Encouraging AI Adoption by SMEs: Opportunities and Contributions by the ICT49 Project Cluster

Today's rapidly changing marketplaces are constantly bringing new ways of transforming business operations and require companies to be flexible and dynamic. Toward this direction the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and techniques has the potential to bring significant value by transforming business operations and increasing their efficiency. Companies are already benefiting from AI solutions such as prescriptive analytics to enhance customers” experience or achieve optimal use of limited resources. This paper analyses the opportunities and challenges deriving in the context of introducing AI solutions in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in different sectors of activity (matchmaking., earth observation., energy services., planning services., cyber physical services., digital innovation hubs) by reviewing the research design., methodology and expected results of six Horizon 2020 European projects: AI4Copernicus., AIPlan4EU., BonsAPPs., DIH4AI., I-NERGY and Stairw AI. The overarching goal of these proj ects is the enhancement of the European AI-on-Demand (AIoD) platform by mobilising the European AI community to support businesses and sectors in accessing expertise., knowledge., algorithms and tools for successfully applying AI and thereby generating market impact.

I. Introduction

Today's rapidly changing technologies are constantly bringing new ways of transforming business operations and require companies to be flexible and dynamic. The recent explosion of innovative and out-of-the-box Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and services are bound to disrupt every business domain possible [1]. Companies are already seeing the benefits from AI solutions such as prescriptive analytics to enhance the experience of their customers or optimise the use of limited resources. These AI tools and mechanisms are continuously evolving and will trigger further innovation thus requiring businesses to prepare.