Norway Increases Investment in Artificial Intelligence Research by One Billion NOK
The Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the Minister of Research and Higher Education of Norway Sandra Borch announces new AI investment
This article is a translation of the announcement from the Norwegian Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Education and Research made on the 7th of September.
Technological development is rapid, and digital security is changing. The government is now setting aside one billion kroner to go towards research into artificial intelligence and digital technology.
“Artificial intelligence and machine learning are going to change society in ways we still don’t understand or can control. Strengthening the research effort is crucial for us to ensure that development takes place in a way that is in line with our values as a society,” says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
The government is increasing research efforts in the field by at least NOK one billion over the next five years. The research billion will contribute to greater insight into the consequences of technological development for society. It will also provide more knowledge about new digital technologies and opportunities for innovation in business and the public sector. The venture is financed within the framework of the Ministry of Education.
Here we are betting broadly. We must research and develop the technology itself, but it is at least as important to understand the consequences for people and society. This means that we must mobilize for research and innovation in a number of subject areas. Norway is one of the most digitized countries in the world, and we have a unique starting point for success. But we need more research, more innovation and more competence to get the new technologies into use,” says Research and Higher Education Minister Sandra Borch.
The research effort will have three main tracks:
- Research into the consequences of artificial intelligence and other digital technology for society. Central themes will be democracy, trust, ethics, economy, legal certainty, legal regulations, privacy, teaching and learning, art and culture.
- Digital technologies as a research area in itself, i.e. research into artificial intelligence, digital security, next-generation ICT, new sensors and quantum technology.
- Research into how digital technologies can be used for innovation in business and the public sector and how artificial intelligence can be used in research in many different subject areas.
The research and innovation initiative will have great significance for Norwegian society. In the face of the biggest challenges, it is particularly important that we mobilize together. The government must do our part of the job, allocate the necessary resources and point out the direction. Then we will jointly shape this major investment, says Støre.
Looking at new measures in the work with digitalisation
The government is also starting major work across ministries and sectors to look at measures for expertise, datasets and infrastructure for research and innovation on and with the future of data processing. The work is a follow-up to the long-term plan for research and higher education and will be seen in connection with the government’s other work on digitalisation.
