AI Policy Summit

Framing the Future: A Collaborative Summit on Research on AI Policy and Governance 

Event Details

Organisation

  • AI Policy Lab, Umeå University
    • Virginia Dignum
    • Tatyana Sarayeva
    • Bodil Formark
  • MILA Quebec 
    • Anna Jahn
    • Catherine Régis
    • Isadora Hellegren

About the Summit

“Framing the Future: A Collaborative Summit on Research on AI Policy and Governance” is intended to bring together representatives from leading research centers focused on AI policy and governance. The summit aspires to create a space for dynamic and productive exchanges where participants can identify shared challenges, explore synergies, and work together to enhance the landscape of AI policy and governance.

Scientific research on AI policy and governance is essential to ensure the safe, ethical, and equitable development of AI technologies, guiding their integration into society while minimizing risks and maximizing benefits. This summit aims to drive innovative research efforts, offering participants a unique opportunity to influence and shape the future trajectory of AI policy and governance research.

Summit Objectives: Over the course of two days, attendees will engage in in-depth discussions and collaborative workshops designed to uncover challenges, opportunities, and practical strategies for shaping the future of research on AI policy and governance. This summit emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives and open sharing of ideas, strategies, and constraints, and the multidisciplinary grounds of AI policy research.

Agenda (preliminary, subject to change. Start and end times are fixed):

13 November
17:00 – 18.30Informal get together at the Embassy of Canada
14 November: Day 1Understanding the Landscape and Identifying Challenges
9.00 – 10.00Registration and welcome coffee
10.00 – 10.15Welcome by organisers (setting expectations / program)
10.15 – 12.00Session 1: Introduction to Participating Research Centers
12.00 – 13.00Lunch
13.00 – 15.00Session 2: Resilient Institutions
chair: Prof. Dr. Frank Dignum, Umeå University
abstract:
When institutions like research centers are created, they usually have a clear vision and long-term goals, such as promoting AI for the good of all. This might involve education, public engagement, and other efforts. While initial funding is often secured, it’s typically for a shorter period than the institution’s mission requires and may not cover all desired activities.
To ensure alignment between funding and the institution’s goals over time, both internal organization and external relationships need to support this balance. Unlike projects, which can rely on external proposals, institutions need more stable, long-term funding to sustain their vision. We will explore the implications of this, asking whether institutions can collaborate instead of competing for funding, how flexible they should be, and what this means for AI institutes aiming for responsible AI development.
15.30 – 16.00Coffee break
16.00 – 17.30Session 3: Panel – The vision of the Policymakers
Moderator:
– Maja Fjaestad (AI Policy Lab, former state secretary for health, Sweden)

Panelists:
– Ana Paiva (State Secretary for Science, Portugal) 
– Maria Nordström (Directorate Digital Government, Ministry of Finance, Sweden) 
– Jordan Zed (Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Canada) 
– Neema Lugangira (Member of Parliament, Tanzania) 
– Elja Daae (Coordinator Data, AI Algorithms, Ministry of Interior, the Netherlands)

During this conversation, the panelists, policy makers from different countries, will present their unique perspectives on how AI research informs their policymaking, including issues as the critical role that data, multidisciplinary research and diverse research ecosystems play in shaping effective AI policies, sharing real-world examples of successful initiatives that have emerged from a robust policy-science interface.
20.30 –23.00Dinner at Restaurang Hillenberg, Humlegårdsgatan 14, 11483 Stockholm
15 November: Day 2Collaboration and Roadmap Development
9.00 – 9.15Reflection on Day 1
9.15 – 10.00Session 4: Keynote – Research to Policy and Policy to Research: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons Learned
Speaker: Marietje Schaake (HAI Stanford, former member of EU Parliament)
10.00 – 10.30Fika
10.30 – 12.00Session 5: Synergies and Collaborations

Space to showcase ongoing and upcoming policy research projects by the participating organisations, detailing objectives, methodologies, and anticipated impacts while seeking collaborators. This session serves as a dynamic marketplace for ideas, inviting discussions on partnerships and synergies. Attendees can ask questions and explore alignment opportunities, fostering collaboration to drive impactful AI policy research.
12.00 – 13.00Lunch and exploration of collaboration follow-up plans
13.00 – 15.00Session 6: Shaping the Space / Impact

Hands-on workshop to co-create a manifesto for a joint roadmap among policy research organizations. Facilitators lead brainstorming on shared values, goals, and best practices for collaboration in AI policy. This effort defines a collective vision for policy development and strengthens stakeholder relationships. By session’s end, participants contribute to a living document embodying their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and responsible AI governance.
15.00 – 15.30Closing Words / Reflections

Participation Details: Given the importance of broad participation, each participating organization is limited to send a maximum of three representatives. This approach ensures that a wide range of voices and expertise contribute to the discussions.

Participation in the event is free of charge to these representatives but we are unable to cover travel and accommodation costs for participants. We appreciate your understanding and encourage those who may need financial assistance to reach out, and we will do our best to try to find a way.

Acknowledgements: This event is made possible with the support of the Embassy of Canada in Sweden, the Embassy of Portugal in Sweden, Umeå University, and the Canada Research Chair in Collaborative Culture in Health Law and Policy at the University of Montreal. We also acknowledge the input from the European project HumaneAI-net.