New OECD-EC Report: Insights from the implementation of the EU Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence

Since its launch in 2018, the European Union’s Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence has represented a shared vision between the European Commission and EU Member States to develop, deploy and use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly and strategically across Europe. Revised in 2021, the plan aims to mobilise at least EUR 20 billion in combined annual investments by 2030, strengthen Europe’s global position in trustworthy AI, and ensure that AI contributes to sustainable, inclusive growth. 

A new OECD report, in cooperation with and funded by the European Commission, Progress in Implementing the European Union Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence (Volume 1): Member States’ Actions, takes stock of national strategies, investments and governance arrangements put in place across the EU since the revision of the European Union’s Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence. 

The report offers a comprehensive overview of policy initiatives in key areas, including AI policy, data, compute, skills, and support for AI adoption and innovative AI ventures. 

Some key take-aways are:

• Nearly all EU Member States—24 out of 27—have now adopted national AI strategies and agrowing number of governments are establishing mechanisms to evaluate or update their AI strategies
• Fewer than half of Member States have dedicated budgets for AI strategies. In most cases, AI is funded through broader digitalisation programmes or sector-specific initiatives.
• Fifteen Member States have adopted national data strategies, thereby recognising data as both a public good and an economic asset.
• Over two-thirds of Member States are strengthening high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities, often through the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, and investing in edge computing, sovereign cloud models, and connectivity networks to support AI workloads.
• More than half of Member States have established national or regional AI centres that serve as hubs for research, talent development, and industry collaboration. Yet cross-border co-operation remains limited.
• About two-thirds of Member States have launched initiatives to help firms—especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—adopt AI. Throughout the EU, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) provide SMEs with access to testbeds, expertise and financial support. Countries are also investing in testing and experimentation facilities and support for AI start-ups and scale-ups is also expanding, with several Member States having introduced venture capital schemes, deep-tech funds and incubators dedicated to AI.
• Member States’ sectoral priorities have been focusing on healthcare, public administration, mobility, climate and environment, and agriculture.

This data shows the value of collaboration in an era where AI’s opportunities and risks transcend borders.

The Apply AI Strategy and the AI Continent Action Plan want to further strengthen this collaboration and foster an EU where the AI is both innovative and trustworthy, embedding it in key strategic sectors of the European economy to unlock the greatest potential for competitiveness, sovereignty and share social benefits. 

Read the full report here: Progress in Implementing the European Union Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence (Volume 1): Member States’ Actions