EU Science Body Debates AI Trust
The European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA) is focusing on establishing the trustworthiness of AI in crisis situations and ensuring the ethical use of open science data. These discussions are influencing policy and funding criteria for digital research infrastructure, emphasizing the need for explainable AI and robust data governance in public sector projects.
- In a December 2025 report coordinated by ALLEA, leading scientists advised the European Commission that while AI can enhance crisis management in situations like floods and wildfires, it is ill-suited for novel or morally complex scenarios. The report emphasizes the need for human control, standardized data frameworks, and ethical oversight. [- The European Commission's](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEH9JbYnZpP7danNNymakSjSJn0h8nE51LSnP376Bt3YDcdPz7GuCpqvma1Fyn_T1lSkMRJoNIXScRBCuTiN59jBxiI_VU9pc0XC0yFCCaG-z0EMnELpI5qpU_VOpf9Oehemq3UKazO1W67XyvonoXneGdtSfrVYanheqorR9_fzo34oeC0AYW7SLklAjcEz-NByVJEZ69DsdM1F4_fkb2h9QqBggmV3ZLmDhfIJo4Ybob3lme_Cz3tVAtwcDINiFvfiEAzGHE=) "Apply AI" strategy, launched in October 2025, aims to increase AI adoption in the public sector to improve the efficiency and accessibility of services. This initiative is part of a broader "AI Continent Action Plan" to position Europe as a global leader in trustworthy AI. - The EU's AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, establishes a risk-based regulatory framework for AI systems in both the private and public sectors. Prohibitions on certain high-risk AI practices are set to take effect by February 2025, with rules for high-risk systems following in August 2026. - ALLEA's Task Force on "Protecting and Sharing Data," active from 2025 to 2027, is developing recommendations for data governance that balance open data principles with the need to protect sensitive information and intellectual property. This work builds on nearly 30 years of guidance from ALLEA's Permanent Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights. - A 2024 analysis revealed that nearly 50% of GovTech venture capital deals in the EU are now AI-focused, a significant increase that signals investor confidence in AI's potential to transform public service delivery. The overall number of GovTech deals has grown exponentially since 2020. - The European Commission is actively funding GovTech innovation through programs like the "GovTech for All" challenge, which promotes cross-border collaboration to find and scale digital solutions for public services. This is part of a broader effort to create an interconnected European GovTech ecosystem. - In February 2025, ALLEA issued a statement calling for clear ethical guidelines for research collaborations between academic institutions and commercial entities to safeguard against conflicts of interest and ensure research serves the public good. - The European Commission's Group of Chief Scientific Advisors has tasked SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies), for which ALLEA coordinates some activities, to provide recommendations on accelerating the responsible uptake of AI in science to boost innovation.
