategic Framework for the Adoption and Use of Innovative Technologies in Public Administration 2021-2027,” funded by the Operational Programme for Capacity 2014-2020. Implemented in collaboration with the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, the framework aims to integrate international strategies with national contexts to enhance public institutional efficiency and coordination. The primary objective is to align Romania’s digital technology adoption in the economy and society with international standards, ensuring respect for rights and promoting excellence and trust in AI. Complementing this strategic framework is Romania’s ongoing development of a National AI Strategy, spearheaded by the Ministry for Communications and Information Society. Since its inception in 2019, this strategy has involved extensive consultations with stakeholders across academia, public administration, and the general public, with adoption anticipated in early 2020.
In parallel, the Research Institute for AI of the Romanian Academy has launched a program to address the impact of ICT and AI on society. This initiative focuses on developing regulations aligned with EU standards, addressing ethical challenges, and advising society and authorities on the transformative effects of AI. This research program underscores human-centered values and fairness, aiming to ensure that AI development in Romania is both ethical and beneficial. Direct beneficiaries include higher education institutes, research labs, established researchers, the national government, and civil society, with an annual budget of less than 1 million euros.
Together, these initiatives reflect Romania’s commitment to harnessing AI for societal and economic advancement while ensuring ethical considerations and robust regulatory frameworks.
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