UK and France Forge a Partnership in AI, Post Horizon Membership
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The UK and France have announced new funding initiatives and partnerships aimed at advancing global AI safety. The developments come in the wake of the UK’s association with Horizon Europe, a move that was broadly seen as putting the divisions of Brexit in the past and the repairing of relations for the good of the continent.
French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, is scheduled to meet with UK Secretary of State Michelle Donelan in London today for discussions marking a pivotal moment in bilateral scientific cooperation.
Building upon a rich history of collaboration that has yielded groundbreaking innovations such as the Concorde and the Channel Tunnel, the ministers will endorse a joint declaration aimed at deepening research ties between the two nations. This includes a commitment of £800,000 in new funding towards joint research efforts, particularly within the framework of Horizon Europe.
A significant collaboration has been announced between the AI Safety Institute of the UK and France’s Inria. This partnership denotes a mutual dedication towards the ethical advancement of AI technologies. This alliance is appropriate considering France’s impending hosting of the AI Safety Summit later this year. The event seeks to build on previous accords and discourse on cutting-edge AI testing, which transpired during the UK edition in the prior year.
In addition, the manifestation of the joint Franco-British committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation offers an occasion to stimulate collaboration in various sectors such as low-carbon hydrogen, space surveillance, AI, and research security.
The following statement was released by Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State:
The association between the most brilliant minds of the UK and France is profound and historical, ranging from innovations in aerospace to fighting climate change. We ought to back our innovators, to set free the potential of their concepts to generate employment and broaden businesses, in sync with our nearest continental neighbour.
Research is fundamentally collaborative, and alongside our bespoke deal on Horizon Europe, this deepening partnership with France – along with our joint work on AI safety – is another key step in realising the UK’s science superpower ambitions.
The collaboration between the UK and France underscores their shared commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation, with a focus on emerging technologies such as AI and quantum.
Sylvie Retailleau, French Minister of Higher Education and Research, commented:
This joint committee is a perfect illustration of the international component of research – from identifying key priorities such as hydrogen, AI, space and research security – to enabling collaborative work and exchange of ideas and good practices through funding.
Doing so with a trusted partner as the UK – who just associated to Horizon Europe – is a great opportunity to strengthen France’s science capabilities abroad, and participate in Europe’s strategic autonomy openness.
As the UK continues to deepen its engagement with global partners in the field of science and technology, these bilateral agreements serve as a testament to its ambition to lead the way in scientific discovery and innovation on the world stage.
See also: UK Home Secretary sounds alarm over deepfakes ahead of elections
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Tags: ai safety summit, artificial intelligence, europe, france, government, horizon europe, research, safety, uk
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