The second roundtable of the #CEEAIChallenger 2026 series took place in Prague under the theme of "Accelerating AI adoption in CEE enterprises". Co-organised by the CEE Digital Coalition and AAVIT, the meeting brought together policymakers, business representatives, researchers and experts to discuss one of the region's most urgent challenges: how to move from experimentation with artificial intelligence towards large-scale deployment, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Despite the growing awareness surrounding AI and the rapid pace of technological progress, adoption rates across Europe remain uneven. While larger companies increasingly integrate AI into their operations, smaller businesses continue to face significant barriers. Participants agreed that Central and Eastern Europe is not lacking ambition or interest in AI technologies. Rather, the region must address the persistent gap between early experimentation and systematic implementation capable of delivering measurable productivity gains and strengthening competitiveness.

TOpening the discussion, speakers highlighted that AI adoption varies significantly both between countries and across businesses of different sizes. Supporting SMEs in navigating this transition was identified as one of the key priorities for the region.

- The level of adoption differs between companies depending on their size and between EU countries, even within the region. We need to focus on helping SMEs adopt AI. We have strong research potential and a vibrant startup ecosystem, but we continue to struggle with scaling up. Our ability to deliver on adoption goals will depend on education and upskilling, simplification of regulations, and access to affordable computing capacity, perhaps through initiatives such as AI gigafactories - said Jan Kavalírek, CEE AI Ambassador.

Throughout the discussion, participants repeatedly stressed that successful AI adoption is not merely about purchasing new technologies. It requires organisations to rethink existing processes, identify clear business cases and returns on investment, and equip employees with the skills necessary to work effectively with AI tools.

Education emerged as one of the most important themes of the roundtable. Speakers emphasised that efforts should extend beyond formal schooling and focus on lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling initiatives designed to prepare the current workforce for technological transformation. At the same time, participants noted that awareness of existing support mechanisms and training opportunities remains limited among both companies and citizens.

The role of government in enabling adoption was also widely discussed. Participants pointed to regulatory sandboxes as an effective tool for allowing businesses, especially SMEs, to test and implement AI solutions in a safe environment. The importance of ensuring that the European regulatory framework remains clear, proportionate and innovation-friendly was equally emphasised.

- It is important to consider economic return when thinking about public spending. Europe too often competes in drawing up regulation rather than competing in gaining technological leadership. Cooperating with business is vital to making sure that spending actually brings results and remains sustainable - noted Vojtěch Munzar, Member of Parliament and Vice- Chair of the Budget Committee of the Czech Chamber of Deputies.

The discussion also highlighted the strategic importance of digital infrastructure. Participants stressed that broader access to computing resources, including future AI gigafactories and data centres, will be essential for enabling companies across the region to adopt AI solutions at scale. However, they also argued that public understanding of why such infrastructure matters must improve if Europe is to build the capacity needed to compete globally.

Another recurring theme concerned Europe's position within the international AI ecosystem. Speakers underlined that strengthening European capabilities should not come at the expense of international cooperation.

Participants agreed that Europe does not have to shoulder the entire burden of AI development alone. In areas such as research, skills development, deployment and infrastructure, trusted partners from third countries can play an important role in supporting Europe's ambitions. Excessively protectionist approaches risk limiting opportunities for local businesses and reducing their ability to access technologies, expertise and partnerships necessary for successful AI adoption.

The roundtable further explored how to strengthen collaboration between the public sector, businesses, academia and civil society organisations. Participants pointed out that many promising initiatives struggle to secure long-term support once initial funding streams come to an end. Better coordination between European and national instruments, alongside stronger public-private partnerships, was identified as critical to ensuring continuity and impact.

The Prague meeting formed part of the broader #CEEAIChallenger 2026 series, which brings together stakeholders from across Central and Eastern Europe to identify practical recommendations for strengthening the region's AI ecosystem. As discussions continue across the region, one message is becoming increasingly clear: unlocking the full benefits of artificial intelligence in CEE will depend not only on technological progress, but also on the region's ability to equip its people, businesses and institutions with the tools needed to turn AI potential into widespread adoption and sustainable economic growth.