BackUnlocking the potential of AI in the Baltic Sea Region: A path towards sustainable and inclusive transformation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly developed into a critical driver of economic and societal transformation. In the Baltic Sea Region, AI offers unique opportunities to tackle shared challenges in sustainability, economic competitiveness, social cohesion and safety and security. The pace and direction of this transformation can be significantly influenced by coordinated policy action and joint strategic investments in AI-driven digital infrastructure, services and skills.
The Baltic Sea Region, on one hand, is home to dynamic innovation ecosystems, advanced research institutions, and a tradition of macro-regional collaboration. On the other hand, it faces growing security challenges and pressure to accelerate green and digital transitions while ensuring that the benefits of technological progress are broadly shared – geographically, economically and socially.
AI, as a transformative technology, is uniquely positioned to support the dual transition. It can power green innovation, enable smarter and more responsive public services, and drive economic renewal through increased productivity and novel business models. However, its impact depends heavily on how it is developed, governed and adopted.
One of the central challenges for policymakers is to ensure that AI systems are safe, transparent, fair, and aligned with fundamental rights. With the EU AI Act providing a legal framework, the Baltic Sea Region now has a unique opportunity to shape its AI ecosystems in line with common European values. This means not just compliance, but proactive leadership in embedding ethics, inclusiveness and human oversight into the design and deployment of AI.
The ethical, safe and inclusive deployment of AI can be significantly enhanced by a macro-regional approach and cooperation. The countries surrounding the Baltic Sea share many of the same societal concerns and goals, not to mention today’s severe security concerns in the region. Disinformation and misinformation are security risks in Europe. In the context of attempts to influence knowledge, we talk about cognitive warfare. This is the active influencing of another person’s thinking. It is simultaneously a social, psychological, and technological activity. Less attention has been paid to how generative artificial intelligence affects cultural conventions. From the perspective of linguistic and cultural sovereignty in particular, the countries of the Baltic Sea region should consider joint solutions. They stand to benefit from common standards, joint investments and coordinated policy frameworks that reduce fragmentation and increase the region’s resilience and collective capacity to innovate responsibly.
An inclusive AI ecosystem starts with people. One of the most urgent needs is to invest in skills development and capacity-building, especially for SMEs, public sector institutions and underserved communities. These actors are often closest to the real-world challenges where AI can make a difference but may lack the expertise or resources to deploy it effectively.
Targeted training programmes, knowledge-sharing networks, and support mechanisms for experimentation can empower these actors to become confident users and co-creators of AI technologies. Moreover, building capacity in AI literacy, data management and digital ethics helps create a more resilient, adaptive and innovation-friendly environment.
Concrete examples already show the potential of AI to address macro-regional priorities in the Baltic Sea Region. AI-enabled urban planning can optimize traffic flows, energy use and land development to make cities more liveable and resource-efficient. Environmental monitoring tools powered by AI allow for faster and more accurate detection of pollution, biodiversity changes and water quality. Climate risk management systems can anticipate natural hazards, improve disaster preparedness and support regional climate adaptation strategies. These cases demonstrate that shared digital infrastructure, combined with coordinated governance and policy support, can deliver tangible benefits across borders.
Policy Area Innovation Coordinator Comment
Joint platforms for experimentation, innovation hubs and cross-border pilot projects can help transform good ideas into scalable solutions. These efforts also strengthen regional identity and cohesion, helping the Baltic Sea Region emerge as a model region for responsible AI development in Europe and beyond. Key areas for discussion and action also include strategic investments in AI capacity-building, with a focus on SMEs and the public sector, and legislative and policy alignment to ensure ethical, inclusive, and transparent AI adoption.
As AI continues to reshape economies and societies, the Baltic Sea Region has a strategic opportunity to lead, not only in technological development but also in ensuring that AI works for all. Through coordinated action, shared standards and a commitment to equity and sustainability, the region can build an AI ecosystem that is resilient, trustworthy and inclusive.
By harnessing the power of AI to solve real-world problems, while embedding it in a framework of democratic values and regional cooperation, the Baltic Sea Region can set a new benchmark for human-centred digital transformation in Europe.
Policy Area Innovation Coordinators
Securing the Future – Views from the Policy Area Coordinators
This text is originally published in the “Securing the Future – Views from the Policy Area Coordinators” publication. The publication consists of thematically focused articles that are aligned with the Strategy objectives. The texts support informed discussion on topics relevant across the Baltic Sea Region.
Download the full publication here.
Sanni Pöntinen
Researcher, Tampere University, Business Developer, Eforttia Ltd
Esa Kokkonen
Policy Area Coordinator, Policy Area Innovation; Director, The Baltic Institute of Finland
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