미래 국가 경쟁력을 좌우하는 핵심요소로 인공지능에 주목하고 있다. 인공지능은 산업과 사회 전반에 영향을 미치며, 2030년까지 전 세계 GDP에 13조 달러 기여 할 것으로 전망되며, 향후 국가의 인공지능 활용 역량에 따라 경쟁력에 큰 차이가 발생할 것으로 예측되고 있다. 이에, 인 공지능 연구역량 확보를 위한 국가 간 혁신 경쟁이 치열하게 전개 중이며, 본고에서는 국가 간 인공지능 연구역량을 가늠하고 비교할 수 있는 국가 인공지능 연구 지수(National AI Research Index)를 개발하고 시사점을 도출하였다.
91개국을 대상으로 인공지능 연구 데이터를 분석한 결과, 2016~2019년 간 91개 국가는 평균 3,455건의 연구를 수행하였다. 인공지능 연구 성과지표의 양과 질을 모두 고려하여 국가 인공지능 연구지수를 측정하였으며, 91개 국가의 인공지능 연구지수 평균은 43.01점으로 측정되었다. 1위는 미국으로 94.01점, 2위는 영국 93.94점을 차지하였다. 오스트레일리아, 이탈리아, 캐나다, 스페인, 중국, 싱가포르, 홍콩, 독일이 상위 10국가에 위치하는 것으로 분석되었다. 한국은 91개 국가 중 14위를 차지하였다.
Executive Summary
It is paying attention to artificial intelligence as a key factor that determines future national competitiveness. Artificial intelligence affects the industry and society as a whole, and is expected to contribute $13 trillion to global GDP by 2030, and it is predicted that there will be a big difference in competitiveness depending on the ability of countries to use artificial intelligence in the future. Accordingly, the competition for innovation between countries to secure artificial intelligence research capabilities is in fierce progress, and in this paper, the National AI Research Index, which can measure and compare AI research capabilities between countries, is developed and implications are drawn.
As a result of analyzing artificial intelligence research data in 91 countries, 91 countries conducted an average of 3,455 studies between 2016 and 2019. The national AI research index was measured by taking into account both the quantity and quality of AI research performance indicators, and the average AI research index of 91 countries was measured at 43.01 points. The US ranked first with 94.01 points and the second with 93.94 points in the UK. Australia, Italy, Canada, Spain, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Germany were analyzed to be in the top 10 countries. Korea ranked 14th out of 91 countries.
The implications of the study are as follows. There are differences in AI research capabilities between countries, and the gap between the average level and the leading level is very large. Looking at the distribution of the AI national research index, it is in the form of a power low with a tail drooping to the right, which means that the difference between the average group and the leading group is large. Second, competition among countries to strengthen artificial intelligence capabilities is expected to accelerate, and Korea is expected to be able to enter the top 10 by enhancing its qualitative performance. Third, it is important to pay attention to countries focusing on artificial intelligence research capabilities, and note that research capabilities and digital competitiveness do not necessarily match. Lastly, it is necessary to continuously develop a national AI research index measurement model and establish a monitoring system.
