European Commission launches innovation package to support AI startups and SMEs

For years, the European Commission has been facilitating and enhancing cooperation on AI across the EU to boost its competitiveness and ensure trust based on EU values. With the AI innovation package announced on 24 January, the Commission puts into practice its commitment in supporting AI startups and innovation.

As one of the next steps, an AI Office will be established within the Commission to ensure the development and coordination of AI policy at European level, to supervise the rules for general-purpose AI models and systems and coordinate the implementation and enforcement of the forthcoming AI Act.

Within this endeavour, the European Commission promised to launch the Alliance for Language Technologies (ALT-EDIC), which was established on 7 February 2024. The ALT-EDIC will contribute to address the shortage of European languages data for the training of AI solutions and support the development of European large language models.