AI Chamber, in partnership with The Recursive Media and with support from Europe Cloud, has launched the CEE AI Index 2026, a new research initiative designed to measure the strategic AI readiness of countries across Central and Eastern Europe.
Covering 11 countries, the index evaluates the structural ability of nations to develop, deploy, and host artificial intelligence efficiently, safely, and within established governance frameworks.
The assessment is based on 33 indicators and 363 data points across three categories: Environment (which measures governance and digital infrastructure), Resources (which evaluates talent and investment ecosystems), and Deployment (which examines AI adoption and research output).
The findings suggest that while the region is more advanced in AI readiness than is often assumed, a growing divide is emerging between countries that are positioned to help shape Europe's AI landscape and those that are still building the foundations required to participate fully.
According to the index, success is not determined by size alone. Several smaller countries outperform larger economies through targeted investments in governance, talent, and digital infrastructure.
Estonia emerged as the region's most institutionally mature AI ecosystem, combining advanced digital public services, strong enterprise adoption, and a high concentration of AI talent. Lithuania ranked highly for open data governance and demand for AI professionals, while Slovenia stood out for research intensity and STEM capacity. Poland remains the region's largest AI market, leading in research output, high-performance computing capacity, and workforce scale.
Central and Eastern Europe has been building the conditions that serious AI investment requires: governance frameworks, talent pipelines, and in several markets, infrastructure that is already operational. What has been missing is the data to make that case with precision,
said Tomasz Snażyk, CEO of AI Chamber.
One of the report's key conclusions is that governance has become a critical differentiator. While most countries in the region have introduced national AI strategies, only a smaller group has developed the institutional capacity required to implement them effectively.
Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania recorded the strongest Environment scores, reflecting more mature governance frameworks, regulatory coordination, and digital infrastructure. Other countries continue to face challenges translating policy ambitions into operational readiness.
The report also suggests that the European Union's AI Act could widen existing differences across the region. Countries with established governance structures may be better positioned to attract investment and support enterprise AI adoption, while others may face additional challenges in meeting regulatory requirements while simultaneously building domestic AI ecosystems.
Despite the differences in readiness levels, the index highlights a region characterised by complementary strengths rather than direct competition. No single country leads across all categories. Instead, competitive advantages are distributed across research, talent development, infrastructure, governance, and market scale.
The report also points to progress in countries including Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Croatia, each of which has developed specific capabilities ranging from experimentation infrastructure and tax incentives to technical expertise and education programmes.
The publication of the CEE AI Index comes as AI sovereignty, infrastructure, and talent development move higher on policy and investment agendas across Europe. The report aims to provide policymakers, investors, and ecosystem builders with a clearer picture of where AI readiness is already operational and where further development is needed.
Mark Boris Andrijanič, former Minister for Digital Transformation of Slovenia, said the findings highlight both the region's strengths and its continued funding gap. While several Central and Eastern European countries now rank among Europe's strongest performers in digital governance, talent, and infrastructure, he noted that the region remains underrepresented in discussions around major AI investment and development initiatives.
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