The Croatian National Bank reported on a conference it co-hosted with the European Investment Bank Group on Croatia’s AI-ready economy, where speakers and newly presented EIB research highlighted that Croatian firms are investing actively but remain behind the EU average in adopting artificial intelligence. The event identified access to finance, skills shortages, fragmented data and regulatory uncertainty as the main barriers to wider AI use, with financing, skills and policies presented as the three main pillars for faster adoption. The Croatian National Bank Governor also pointed to risks from overreliance on AI and possible labour market effects. At the conference, the European Investment Bank Group presented the EIB Investment Survey 2025 for Croatia and the EIB Investment Report 2025/2026. The survey found that 89% of Croatian firms are investing, slightly above the EU average, but only one fifth systematically use generative AI, with usage largely confined to internal processes and remaining below the EU average. Panel participants said Croatia should expand financing instruments, strengthen regulatory frameworks, improve access to finance and skills for smaller firms, and mobilise private capital particularly for scale-ups. The EIB report’s policy conclusions also pointed to completing the EU internal market, advancing a savings and investments union, reducing red tape to support digitalisation, and co-investing in skills.
Croatian National Bank 2026-03-31
Croatian National Bank and European Investment Bank Group highlight low AI uptake and financing skills and policy barriers in Croatia
The Croatian National Bank reported on a joint conference with the European Investment Bank Group on building an “AI-ready” Croatian economy, where new EIB research showed that while 89% of Croatian firms are investing, only around one fifth systematically use generative artificial intelligence, below the European Union average in AI adoption. Speakers identified access to finance, skills shortages, fragmented data and regulatory uncertainty as key barriers, and highlighted financing, skills and policies as levers to accelerate AI use, while noting risks from overreliance on AI and labour market impacts.