Governance

Ecosystem of Excellence

Policy pillar to boost research, innovation and market uptake.

How the laws define this

Both instruments establish that an ecosystem of excellence centers on building structural capacity to advance AI research, innovation, skills development, and computing infrastructure to boost competitiveness. However, they diverge in their structural framing and specific mechanisms. In Communication: Fostering a European approach to Artificial Intelligence, the ecosystem is characterized as a complementary pillar incorporating market uptake, data access, hubs, and partnerships to promote European competitiveness and technological leadership. By contrast, the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence: A European approach to excellence and trust defines the concept as a coordinated EU-level framework, explicitly highlighting research funding and private investment deployed across Member States to strengthen market competitiveness. While the Communication emphasizes broader operational components like data access and technological leadership, the White Paper focuses specifically on financial resources and coordinated EU-level structure.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
European Union	Communication: Fostering a European approach to Artificial Intelligence	Adopted	This definition adds emphasis on infrastructure including data access, computing capacity, skills, hubs, and partnerships to promote European competitiveness and technological leadership.
European Union	White Paper on Artificial Intelligence: A European approach to excellence and trust	Adopted	This definition narrows to a coordinated framework of research funding, computing infrastructure, skills development, and private investment across Member States.

Definitions (2)

The 'ecosystem of excellence' is the complementary pillar focused on strengthening AI research, innovation, market uptake and infrastructure (including data access, computing capacity, skills, hubs and partnerships) to promote European competitiveness and technological leadership.

Communication: Fostering a European approach to Artificial IntelligenceDefinition 1 of 2

A coordinated EU-level framework of research funding, computing infrastructure, skills development, and private investment designed to strengthen AI research, innovation, and market competitiveness across Member States.

White Paper on Artificial Intelligence: A European approach to excellence and trustDefinition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

Excellence

Excellence refers to research-to-market capabilities and innovation leadership in AI, while ecosystem of excellence is a broader pillar or framework encompassing multiple elements to achieve that.

Centre(s) of Excellence

Centres of Excellence are specific collaborative research and infrastructure hubs, whereas ecosystem of excellence is the overarching policy pillar that may include such hubs.

Questions and answers

What does the ecosystem of excellence cover under the EU AI Communication?

It covers strengthening AI research, innovation, market uptake and infrastructure including data access, computing capacity, skills, hubs and partnerships. The goal is to promote European competitiveness and technological leadership.

How is the ecosystem of excellence described in the EU White Paper on AI?

It is a coordinated EU-level framework of research funding, computing infrastructure, skills development, and private investment. This aims to strengthen AI research, innovation, and market competitiveness across Member States.

What is the purpose of the ecosystem of excellence pillar?

It boosts research, innovation and market uptake as a policy pillar. The definitions focus on building frameworks for competitiveness and leadership in AI.