Regional Collaboration: AI Initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe

This paper explores the rapid evolution of Central and Eastern Europe from a post-communist transitional region into a dynamic global hub for Artificial Intelligence innovation. By analysing the unique trajectories of leading nations—Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania—the study identifies how the region leverages strong technical education, foreign direct investment, and strategic EU integration to foster specialized AI ecosystems. Key findings highlight Poland's dominance in natural language processing and enterprise solutions, the Czech Republic’s focus on Industry 4.0 and automotive AI, Hungary’s advancements in precision agriculture, and Romania’s integration of AI within healthcare and education. The study concludes that regional collaboration and the transition toward a “critical mass” of talent and computing infrastructure are essential for CEE to sustain its competitive edge in the global digital economy.