Lithuania - National Artificial Intelligence Strategic Guidelines for 2026–2035

Lithuania’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategic Guidelines 2026–2035 were launched in 2026 by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (EIM) alongside key public sector partners including the Innovation Agency, the State Digital Solutions Agency (VSSA), and the GovAI Competence Center. 

The strategy marks an expected change: moving from isolated initiatives to systematic deployment of AI at state, business, scientific and societal levels. The document highlights the ambition that Lithuania would become not only a user but also a developer and exporter of advanced AI solutions. It is estimated that the successful implementation of the guidelines could generate about EUR 10 billion in added value for the country's economy over a decade. 

The four strategic pillars

The national guidelines are based on four main strands:

• The first is empowering people and strengthening AI competences. It foresees the integration of AI not only in high technologies but also in the wider development of the labour market and regions. This includes training, retraining and creating opportunities for highly qualified talents to work across Lithuania and not just in major cities.
• The second strand focuses on technological infrastructure and data, which are considered to be an essential basis for the AI breakthrough. The development of state cloud solutions, high-speed computing capabilities, common data models and certified data sets is envisaged. This should accelerate the uptake of AI in the public sector, research and business, while increasing the digital resilience of the state. 
• The third strategic direction focuses on the use of AI for the benefit of society. The document highlights the importance of human rights, security and reliability, and envisages a more active role for the state in the deployment of AI solutions in the public sector. Artificial intelligence is expected to contribute to reducing administrative burdens, speeding up the delivery of public services and increasing the efficiency and transparency of institutions. Particular attention is also paid to national security – AI is seen as a tool to increase resilience against disinformation and to contribute to the preservation of the Lithuanian language and cultural identity in a rapidly changing digital environment. 
• The fourth strand of the guidelines directly links AI to Lithuania’s economic growth. It is intended to enable businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to deploy and commercialise AI solutions faster. This requires not only a technological base, but also demand, skilled workers and clear legal regulation aligned with the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act.

The strategy emphasises that AI must become a daily tool to increase business efficiency, improve e-services and automate internal processes, and not just an experimental technology.

From vision to implementation

An important role in the implementation of the guidelines will be played by the Innovation Agency, which will develop a concrete action plan and support the transition from strategic provisions to practical solutions. This should ensure that AI in Lithuania is not only planned, but also actually developed, tested and implemented. 

In the long term, national strategic guidelines on AI can become a key document defining Lithuania’s place on the European and global AI map. They demonstrate the ambition to develop responsible, human-friendly and economic value-generating artificial intelligence that is integrated into all key areas of the country's development.