Albania Plans National Artificial Intelligence Programme to Accelerate Digital Transformation
TIRANA — Albania is preparing a new national programme for artificial intelligence as the government seeks to accelerate technological development, strengthen digital public services and expand the country’s technology industry.
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the initiative during the Second Innovation Forum, held in Tirana with representatives from government, businesses, the information and communications technology sector and universities.
The proposed programme is expected to bring together public institutions, technology companies, researchers and other stakeholders to determine how artificial intelligence can be applied more widely across Albania.
A major focus will be the use of AI within public administration. The government plans to make AI training available to individuals while introducing it as a mandatory programme for public administration employees.
Authorities are also working on the integration of AI tools into government institutions, initially focusing on areas such as legal services before expanding the technology across the wider administration.
Another major objective is the creation of stronger national digital infrastructure. The government wants to establish public cloud infrastructure, national computing capacity and data centres that can provide secure access to government data for businesses and academic institutions.
Albania also plans to develop a national open-data catalogue supported by interoperability standards. Officials believe this could make it easier for companies and researchers to develop new digital services and applications.
The technology sector has already become an increasingly important part of Albania’s economy. The government says the sector currently employs around 28,500 technology professionals, while technology exports have reached approximately €222 million.
The government has set an ambitious target of increasing technology exports to €1 billion by 2030. Support for startups is expected to play an important role in achieving that objective, with authorities planning to expand funding and encourage greater cooperation between businesses and universities.
AI applications are also being considered in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, healthcare and finance. Pilot projects involving government institutions and private companies are expected to help test practical uses of the technology.
Education and skills development will form another part of the programme. Albania is expanding smart laboratories in schools and supporting technology education, while the government says around 9,000 students are currently studying technology-related subjects.
The government is also working on a new generation of the e-Albania digital services platform and plans to develop an AI-powered public procurement system.
Cybersecurity remains closely connected with the country’s digital transformation strategy. Officials say Albania has strengthened its public-sector cyber defences following previous attacks against government digital infrastructure.
The new AI programme therefore represents a broader attempt to combine technological innovation with digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, education and economic development.
If implemented successfully, the initiative could significantly expand the role of artificial intelligence in Albania’s public services and private economy while creating new opportunities for technology companies and young professionals.
