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AI Watch

Spain: Public Sector dimension of AI Strategy

Introduction

This page reports a synthesis of the main elements that characterise the national AI strategy with a specific focus on the public sector. It extracts the information related to a single country from a comparative analysis done by the AI Watch team and reported in full in the science for policy report “AI Watch. European Landscape on the Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Public Sector”.

Main highlights

Promoting the use of AI in Spanish public administration is a priority action

Guide will be introduced to help align with ethical principles and legislation

Platforms for cooperation in research will help attract research on AI and transfer results

Digital Innovation Hubs will provide a centre of excellence for public administrations on AI

Improving internal capacity by providing training, making public sector jobs more attractive, introducing a master education on public sector AI and flexible recruitment processes

A registry for AI applications in government will be launched

Private sector will be involved to create high quality AI applications to be procured with innovative procurement processes

Strategy analysis

 

Learning by doing

  • Regulatory sandboxes
Stimulating awareness and knowledge sharing
  • Awareness campaigns
  • Building an international community

Ethical and legal framework

  • Development of ethical frameworks
  • Reform of data sharing laws
Improving data access and quality
  • Improving data quality
  • Improving data access

Funding and procurement

  • Funding for AI projects
  • Stimulation of GovTech startups
  • Revision of procurement processes
Improving internal capacity
  • Training on AI
  • New public bodies

 

Comment

In order to help the introduction of AI in the government, a framework or guide will be introduced which will adhere to ethical principles as well as the current legislation.

To foster a learning by doing process, Digital Innovation Hubs will act as a one-stop shop where companies and public administrations can find a network to improve their digital transformation with AI. An innovation laboratory (GovTechLab) is expected to be launched to develop new services and applications of AI in the public administration .

Spanish public administrations should also improve their training and the attraction of talent in AI. Hence, AI training programmes will be launched and included in promotion plans and professional careers.

Moreover, the strategy highlights the need to have large volumes of high quality of data. For doing so, a public data platforms will be created with the aim to secure data from different sectors which can be re-used in procedures of the various public administrations. The private sector will also be able to base their AI-based solutions on these datasets.

General Information

Title

Estrategia Nacional de Inteligencia Artificial

Data of release

Dec 2020

 

Specific actions to public sector

 

STRATEGIC AXIS 3. Develop data platforms and technological infrastructures that support AI including in public administration

STRATEGIC AXIS 5. Promote the use of AI in public administration and in national strategic missions