EU vs. China in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena-strengths, weaknesses, and the path to competitiveness

The EU faces challenges in matching China's rapid advancements in AI development and deployment. While the EU is the world's largest exporter, it has been losing ground in emerging technologies and production. 

Main objective of this report is to compare and analyse the EU and China’s AI strategies, focusing on education, intellectual property, regulation, industrial and defence applications, entrepreneurial support, and future prospects. 

This policy brief will analyse the EU and China’s AI strategies across six key dimensions to provide empirical insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the EU’s AI policy and offer recommendations for enhancement. 

The EU remains the world's largest exporter, with over USD6 trillion in exports, followed by China (USD3.4 trillion). The EU and China are global leaders in AI development, with China leading in AI patent filings (e.g., over 38,000 AI patents in 2022) and the EU prioritizing human-centric AI innovation.