National good practice initiative

The ‘1000 Pioneers for AI in Greece’initiative was an open programme for educating and empowering citizens about the responsible and human-centric design of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It was created by SciFY – Science For You in collaboration with the ahedd Digital Innovation Hub of NCSR Demokritos, with the aim of forming a community of a thousand active citizens who will get to know, understand and actively participate in shaping the future of AI in Greece.

The initiative includes workshops, directed learning, counselling sessions and collaborative projects, offering a framework for experiential education around ethical, innovation and social responsibility issues in technology.

Implementing Bodies and Partners

The implementing body of the initiative is the non-profit organisation “SciFY– Science For You”with many years of experience in developing social innovation actions using digital technologies, and supporting partners are the US Embassy in Athens and the “ahedd– Digital Innovation Hub”of NCSR Demokritos, a national innovation hub supporting knowledge transfer and skills development in AI.

Target groups as AI Pioneers

Why are the 1000 pioneers needed for Artificial Intelligence in Greece? Because Artificial Intelligence is already changing the present and the future with applications in various fields. Why, digitalskills and knowledge about AI are driving the demand for relevant professionals. And why companies that make effective use of AI can innovate and win.

In addition, new practices for the development of ethical AI systems are emerging in the technical space and thus, the dialogue and the political will to shape AI in a human-centric, ethical and for the common good opens up significantly.

This commitment, at both national and EU level, requires a multi-stakeholder audience to fulfil the vision of a community that is continuously trained through an innovative programme and networked, being the driving force in key sectors of the economy and society, through advanced digital skills in AI.

Pioneers refer to members from all professional categories:

• Operation Manager: Entrepreneurs, senior executives of private companies, IT executives.
• Policy maker: Policy Planners, Politicians, Think Tanks, High-level Ministries.
• Civil Society: Executives of NGOs, Executives of Social Enterprises.
• Science technologist and scientist: IT executives, IT school students, employees in technology companies, science researchers.
• Humanities scientist: Social/political scientists.
• Involved in Education: Gymnasium/Lyceum, Business, IT, Political Science, Social Sciences.

Milestones of the “1000 Pioneers for Artificial Intelligence in Greece” initiative

1. Training of 1000 pioneers:

• The training combines theory and encouragement in practical application and is specifically designed for each different target group, including: theoretical training (training, attending seminars, buying/offering a book) and action (organising at least one action on their own initiative, or participating in at least one initiative of another party e.g. participation in a consultation).
• The initial goal of the project was to carry out the training in 3 years: 200 people in the first year, 300 in the second, 500 in the third. This initial goal was oversubscribed.

2. ‘AIin Greece’webpage,which is the central point of reference and informs about developments, about the achievements of ‘1000 Pioneers for AI in Greece’, with articles on AI, educational content, etc.

3. Creation of a supportive community of researchers, experts, consultants, etc. (from Greece and abroad) who have knowledge, motivation and ability to contribute with their knowledge and with support services. This enhances the sustainability of the project.

4. Networking and exchange platform of the 1,000 Pioneers.

Structure of Educational Programmes

There are two main types of training:

• training of executives of an organisation, carried out on request, in small groups, and provided for a fee.
• training of audience groups, which is carried out periodically, in larger departments, and is planned to be offered free of charge or at a very low cost (up to EUR 50), thanks to sponsorships from businesses and organisations.

Businesses/organizations have the ability to invest in the training of their staff, to sponsor the education of citizens in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility or to combine both.

International Distinction

The initiative was distinguished by UNESCO’s IRCAI in the “100 Top AI projects” contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals! This recognised that the initiative – together with citizens, businesses, scientists and professionals from different scientific and professional fields, both science and humanities – contributes to the present and future of society and work through a meaningful understanding of what AI is and how it affects our lives.

Why is it good practice?

The initiative contributes to reducing the digital divide between specialists and citizens by enhancing the understanding and acceptance of AI technologies as a tool to improve quality of life. At the same time, it creates a model of participatory education ecosystem, applicable to other areas of digital transformation. The results are clear:

• Over 1,500 people were boosted in their AI education.
• An active community of 1,000 citizens was created and activated throughout Greece.
• Development, dissemination and co-creation of educational content on AI.
• More systematic AI training with a focus on innovation and practical application: working with schools, universities and organisations on AI education actions.
• Design and implementation of collaborative AI deployment projects with a social and professional impact primarily in the following areas:
  – In the daily life of citizens: understanding how AI works, avoiding undue fear from fake news, engaging in consultations on AI.
  – In the economy: Taking business initiatives, creating new services, increasing innovation, creating competitive advantages, digital transformation.
  – In shaping AI policy: Information on AI, helping to create an appropriate regulatory framework, protecting citizens’ rights, strengthening AI-enabled entrepreneurship.
  – The impact of civil society action: Use AI tools to strengthen democracy, pluralism and more effective protection of citizens’ rights.
  – Preparing young scientists to use AI, regardless of their field of knowledge.
  – Strengthening the tools and role of Digital Humanities.
  – Better framing and more effective implementation of the ongoing National AI Strategy.

A sustainable good practice

The success of the above initiative as a good practice is also demonstrated by the following:

• Alongside the project and in the interest of investigating the Educational Needs of Pioneers, 362 people were interviewed.
• Nearly 30 organizations were trained.
• 90+ communication actions took place (via TV, radio interviews and multi-channel articles),
• Regarding the educational results for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), almost 10 NGOs and 35 trainees took part.

The sustainability of the project is further illustrated by SciFY’s ongoing actions to date, which are a continuation of the ‘1000Pioneers for Artificial Intelligence in Greece’initiative:

‘Science students: Pioneers in Artificial Intelligence!

• Through 4 Specialized Seminars, more than 140 natural science students in the field of AI were trained for free.
• 30+ students participated in a two-day Hackathon.
• 5 Real Challenges (‘challenges’) of Natural Sciences were solved using AI.
• 5 Research teams with 182 researchers from NCSR Demokritos collaborated on the challenges.

You can find more information on the SciFY page and on the action-specific website where the free interactive courses are presented.

People with Disabilities Pioneers in AI

You can see in detail a relevant article of the National Coalition entitled “SciFYand “Child & Adolescent Centre”: Disabled Leaders in Artificial Intelligence” in the category “Studies”.

NGO Pioneers in Artificial Intelligence

Through the action “NGOsPioneers in Artificial Intelligence”:

• Ten (10) Civil Society (CSO) bodies were trained in Artificial Intelligence.
• Guidance was offered on the use of Artificial Intelligence by NGOs.
• An event was organized for the dissemination of the results to civil society organizations.

Essentially, the successful ‘Pioneers in AI’ training programmehas been re-adapted – in the context of scalability and reproducibility – to the needs of other actors, such as:

1. Enterprises:tailor-made two-day AI labs have been implemented for over 3,500 people and almost 30 large and small and medium-sized enterprises.
2. The action “AIfor High School & High School students at the Herakleidon Museum!” is ongoing with almost 6,800 students coming into contact with the program.

A few words about SciFY

• He has trained thousands of people in AI to date: business executives, students, students, teachers. Through SciFY Academies, with special educational programs for businesses, co-organizing international conferences (e.g. SETN 2020, MultiLing), workshops (e.g. AI in Natural Sciences and Technology) with training of students and teachers, collaborating with bodies such as NCSR Demokritos, the Herakleidon Museum and Innovathens, it has already trained hundreds of people.
• He is a pioneer in AI. It participates in the DIGITAL SME Focus Group on AI, the initiative of the European Commission (AI Watch) and the European DIGITAL SME Alliance consisting of almost 40 Artificial Intelligence experts representing companies from all over Europe. It is also included among the pioneers in the field of Artificial Intelligence in Greece by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
• It develops AI applications and solutions. It develops free solutions for the general public and specialized solutions for organizations and businesses, which are utilized daily.
• It works closely with organisations promoting AI, such as NCSR Demokritos and the Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Society. It is an integrated entity in the technological park “Lefkippos” of NCSR “Demokritos”, a highly active innovation ecosystem.

What is the role of NCSR Demokritos?

NCSR Demokritos, with its decisive experience in Research and Development in the field of Artificial Intelligence, its initiatives on AI (founding member of the Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Society in 1988, member of the European organisation for AI – EurAI since 1992, creation of the Centre of Excellence for AI with EY Global in 2019) and its active participation in co-creating the National Strategy on AI, plays a key role in shaping and conducting the programme, including through the Digital Innovation Hub ahedd. More specifically, NCSR Demokritos shall participate in:

• In education: It co-shapes the training programme and engages with instructors, AI specialists;
• In networking: Networking developed by NCSR Demokritos with bodies in Greece and abroad, with Innovation Centres, European Projects, etc., but also through ahedd’s Digital Innovation ecosystem, brings added value to Pioneers.
• With experience in implementing AI projects.