Launched at the EU Digital Summit in Gdańsk on 17 June, the CEE AI Action Plan outlines how coordinated regional efforts can unlock €100B in GDP gains through AI adoption.
As the EU Digital Summit kicked off in Gdańsk this week under Poland’s EU Council Presidency, the AI Chamber has launched an ambitious new initiative to catapult Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) into the frontlines of global AI innovation.
Their CEE AI Action Plan, unveiled on 17 June, lays out a five-pillar strategy to boost AI adoption across the region—particularly among SMEs, which account for 99% of CEE’s businesses—and close the widening digital competitiveness gap with Western Europe.
With only 4–6% of companies in CEE currently using AI, compared to nearly 28% in countries like Denmark, the stakes are high.
“The CEE region doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for events to unfold” says Tomasz Snażyk, CEO of the AI Chamber.
“The next 12 to 24 months are pivotal for us and demand bold, coordinated and immediate action to secure its place as a competitive, innovation-driven economy within the EU. This period will determine whether CEE is a global player in AI – or a passive observer.”
The €100 billion opportunity
The Action Plan argues that even modest improvements in AI adoption could deliver €90–100 billion in additional annual GDP for the region – equivalent to adding an economy the size of Croatia every year. In a best-case scenario, those gains could rise to €135 billion, or 8% of total GDP.
But if the region fails to act swiftly, the AI Chamber warns that potential benefits could shrink to as little as €15 billion.
“AI is our generation’s economic lever,” says Snażyk. “If we empower SMEs with the right tools, data, and capital, they won’t just compete – they will learn to lead.”
A 5-pillar roadmap for regional AI growth
At the heart of the Plan are five strategic pillars, designed to tackle the structural barriers holding back AI adoption in the region. These include infrastructure, data access, talent development, smart regulation, and funding.
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- Infrastructure: The region lacks the high-performance computing (HPC) resources needed to support modern AI development. The Plan proposes connecting existing national supercomputers—like those in Bulgaria and Czechia—into a regional HPC network. It also calls for the launch of cross-border testbed facilities in sectors like healthcare and autonomous mobility.
- Data: To enable better AI model training, the Plan recommends launching a CEE Open Data Knowledge Network. This would promote best practices across national Open Data Portals and introduce shared governance standards for secure, cross-border data sharing in sectors like health and manufacturing.
- Talent: While CEE produces top-tier STEM graduates, the region suffers from brain drain and a shortage of applied AI skills. The Action Plan outlines national training programs, the introduction of AI into school curricula, and more than 1,000 fully funded AI fellowships. A “Brain Circulation” program would incentivize diaspora AI talent to return and lead key initiatives in academia, startups, and the public sector.
- Regulation: With the EU AI Act coming into force, CEE startups face regulatory uncertainty. The Plan calls for region-wide AI sandboxes, allowing innovators to test solutions without excessive red tape. It also proposes forming a CEE AI Policy Council to ensure the region’s voice is heard in Brussels.
- Capital: CEE startups raised just €2.3 billion in VC funding in 2024 – just a fraction of their Western peers. To close this gap, the Plan recommends launching national AI R&D programs, creating university-linked innovation hubs, and funding region-wide tech transfer initiatives to turn research into market-ready products.
“This is a roadmap to transformation – but it’s not one-size-fits-all,” says Snażyk. “We will work together with local authorities, ministries, and partner organizations in every CEE country to adapt and implement this plan where it matters most.”
From back office to AI frontier
Beyond addressing the digital divide, the Plan seeks to rebrand the region’s image – from an outsourcing hub to a thriving ecosystem of AI innovation, research, and scaleups.
It calls for a regional “CEE AI Champions” portfolio to spotlight high-growth companies like UiPath, Infermedica, and Rossum, as well as an international branding campaign to raise the region’s visibility among global investors and policymakers.
“CEE doesn’t need to copy Silicon Valley or the West to succeed – it needs to amplify its own strengths,” Snażyk explains. “With strong local ecosystems, affordable talent, and this coordinated push, we can build globally competitive startups that scale from Prague, Sofia, or Vilnius – not just from London or San Francisco.”
Aligning with the EU’s digital future
Launched during a politically symbolic moment Poland’s EU Council Presidency – the Plan aligns with the EU’s broader digital agenda, which aims to have 75% of European businesses adopt AI by 2030. Today, that number stands at just 13.5% EU-wide and even lower in CEE.
Given that the region represents 22% of the EU’s population but only 11% of its GDP, the Plan positions AI adoption as a key lever to raise living standards and long-term competitiveness across CEE.
For more details or to download the full CEE AI Action Plan, visit: aiactionplan.eu
