Digital cooperation Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Canada boosts quantum research funding

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has announced new funding to support the country’s quantum research ecosystem. The initiative aims to strengthen scientific capacity and innovation in the field.

According to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the funding will support researchers, projects and collaboration across institutions. It is intended to advance both fundamental research and applied development.

The programme also focuses on developing talent and building expertise, ensuring that researchers and students can contribute to the development of quantum technologies. This reflects a broader effort to sustain long-term growth in the sector.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada positions the funding as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce quantum capabilities and research leadership in Canada.

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Ghana expands AI skills with UN and the Government of Japan partners

The Ghanaian Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has launched a public-sector AI capacity development programme in collaboration with the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme. The initiative aims to strengthen digital skills across government institutions.

According to the Ministry, the programme is designed to equip public officials with knowledge of AI and its applications in governance. It focuses on improving decision-making and service delivery, drawing on experience from the UN and Japan.

Why does it matter?

The initiative includes training, practical sessions and policy discussions to support responsible adoption of AI technologies. It also aims to help institutions identify relevant use cases and implementation strategies.

The Ministry presents the interdisciplinary programme as part of broader efforts to advance digital transformation and strengthen institutional capacity in Ghana.

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OpenAI expands cyber defence programme with trusted access and industry partnerships

The US AI research and deployment company, OpenAI, has introduced an expanded cyber defence initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration across the cybersecurity ecosystem.

A programme, known as Trusted Access for Cyber, is designed to provide advanced AI capabilities to vetted organisations while maintaining safeguards based on trust, validation and accountability.

Such an initiative by OpenAI includes financial support through a cybersecurity grant programme, allocating resources to organisations working on software supply chain security and vulnerability research.

By enabling broader access to advanced tools, the programme seeks to support developers and smaller teams that may lack continuous security capacity.

A range of industry participants, including Cisco, Cloudflare and NVIDIA, are involved in testing and applying these capabilities within complex digital environments.

Public sector collaboration is also reflected through partnerships with institutions focused on evaluating AI safety and security standards.

The initiative reflects a broader approach to cybersecurity as a distributed responsibility, where public and private actors contribute to resilience.

It also highlights the increasing role of AI systems in identifying vulnerabilities and supporting defensive research across critical infrastructure and digital services.

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Google pushes partnerships to shape AI economic impact

A new initiative from Google highlights growing efforts to shape how AI will affect jobs and the wider economy.

Announced alongside a policy forum in Washington D.C., the programme brings together economists, policymakers and industry leaders to assess risks, identify knowledge gaps and support coordinated responses to technological change.

Fresh investment in research forms a central pillar of the strategy. Through its AI and Economy Research Program, Google is funding academic collaboration and global studies focused on labour markets, productivity and sector-specific transformation.

Partnerships aim to generate insights on AI’s impact on work, with the strongest results seen where it supports learning, reduces routine tasks and improves collaboration.

Workforce preparation represents a parallel priority. Google has already trained millions in digital skills and is expanding efforts through AI-focused certification programmes and a $120 million global fund for education initiatives.

New partnerships target practical applications, including training healthcare workers, expanding apprenticeships and equipping manufacturing employees with AI capabilities across multiple regions.

Long-term impact will depend on coordination between the public and private sectors. Google’s approach reflects a broader shift towards structured governance, combining investment, research and policy engagement to manage both opportunities and risks.

Outcomes will hinge on how effectively stakeholders align innovation with workforce readiness and economic resilience.

Growing investment in AI research and workforce training directly shapes how economies absorb technological change and whether workers benefit or fall behind. Without alignment, skills gaps, uneven adoption and regulatory uncertainty could limit AI’s potential and widen labour market inequalities.

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Canada and Finland set out sovereign technology and AI cooperation agenda

Canada and Finland have issued a joint statement setting out a new phase of bilateral cooperation focused on Arctic and maritime issues, defence and resilience, and advanced technologies, including sovereign technology, AI, quantum computing, and high-performance computing.

The statement says the two countries met in Ottawa to advance bilateral cooperation amid strategic competition and an emerging international order.

On technology, the statement welcomes a Canada–Finland joint statement on sovereign technology and AI cooperation, aimed at expanding collaboration on advanced technologies that deliver shared economic benefits.

It also says the two countries will deepen coordination to strengthen sovereign technology, grow capacity, and reduce dependencies in what it describes as an increasingly contested digital landscape. Finland’s participation in the Sovereign Technology Alliance is also to be explored.

The two governments also say they will collaborate on research and innovation in high-performance computing and AI, including support for AI adoption across industry and government and the identification of investment opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The statement adds that they will continue cooperation on network communication technologies that will underpin sovereign AI infrastructure and promote opportunities for their telecommunications industries through multilateral initiatives, including the Global Coalition on Telecommunications.

The text also refers to AI gigafactories, facilities designed to provide the computing power needed to develop, train, and deploy advanced AI models and applications. In that context, it welcomes the longstanding cooperation between Export Development Canada and Nokia and notes a memorandum of understanding signed this week to support Nokia’s efforts to build AI gigafactories.

Beyond AI, the statement says Canada and Finland will explore cooperation in quantum research, innovation, commercialisation, and workforce development, including through a Canadian quantum trade mission to Finland. It also links bilateral technology cooperation to critical minerals, trusted supply chains, and wider economic and security cooperation.

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Nigeria Customs Service begins AI training

The Nigeria Customs Service has begun a capacity development programme focused on AI-driven processes, according to an official social media post. The initiative aims to strengthen operational efficiency in key areas.

The Nigeria Customs Service stated that the training covers revenue generation, remittances and reconciliation processes. AI tools are being introduced to improve accuracy and streamline financial operations.

The programme is part of broader efforts to enhance technical skills within the service and align operations with evolving digital practices. It reflects a focus on improving internal systems and data management.

The Nigeria Customs Service positions the initiative as a step towards modernising customs processes and strengthening institutional capacity in Nigeria.

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South Korea deploys AI smart city pilots across Southeast Asia

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in South Korea has selected six pilot projects under the K-City Network Global Cooperation Program to deploy AI-based smart city models across Southeast Asia.

The initiative reflects efforts to extend tested domestic systems into international urban contexts.

Projects will be implemented in Brunei, Bacoor, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Surin and Penang, focusing on areas such as traffic optimisation, water management and disaster response. These pilots aim to assess the adaptability and performance of AI-enabled infrastructure in diverse environments.

The programme operates as a government-to-government cooperation mechanism, combining technical deployment with policy coordination. Selected projects were evaluated based on innovation, feasibility and potential for broader regional application.

By testing AI-driven urban systems in partner countries, the initiative by South Korea seeks to support digital transformation while contributing to more efficient, resilient and data-driven public services.

It also reflects wider trends in cross-border collaboration on smart city governance and infrastructure development.

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Azerbaijan advances digital diplomacy agenda

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan has highlighted the growing role of AI and digital technologies in diplomacy, according to an official publication. The discussion reflects wider efforts to modernise diplomatic practices.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan emphasised that digital tools are increasingly shaping communication, policy coordination and international engagement. AI is seen as part of this evolving diplomatic environment.

The publication underlines the importance of adapting institutional frameworks and skills to keep pace with technological changes such as AI developments. This includes strengthening digital capabilities within diplomatic services.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan presents these developments as part of broader efforts to integrate digital innovation into foreign policy in Azerbaijan.

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Hong Kong and China cyberspace authority sign AI and blockchain cooperation deal

The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, met the Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), Zhuang Rongwen, in Hong Kong to discuss cooperation in innovation and technology.

During the meeting, officials from the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and the CAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on innovation and technology development. The agreement covers areas including AI, cross-border data flow and blockchain.

The MOU aims to support the development of Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology centre. It also focuses on strengthening cybersecurity cooperation and promoting the digital economy through technological development.

Officials said the agreement aligns with China’s national development plans and supports Hong Kong’s integration into broader economic strategies. It also highlights plans to enhance international exchanges and technology-driven economic growth.

The Chief Executive said Hong Kong will continue to expand its role as a technology and investment hub under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework. The CAC said the partnership will support long-term innovation and development goals.

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World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit opens in Hong Kong

The 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit has opened in Hong Kong, hosted by the World Internet Conference, organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau.

The Hong Kong government says the two-day summit is expected to bring together around 1,000 participants from more than 50 countries and regions, including government and business leaders, representatives of international organisations, and experts and scholars.

The programme includes remarks by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and World Internet Conference Chairman and Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China Zhuang Rongwen, alongside other invited speakers from government, industry, and international organisations.

A ministerial meeting was convened during the summit, with officials and representatives of international organisations discussing topics including how AI can support high-quality economic growth. The programme also includes a government-enterprise dialogue and a main forum focused on the digital economy, innovation, and technology development.

Six sub-forums are scheduled as part of the summit, covering innovation and application of AI agents, digital finance, AI security and governance, AI for a better life, digital and intelligent health, and digital transformation and dissemination of classical texts.

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