"We Need a CERN for AI": Organized Scientific Interests and Agenda-Setting in European Science, Technology, and...

Area of Science:

• Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research
• European Union (EU) Governance

Background:

• Understanding how organized scientific interests influence policy agendas is crucial for effective STI policy.
• The European Union faces challenges in coordinating AI research and policy effectively.
• Previous research has often overlooked the role of organized scientific groups in policy agenda-setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how organized scientific interests shape the agenda of STI policy in the EU.
• To analyze the process by which the "CERN for Artificial Intelligence (AI)" initiative gained traction on the EU policy agenda.
• To identify factors enabling and hindering the progression of scientific initiatives within EU policymaking.

Main Methods:

• Drawing on interest group and agenda-setting theories.
• Triangulating data from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive analysis.
• Investigating the lobbying efforts of the Confederation of Laboratories for AI Research in Europe.

Main Results:

• The "CERN for AI" initiative was successfully placed on the EU's informal policy agenda through direct and indirect lobbying by the Confederation of Laboratories for AI Research in Europe.
• The initiative has not yet entered the formal EU decision-making agenda.
• Barriers include inter-group competition, resource limitations, policy fragmentation, and framing issues.

Conclusions:

• Organized scientific interests play a significant role in shaping STI policy agendas, particularly at the informal stage.
• The progression of scientific initiatives to formal policy depends on overcoming internal and external obstacles.
• This study highlights the need to consider organized scientific interests as key actors in EU STI policymaking.