Objective
Canada and Italy have created a Joint Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to promote its responsible design, development, and use. The group will help identify key areas for bilateral collaboration on AI between the two countries, such as health sciences, transportation and cybersecurity. It will also foster new opportunities for Canadian and Italian researchers and innovators to work together on the responsible application of AI to help tackle global challenges.
Mandate
The Canada-Italy Joint Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint Advisory Group”) is tasked with identifying areas of AI where both countries can benefit from deeper collaboration and fostering these collaborations through the mobilization of appropriate means.
More specifically, the actions falling under the Joint Advisory Group include:
- 1. Providing strategic focus and determining priority areas for bilateral collaboration in AI;
- 2. Planning calls for proposals and other collaborative activities;
- 3. Promoting the conclusion of agreements between research institutes, universities, or research funding agencies;
- 4. Developing detailed work plans and ensuring their implementation.
Co-Chairs
The Joint Advisory Group is led by two co-chairs representing each country. The co-chairs are responsible for planning, chairing, and following up on the Joint Advisory Group’s meetings, as well as ensuring the development, implementation, and periodic updating of a focused and strategic work plan.
Members
In addition to the two co-chairs, the Joint Advisory Group consists of six eminent and highly credible members, made up of leaders from government, industry, and private sectors representing each country. Members are invited to join the group by the co-chairs of each country and will serve for a period of two years, renewable.
The Joint Advisory Group meets at the request of the two co-chairs, two to three times a year, to develop specific work plans and ensure their realization. Virtual participation is preferred. The minimum number of members required to hold meetings is 50 percent plus one for each country.
Secretariat
The Secretariat is made up of representatives from the offices of the two co-chairs as well as representatives from the Italian Embassy in Canada and the Canadian Embassy in Italy. The Secretariat will support the co-chairs in the planning and organizing of meetings, take minutes of meetings and distribute to all members, and will support activities related to the JAG and its potential working groups.
Working Language
Meetings are conducted in English. When necessary, translation of written documents will be provided.
Budget
There is no shared budget allocated for this initiative. Each delegation will be responsible for managing its own expenses independently.
Annex 1
Members of the Canada-Italy Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
2024-2027
Italy
- Dr. Maria Chiara Carrozza, President, National Research Council (Co-Chair)
- Dr. Marco Conti, CNR Research Director and President of the Technical-Scientific Committee of the FAIR (“Future AI Research”) Foundation
- Prof. Rita Cucchiara, Full Professor of Computer Engineering and Science of the Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Research and Innovation Center (AIRI)
- H.E. Andrea Ferrari, Ambassador of Italy to Canada
- Prof. Gianluigi Greco, Director of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science of the University of Calabria, President of AIxIA, the Italian association for artificial intelligence
- Eng. Mario Nobile, Director General of the Agency for Digital Italy, delegate of the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Sen. Alessio Butti
- Dr. Valeria Vinci, Director of Division III – “Digital economy and new enabling technologies”, General Directorate for new enabling technologies, Ministry of Business and Made in Italy
Canada
- Dr. Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor of Canada (Co-Chair)
- Dr. Alejandro Adem, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
- H.E. Elissa Golberg, Ambassador of Canada to Italy, Ambassador of Canada to Albania and San Marino, High Commissioner to Malta, and Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN Agencies in Rome (IFAD, FAO, WFP)
- Dr. Joelle Pineau, Vice-President, AI Research at Meta, and Professor of Computer Science at McGill University
- Dr. Daniel Roy, Research Director, Scientific Director, Vector Institute and associate professor at the University of Toronto
- Dr. Elissa Strome, Executive Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)
- Dr. Adam White, Fellow, Director of Scientific Operations, AMII and Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the University of Alberta