The agreement between Slovenia and UNESCO on the creation of the IRCAI was signed in Ljubljana last week and the formal establishment of the centre as a legal person is expected to follow shortly.

The centre will initially be hosted by the Jožef Stefan Institute. In about two years it will operate independently, according to Mitja Jermol, the head of the institute's Centre for Knowledge Transfer and Information Technologies.

Jermol told the press on Tuesday that UNESCO had selected Slovenia because it recognised its potential in the field of artificial intelligence.

The IRCAI will focus on two areas: research into artificial intelligence from a broad social sciences perspective, and research into how artificial intelligence can help address global challenges. "This is not just about technology," Jermol said.

One of its tasks will be to create an open and transparent environment that will go beyond research to provide political support in the preparation of guidelines and action plans. In Slovenia, the wish is to build a broader artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Jermol said foreign companies had been showing interest in the IRCAI, which had the potential to strongly accelerate development. Slovenian companies will benefit from its activities as well.

The centre will be part-financed by the government but it will also have to secure financing independently.