Belgium’s national convergence plan for the development of Artificial Intelligence

The ‘Plan national de convergence pour le développement de l’intelligence artificielle’ is Belgium’s ambitious strategy to integrate and advance AI across various sectors of society and the economy. Here’s a detailed overview based on the key objectives outlined in the document:

Introduction

The plan emphasises the transformative potential of AI in enhancing citizens’ well-being and economic prosperity and addressing challenges like health, mobility, climate change, and security. It underscores the importance of developing AI systems that are legally, ethically, and technically sound to ensure trust and widespread adoption.

Objectives

1. Promote Trustworthy AI

The goal is to ensure AI development and usage align with ethical standards and legal frameworks, addressing transparency, non-discrimination, data governance, and technical robustness. The plan highlights the need to combat algorithmic biases and ensure equitable data representation.

2. Ensure Cybersecurity

The increasing complexity of digital systems necessitates advanced AI techniques for cybersecurity. The plan aims to enhance protection at all stages of data processing and foster innovative solutions through coordinated research efforts.

3. Boost Competitiveness and Attractiveness of Belgium through AI

The plan seeks to position Belgium as a leader in AI by stimulating adoption in businesses, fostering innovation, and addressing skill gaps. It includes initiatives to support startups and scale-ups, promote public-private partnerships, and create a favorable regulatory environment.

4. Develop a Data-Driven Economy and Robust Infrastructure

Recognising the critical role of data in AI, the plan aims to enhance data governance and infrastructure. It promotes the reuse of public sector data, encourages private sector data sharing, and ensures high-quality digital infrastructure to support AI applications.

5. AI at the Heart of Healthcare

AI’s potential in healthcare includes improving diagnostics, treatments, and logistics. The plan advocates for the integration of AI in healthcare systems to enhance efficiency and patient outcomes while addressing legal and ethical concerns.

6. Support Sustainable Mobility

AI can optimise logistics and enhance road safety. The plan encourages the development of AI-driven solutions for a more efficient, safe, and sustainable transport system, promoting multimodal and digital mobility.

7. Environmental Preservation

AI can contribute to solving environmental challenges by improving resource efficiency and reducing waste. However, the plan also highlights the need to minimise AI’s own energy consumption and environmental footprint.

8. Better and Lifelong Training

With AI transforming job markets, the plan emphasises upskilling and reskilling programs to ensure the workforce can adapt to new demands. It includes initiatives for continuous learning and the development of digital competencies.

9. Provide Better Services and Protection to Citizens

AI can enhance public services by improving efficiency, personalising citizen interactions, and automating routine tasks. The plan outlines measures to integrate AI in public administration, ensuring ethical use and protecting citizen rights.

Implementation and Governance

The implementation of the plan involves a coordinated approach with the coalition AI4Belgium, which includes various stakeholders from academia, industry, and public sectors. The plan outlines the roles of the SPF BOSA and SPF Economy in driving AI initiatives, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering innovation through collaboration.