Digital cooperation Archives | Page 3 of 230

EDIH Summit 2026 to focus on Europe’s AI implementation challenge

The EDIH Summit 2026 will take place in Brussels on 9 and 10 June, bringing together the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) network, EU institutions, Member States, AI infrastructures initiatives and innovation stakeholders. The event will focus on how Europe’s AI innovation ecosystem functions in practice.

The summit comes as the European Union increasingly shifts its focus from AI policymaking towards implementation and adoption. With the AI Act in force, the AI Continent Action Plan adopted, and the Apply AI Strategy underway, organisers say attention is turning to whether SMEs and public administrations can access infrastructure, expertise and practical support needed to adopt AI effectively.

Sessions will explore how European Digital Innovation Hubs connect organisations with other components of the EU AI innovation ecosystem, including AI Factories, Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) and regulatory sandboxes. Discussions will also address common tools, assessment frameworks, and approaches that can be scaled across regions and sectors.

The programme will also examine how support structures may need to evolve as generative and agentic AI reshape organisational requirements and expectations. The EDIH Summit will also examine the evolving role of EDIHs as AI experience centres, acting not only as access points but as guides within a changing technological and regulatory landscape.

Organisers said the summit is designed to encourage practical exchange, knowledge sharing and actionable outcomes. European Digital Innovation Hubs will be able to compare approaches, identify shared challenges, and contribute to discussions that will shape the network’s priorities for the year ahead.

Why does it matter?

As the European Union moves from developing AI regulations to encouraging widespread adoption, questions increasingly focus on implementation rather than policy design. Many SMEs and public administrations continue to face challenges accessing expertise, testing facilities, funding and trusted guidance for deploying AI solutions.

The EDIH Summit reflects the EU’s broader effort to build a connected AI ecosystem that links businesses and public-sector organisations with technical infrastructure, innovation support services and regulatory guidance. The discussions may help shape how Europe translates its AI ambitions into practical adoption and economic impact.

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Researchers develop AI governance tools for public health across the Global Majority

A research team led by Professor Jude Kong from the University of Toronto is developing new tools to monitor, assess, and govern the use of AI in public health across the Global Majority, with a particular focus on Africa.

The team, which includes Jake Effoduh, Jim Hinton, Abbas Yazdinejad, and Maral Niaz, has begun mapping how AI is being integrated into healthcare systems and infrastructure. The work focuses on identifying key actors, technologies and use cases, providing a clearer picture of how AI is becoming embedded in public health systems.

The next phase involves developing a dynamic dashboard designed to track AI systems and support evidence-based decision-making. Rather than relying solely on top-down governance frameworks, the team aims to co-develop tools that policymakers, civil society organisations, educators and practitioners can use in their own contexts.

In practice, this means creating tools that are not only technically robust but also socially legitimate and locally relevant. While strengthening AI literacy and governance capacity across the Global Majority, the initiative aims to empower policymakers with evidence-based insights, support civil society in understanding AI systems, and enable more informed and inclusive decision-making processes.

By bringing together expertise in technology, law, public policy and social impact, the project reflects the multidisciplinary nature of AI governance. The team will present its findings at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, during ITU’s Kaleidoscope sessions on Thursday, 9 July 2026, from 15:30 to 16:30.

Why does this matter in AI world?

AI for the Global Majority (AI4GM) is a joint initiative of the Geneva Graduate Institute, Microsoft and the International Telecommunication Union. The initiative supports research on how AI can benefit majority populations in areas including governance, education, health, finance, and digital innovation.

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EU and Kenya deepen cooperation on digital transformation and connectivity

The European Union and Kenya are deepening their strategic partnership on trade, digital transformation, and sustainable investment.

The commitments were set out in Brussels, where European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen welcomed Kenyan President William Ruto.

The Commission said the reinforced cooperation reflects Kenya’s role as a key EU partner in Africa and at the multilateral level.

Under the Global Gateway initiative, the EU and Kenya will support clean transport and trade facilitation along the Northern Corridor, a strategic route for East African trade.

Digital development is also central to the partnership. The two sides will support the rollout of high-speed connectivity to more than 3,000 public offices, schools, health centres, and digital hubs across Kenya.

The discussions also advanced cooperation under the EU-Kenya Strategic Dialogue and welcomed progress in the EU-Kenya data adequacy process. If completed, the adequacy process would facilitate safe data flows between the partners and support digital trade and innovation.

The EU said the assessment so far has been positive and that it intends to conclude the process as soon as possible.

Why does it matter?

The EU-Kenya partnership shows how digital infrastructure, connectivity, data flows, and trade facilitation are becoming central to international economic cooperation. The data adequacy process is especially important because it could create a trusted framework for cross-border data transfers, supporting digital trade, innovation, public services, and closer economic links between Kenya and the EU.

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Malaysian PM urges ethical AI development

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for AI development to be guided by humanity, ethics and moral values, arguing that technological progress should serve society and uphold human dignity.

Speaking during a special lecture at the University of Tokyo, Anwar said AI and other emerging technologies could transform economies, improve public services and enhance quality of life. However, he stressed that innovation should be shaped by strong ethical principles rather than technological capability alone.

According to Anadolu Agency, Anwar said AI development should be guided by justice, accountability and compassion. He added that governments, researchers and businesses share responsibility for ensuring that technology strengthens social cohesion and supports the common good.

The Malaysian prime minister also called for stronger international cooperation to manage the opportunities and risks linked to rapid technological change. He said countries should work together to promote inclusive and sustainable development while safeguarding ethical standards.

Why does it matter?

AI governance debates are increasingly moving beyond technical safety and economic competitiveness towards questions of values, accountability and public interest. Anwar’s remarks are not a new regulatory measure, but they reflect how governments in Asia are framing AI as a societal and diplomatic issue, with ethics, inclusion and international cooperation becoming recurring policy themes.

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RCC meeting focuses on AI, roaming and regional connectivity

The Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications and the CIS Coordination Council for Informatization held a joint meeting in St Petersburg on 5 June, bringing together communications officials, international organisations and industry representatives.

The meeting was chaired by Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, in his role as Chair of the RCC Board of Heads of Communications Administrations and the CIS Coordination Council.

Participants discussed preparations for the 2026 International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, the development of non-geostationary orbit communication systems, interstate roaming across RCC and CIS countries, IT parks, start-ups and regional cooperation in communications and information technologies.

AI was also among the key themes. Participants discussed the application of AI and the creation of a regional expert council on AI and digital technologies.

The meeting also addressed the establishment of a Regional Fund for the Development of the RCC Sovereign Digital Space and broader efforts to strengthen digitalisation and technological development across the region.

Representatives from ITU, the Universal Postal Union, the Eurasian Economic Commission, CIS bodies and other international organisations also took part. The next joint meeting is scheduled to September 2026 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Why does it matter?

The meeting shows how regional communications bodies are linking traditional telecom issues, such as roaming, satellite systems and IT parks, with newer digital policy priorities, including AI governance and sovereign digital infrastructure. The proposed regional expert council on AI and digital technologies is the strongest governance angle, while the RCC Sovereign Digital Space fund points to growing regional interest in digital autonomy and infrastructure coordination.

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EU launches digital energy system initiatives for data centres and AI grids

The EU policymakers and high-level industry representatives have launched two flagship initiatives to prepare the EU energy system for a more digitalised future.

The first initiative brings together data centre operators, the energy sector, and public authorities to support the sustainable integration of data centres into the EU energy system. In the presence of Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, 14 European associations signed a Declaration of Intent, while six companies signed a Declaration of Support indicating readiness to begin implementation.

The event also marked the launch of the AI.grids project, which will develop the EU sovereign AI models for energy grids. The project brings together 48 partners, including grid operators and research institutes, to improve grid management and planning.

Both initiatives coincide with the Commission’s Tech Sovereignty Package, published on the same day. The package includes a Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the energy sector, aimed at preparing the future energy system and supporting the deployment of AI solutions across the energy value chain.

Why does it matter?

The initiatives show how AI infrastructure and energy policy are becoming increasingly interconnected. Data centres are expanding rapidly as demand for AI computing grows, while electricity grids need more advanced digital tools to manage decentralised generation, demand, and resilience. By linking data centre sustainability with the EU sovereign AI models for grid management, the Commission is treating digitalisation as both a pressure on the energy system and a tool for managing it.

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Japan and US deepen AI science collaboration under Genesis Mission

Japan and the United States are expanding cooperation on AI-enabled scientific research, with Japan reported to become the first international partner in the US-led Genesis Mission.

The five-year initiative is expected to mobilise around $1 billion, with funding reportedly split between the two governments. The collaboration will focus on using AI to accelerate research in advanced fields, including quantum technologies, nuclear fusion, biotechnology, and other strategically important areas.

The Genesis Mission is a US Department of Energy initiative designed to use AI, scientific datasets, national laboratories, universities, and industry partners to accelerate discovery science, energy innovation, and national security research.

Japan’s participation builds on earlier cooperation between the US Department of Energy and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on AI-enabled scientific discovery, high-performance computing, and quantum technologies.

Joint projects are expected to involve US national laboratories and Japanese research institutions, including RIKEN and the University of Tokyo. The collaboration is also expected to support AI and robotics-powered autonomous laboratories capable of conducting experiments with limited human intervention.

The partnership reflects a broader shift towards AI for Science, where AI systems are used to generate hypotheses, analyse complex data, automate research workflows, and shorten development timelines in frontier research fields.

Why does it matter?

The collaboration shows how AI for Science is becoming part of strategic technology competition and international research diplomacy. By linking AI, high-performance computing, quantum technologies, fusion, and biotechnology, Japan and the United States are trying to accelerate scientific discovery while strengthening technological leadership in fields with economic, security, and industrial importance.

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EU proposes Chips Act 2.0 to strengthen semiconductor ecosystem

The European Commission has proposed Chips Act 2.0, a new framework intended to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem and build on the original European Chips Act.

The proposal aims to boost the EU’s competitiveness, technological sovereignty, and resilience while improving crisis preparedness in semiconductor supply chains. It forms part of the Commission’s wider European Technological Sovereignty Package, alongside the Cloud and AI Development Act, an Open Source Strategy, and a roadmap for digitalisation and AI in the energy sector.

The Commission says the EU remains structurally dependent on third countries for semiconductor design and manufacturing, including advanced and leading-edge chips needed for AI. It also points to gaps in crisis preparedness, noting that existing mechanisms rely heavily on voluntary information sharing outside crises and do not provide sufficient, timely supply-chain intelligence.

Chips Act 2.0 would support both mainstream and advanced semiconductors, including AI chips. Measures are expected to include stronger research and innovation support, faster permitting, supply-chain information tools, Semiconductor Regions of Excellence, skills investment, strategic projects, and innovation procurement.

The proposal also places greater emphasis on demand-side measures, including support for public procurement and industrial uptake of European semiconductor technologies. The Commission argues that stronger local demand can reinforce local supply, shorten supply chains, and better align European production capacity with the needs of strategic sectors.

The initiative complements the EU’s broader technological sovereignty agenda. The Commission says Chips Act 2.0 should help reduce strategic dependencies, improve security of supply, support industrial scale-up, and strengthen Europe’s role in semiconductor technologies needed for AI, cloud, defence, automotive, energy, and other critical sectors.

Why does it matter?

The Chips Act 2.0 shows how the EU is shifting from an emergency response to the global chip shortage to a broader semiconductor industrial strategy. The proposal links chip policy directly to AI competitiveness, cloud infrastructure, defence, energy, automotive supply chains, and technological sovereignty. Its emphasis on demand-side measures also matters: Europe is not only trying to attract semiconductor production, but also to create stronger domestic markets for European chip technologies.

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India and South Africa deepen cooperation on AI and emerging technologies

India and South Africa have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in emerging technologies, with AI, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing identified as key areas for future collaboration.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between India’s Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, and South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina. Both sides emphasised the need to expand traditional scientific cooperation into innovation-driven partnerships aimed at delivering economic and societal benefits.

Discussions covered biotechnology, genomics, vaccine development, health technologies, renewable energy, hydrogen, advanced manufacturing and digital innovation. The two countries also explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in quantum technologies, geospatial technologies and digital infrastructure.

The meeting reaffirmed the long-standing scientific relationship between the two countries and concluded with a commitment to strengthen innovation ecosystems through research collaboration, startup partnerships, technology deployment and industry engagement.

Why does it matter?

India and South Africa are among the leading technology and innovation hubs in the Global South. Expanding cooperation in AI, digital infrastructure, healthcare and advanced manufacturing could help accelerate technological development while fostering greater knowledge exchange and investment opportunities.

The partnership also reflects a broader trend of emerging economies seeking to strengthen innovation ecosystems and reduce reliance on technology supply chains and platforms concentrated in a small number of countries.

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OpenAI advocates for global action on youth AI safety

OpenAI has called for stronger international action on youth AI safety, including the creation of a dedicated institute to support common evidence, guidance, and safeguards for young users.

Ahead of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian, France, the company said governments, researchers, civil society, and industry should work together to raise standards for safe and age-appropriate AI use by children and teenagers.

OpenAI said a dedicated youth AI safety institute could provide continuity beyond a single summit, helping stakeholders share evidence, develop guidance, and keep standards aligned with fast-moving AI systems. The company said such a body could take the form of a new international institute or an existing or newly created national AI institute with a global mandate.

The principles outlined by OpenAI include privacy-preserving age estimation, default safeguards when a user’s age is uncertain, annual youth safety risk assessments, accessible parental controls, clearer transparency about youth protections, and stronger protocols for serious safety situations involving self-harm, exploitation, grooming, sexually exploitative content, and other high-risk interactions.

The company also called for stronger protection of minors’ personal information, including prohibitions on privacy-invasive targeted advertising to young people and the sale of their personal information. It also said youth safety frameworks should promote AI literacy, learning, creativity, skill development, and future opportunities.

OpenAI said AI tools can help young people understand difficult concepts, practise languages, improve writing, learn to code, organise research, explore creative ideas, and prepare for changing labour markets. However, it argued that safeguards, family and educator guidance, and clear accountability mechanisms such as independent audits should support access.

The proposal builds on existing youth safety initiatives and education partnerships, including work with Common Sense Media, educators, and national education deployments in countries such as Estonia, Greece, and Singapore.

Why does it matter?

Youth AI safety is becoming a central policy issue as children and teenagers increasingly use AI tools for learning, creativity, social interaction, and everyday digital tasks. OpenAI’s proposal adds to pressure for international coordination on age-appropriate design, privacy, parental controls, safety protocols, and independent accountability. The G7 context also shows that youth AI safety is moving from product policy into broader debates over digital governance and education policy.

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