Central and Eastern Europe is assembling a high-level coalition of former government ministers and technology experts to coordinate AI policy and investment across 11 countries, signaling a shift from fragmented regional efforts to a unified voice on artificial intelligence governance. The AI Chamber, an organization focused on advancing AI innovation across the region, has appointed a Board of Advisors composed of senior policymakers and industry leaders who will directly influence AI regulation, talent development, and market strategy across Central and Eastern Europe.

Why Is Central and Eastern Europe Creating a Unified AI Strategy?

As the European Union (EU) pushes forward with comprehensive AI regulation through the EU AI Act, countries across Central and Eastern Europe face a critical choice: coordinate their approach to remain competitive, or risk fragmentation that could leave the region sidelined in the global AI economy. The AI Chamber's expansion reflects this urgency. By consolidating expertise from across borders, the organization is positioning itself as a central hub where former policymakers and technology leaders can align on key issues such as regulation, talent development, and AI deployment.

The board's composition reveals the stakes involved. Members represent a rare concentration of public-sector experience and private-sector expertise at a time when the region is racing to define its role in the global AI economy. These are not ceremonial advisors; they are practitioners who have shaped digital policy at the highest levels of government and now bring that experience to bear on the region's AI future.

Who Are the Leaders Shaping Central and Eastern Europe's AI Future?

The Board of Advisors is chaired by Jan Kavalírek, a former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and Government Commissioner for AI, who has led national implementation efforts around the EU AI Act, AI infrastructure strategy, and Europe's bid for large-scale AI computing capacity. The board also includes leaders from across the region:

• Bulgaria: Milena Stoycheva, former Minister of Innovation and Growth, now a venture network lead at Precede Ventures, brings expertise in entrepreneurship, education, and startup development policy.
• Lithuania: Eglė Markevičiūtė, former Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, oversaw digital, innovation, and space policy reforms and serves on advisory boards for European digital governance bodies.
• Slovenia: Mark Boris Andrijanič, former Minister for Digital Transformation and lead EU Council negotiator on the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA), advises European scaleups in AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing.
• Poland: Dariusz Jemielniak, professor of management at Kozminski University and faculty associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, is internationally recognized for work on social data science and collaborative digital communities.
• AI Governance Expertise: Ivo Emanuilov, an AI governance and intellectual property expert, heads the Experimental Governance Lab at GATE Institute and advises the European Commission on AI regulatory frameworks.

"The board provides a unique 'C-level Peer Construct,' bringing together top C-level leaders and experts from 11 countries. This is not just a formal exchange; it is a working environment where experience meets execution," said Jan Kavalírek, Chair of the AI Chamber Board of Advisors.

Jan Kavalírek, Chair of the AI Chamber Board of Advisors

How Will This Board Influence AI Policy and Investment Across the Region?

The Board of Advisors operates as more than a traditional advisory body. Members will directly influence AI policy and market development across the Central and Eastern European region while gaining access to high-level partnerships and investment opportunities. The board serves as a platform for collaboration across sectors, connecting decision-makers and enabling faster alignment on critical issues.

The practical implications of this structure are significant. Rather than each country developing AI policy in isolation, the board creates a space where former ministers, industry leaders, and AI practitioners sit at the same table and collaborate on shaping the direction of the artificial intelligence landscape. This coordination is particularly important as the EU AI Act moves from regulation to implementation, and as countries compete for talent, investment, and computing infrastructure.

Marcin Olender, currently Director of Public Policy at the AI Chamber, will transition into the role of Secretary of the Board, overseeing coordination of the Chamber's advisory, governance, and strategic policy activities across the region. This administrative structure ensures that the board's work translates into concrete policy outcomes and market development initiatives.

What Does This Signal About Europe's AI Competitiveness?

The expansion of the AI Chamber's board underscores a broader trend: as Brussels pushes forward with AI regulation, Central and Eastern European countries are increasingly recognizing that coordination is essential to remain competitive and avoid fragmentation. The region has historically been viewed as a secondary player in Europe's tech landscape, but this new structure suggests a deliberate effort to change that narrative.

By consolidating expertise from across 11 countries, the AI Chamber is positioning itself as a central node in Europe's AI governance infrastructure. The board's members bring direct experience with the EU AI Act implementation, digital market regulation, and European tech competitiveness. This expertise is valuable not just for the region, but for the broader EU conversation about how to regulate and deploy artificial intelligence responsibly while maintaining economic competitiveness.

The timing is strategic. As the EU AI Act moves into enforcement phases and as countries race to develop sovereign AI capabilities and computing infrastructure, having a coordinated voice from Central and Eastern Europe ensures the region's interests are represented in policy discussions and that investment opportunities are identified early. The board represents an acknowledgment that in the AI economy, coordination and expertise matter as much as capital.