Did you know that despite shared alignment with EU AI objectives, Finland and the Netherlands have adopted contrasting national strategies? Finland is considered an AI frontrunner due to its agile and direct approach, in contrast to The Netherlands’ emphasis on consensus-building and extensive stakeholder involvement.
Both countries develop their strategies to integrate many initiatives towards trustworthy and human-centric AI. They both likewise actively pursue international cooperation in AI research, development and innovation.
However, the Dutch consensus-building model of governance focusing on stakeholder involvement and building a collaborative AI ‘ecosystem’ is considered fundamentally different compared to other EU states. Other countries may focus on one category of stakeholders holding a dominant role (i.e. Sweden) or prioritising agility over consensus-building (i.e. Finland). Even though Finland’s centralized and top-down approach to AI has allowed more fast and direct decision-making, this can also be a less inclusive approach regarding SMEs and civil society.
Nevertheless, while limited availability of highly qualified AI professionals has led to competition for their expertise within the EU, Finland has managed well recruiting AI talent from other EU nations. This is potentially due to its proactive policies that promote professional mobility, thereby facilitating the transfer of knowledge and skills within the field of AI.
For the source of this information, you can visit the following report:
Comparison of AI strategies in Finland, Sweden and The Netherlands