National AI Strategy 2019-2021
Estonia · Strategy · Government of the Republic of Estonia
Our summary
Estonia's government-led plan to promote machine learning development across public and private organizations from 2019 through 2021. The strategy addresses expanding AI capacity through skills development, research investment, and regulatory reforms while coordinating with European Union AI initiatives. The government committed to investing at least 10 million euros to implement the various action items across multiple ministries and agencies.
Written by the Index in our own words. It is not legal advice; the official text is the authority.
Inside this policy
Every section of this policy in order. Our notes summarise each one in plain language and do not quote the official text, which is the authority.
Drafted by the Index An automated summary of the official text, not yet reviewed by a person.Reviewed Checked by a person against the official text.
14 sections
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Mkm / htm
Describes initial AI development activities including brainstorming sessions for identifying AI application opportunities, a consent management pilot project launched in September 2019 with a budget of 805,260 euros through December 2021, data governance tool development, and efforts to establish principles for responsible data use and increase open data availability.
1. advancing the uptake of AI in public sector in estonia
Covers initiatives to promote AI adoption in government agencies through workshops on AI solutions, project development support, research funding for decision-making automation, and data governance development.
Stat / mkm
The strategy calls for developing artificial intelligence capabilities in the public sector through multiple actions: introducing AI topics in management training, establishing a cross-institutional data science network meeting at least quarterly, creating guidance materials on developing and evaluating AI projects, launching an online awareness course by April 2020 (with budget up to 300,000 euros for 2020-21), establishing Chief Data Officer positions at ministerial level, and disseminating examples of successful AI implementations through kratid.ee. It also aims to create reusable AI components for public institutions, establish technological sandboxes for testing AI applications, explore joint procurement arrangements to reduce duplication, condition IT development funding on plans for continuous AI development and technical sustainability standards, and support data governance workshops and finance data audits in state agencies.
Mkm / stat
Requires new IT development projects to incorporate AI-eligible data structures, aims to improve data quality and semantic interoperability for AI applications, monitors EU common data infrastructure initiatives, and develops the BürokrattAI concept for shared public sector AI solutions and citizen interfaces.
Eas / mkm 2. advancing the uptake of AI in private sector in estonia
Supports AI development in business through existing innovation and development vouchers, a machine learning competence centre (STACC), awareness initiatives via kratid.ee and online courses, training programmes for business leaders, digitalisation support measures with 50 million euros funding, and a 300,000 euro online course budget for 2020-21.
Mkm / eas
Details implementation steps for digitalisation measures including guidelines upgrades and training for diagnostic experts, with deadlines specified for April 2020.
Eas / mkm
Describes continuation and support of existing digitalisation support measures and STACC activities beginning January 2020 within existing funding frameworks.
Eas / mkm
Establishes innovation competitions offering up to 10 grants based on government datasets, pilot project funding of up to 50,000 euros per project targeting 40 projects at technology readiness levels 4-6, and development project funding of up to 200,000 euros per project targeting 20 projects at levels 5-7, with new measures ready by November 2020.
3. developing AI R&D and education in estonia
Funds ICT research under the IT Academy programme including three research groups, commissions a Master's programme in data science with AI focus by September 2020, and aims to train at least 50 Master's students and 20 doctoral students specializing in AI within two years, alongside hiring eight specialized lecturers.
Htm / hitsa
1,5M EUR
Allocates 1.5 million euros annually for AI research groups (500,000 euros per group) and provides funding for AI course development in postgraduate studies across disciplines, inclusion of AI topics in general education digital skills curriculum, applied research continuation from 2019-22, and organizational capacity to facilitate industry research partnerships.
Hitsa
Sets out timelines for funding rounds and curriculum improvements, with new funding opportunities opening in September 2019 and February 2020, alongside upgrades to educational materials.
Hitsa
Outlines measures for digital innovation and computing capacity development, including establishing a digital innovation hub for artificial intelligence before EU funding becomes available, joining the LUMI supercomputer consortium for high-performance computing access through 2025, and conducting marketing activities to increase corporate awareness. Various Estonian agencies are assigned responsibility for these activities with a 2021-26 budget of 2 million euros.
4. developing legal environment for uptake of AI
Identifies the need for targeted legislative amendments rather than fundamental restructuring of the legal system, with plans to prepare a legislation package known as the 'kratt-law' package to facilitate AI adoption.
Controls
What this policy requires, forbids, grants or penalises, one control at a time and in our own words. Each control links to the official text, which is the authority. This is not legal advice.
Drafted by the Index Drafted automatically from the official text, not yet reviewed by a person.Reviewed Checked by a person against the official text.
Themes covered 7 of 35
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Risk and scope 1 of 4
- Risk classification, not covered
- Prohibited practices, not covered
- Risk management system, not covered
Data and privacy 1 of 4
- Data subject rights and consent, not covered
- Cross-border data transfer, not covered
- Copyright and training data, not covered
Transparency and records 1 of 4
- Labelling of synthetic content, not covered
- Technical documentation, not covered
- Record keeping and logging, not covered
Technical safeguards 0 of 4
- Human oversight, not covered
- Accuracy, robustness and cybersecurity, not covered
- Bias and non-discrimination, not covered
- Testing and evaluation, not covered
Assurance and lifecycle 0 of 4
- Conformity assessment and certification, not covered
- Registration and notification, not covered
- Incident and breach reporting, not covered
- Post-market monitoring and corrective action, not covered
Rights and protected groups 0 of 4
- Automated decision-making rights, not covered
- Children and vulnerable groups, not covered
- Biometric identification and surveillance, not covered
- Whistleblowing, complaints and redress, not covered
Roles and organisation 4 of 6
- Supply chain and provider-deployer duties, not covered
- General purpose and foundation models, not covered
Enforcement and sectors 0 of 5
- Enforcement, penalties and regulators, not covered
- Sector rules: health, not covered
- Sector rules: finance and insurance, not covered
- Sector rules: employment, not covered
- Sector rules: education, not covered
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1. advancing the uptake of AI in public sector in estonia 4 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should organise events and workshops for government agencies to present AI solutions and identify public sector use cases.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should support government agencies in developing and preparing AI projects.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should fund research on implementing automatic decision-making systems in Estonian state institutions.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should develop data governance frameworks for government use.
Stat / mkm 8 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should embed AI knowledge in senior management through training courses offered by the Government Office.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should establish and maintain a thematic network where public sector institutions meet at least quarterly to share experiences on data science and AI.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should develop and deliver training modules for managers and specialists in public institutions on the relevance of data science, including AI topics.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should create and distribute guidance materials for public sector institutions on starting and assessing AI projects, including methodology for impact assessment.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDeadline was Drafted by the Index
The public authority should commission and launch an online course to increase public awareness of AI by April 2020, with a budget up to 300,000 euros in 2020-21.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should disseminate examples of successful AI projects and maintain a website showcasing live or ongoing AI initiatives with descriptions and contact information.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should establish Chief Data Officer positions at least at the ministerial level.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should organize sessions and meetings across different networks to share knowledge and demonstrate the potential and examples of AI in practice.
Mkm / eas 1 control
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will upgrade digitalisation support guidelines and train diagnostic experts to support the expanded measures.
Eas / mkm 1 control
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will continue to implement existing digitalisation support measures beginning January 2020 within current funding frameworks.
3. developing AI R&D and education in estonia 5 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should fund three research groups in AI, machine learning, data science, big data and robot-human cooperation from 2018 to 2022.
- ObligationApplies to: OthersDeadline was Drafted by the Index
The University of Tartu should develop a specialised Master of Science curriculum in data science with an AI focus and commence teaching by September 2020.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should train at least 50 Master's students specializing in AI within two years.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should hire eight highly qualified lecturers to teach AI, including to students outside ICT disciplines.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should develop at least 20 doctoral student positions specializing in AI within two years.
1,5M EUR 7 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will fund eight lecturers with relevant qualifications to teach artificial intelligence topics across multiple academic disciplines.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will expand postgraduate programmes so that at least 50 Master's students specialise in artificial intelligence within two years.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will increase doctoral training opportunities so that at least 20 doctoral students specialise in artificial intelligence within two years.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will support optional postgraduate courses on artificial intelligence offered by non-computing disciplines.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will integrate artificial intelligence content into the technology strand of compulsory school education to introduce students to the field's capabilities and techniques.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will maintain funding for applied research initiatives during the 2019-2022 period and raise business sector awareness of available grants.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The government will establish institutional structures to broker collaborations between companies and research teams on applied projects, monitor technological developments, identify suitable funding sources and prepare funding proposals for the post-2021 period.
Hitsa 5 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
New funding rounds should open in September 2019 and February 2020 for IT Academy development projects.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Educational curriculum and study materials should be upgraded.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should establish a digital innovation hub focused on artificial intelligence before EU grants become available.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Estonia should actively participate in EuroHPC projects to provide high-performance computing capacity to research institutions and companies.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should conduct marketing and information activities, including seminars, to increase corporate awareness of AI research opportunities.
4. developing legal environment for uptake of AI 1 control
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The public authority should prepare targeted legislative amendments across multiple laws to enable AI adoption, known as the 'kratt-law' package, rather than fundamentally restructuring the legal system.
Change history
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