Romanian PM Luca Niculescu says only 5.2% of firms use AI, urges faster digitalisation

Digitalisation beyond paper forms

Prime Minister Luca Niculescu told the GoTech World 2026 event on Tuesday, 10 November, that digitalising public administration means more than moving paper forms onto a screen. He said the goal is simpler, more accessible and more secure public services, with procedures redesigned rather than merely computerised. Institutions should work together and use data responsibly, he added. The government, he said, had decided to appoint a minister delegated for digitalisation and artificial intelligence, whose main objectives include interconnecting government systems. He acknowledged that Romania still has ground to cover in this area, saying:

“And here, yes, I think we have some work to do.”

Romania trails the EU on AI use

Niculescu cited Eurostat figures showing that in 2025 only 5.2% of Romanian companies with at least ten employees used artificial intelligence technologies, compared with about 20% across the European Union. He argued that Romania must speed up its adaptation to a changing economy, saying:

“Romania needs to speed up its pace of adaptation to this world, which is coming or has already arrived.”

Niculescu also noted that the minister for digitalisation and artificial intelligence holds a slightly different view, arguing that AI is already used in the Romanian administration, though not necessarily in a very coordinated way. He said he did not know whether the minister would comment on the Eurostat figures. The gap is shown in the chart below.

Romania5.2%

European Union20%

Romania

5.2 %

European Union

20 %

Data from the article text

Technology as a competitiveness engine

Niculescu said the IT&C sector had grown about three times faster than the economy as a whole over the past two decades, citing recent OECD reports. He noted that Romania is preparing to join the OECD, which he described as an organisation bringing together the world's most important developed economies. He framed the government's priority as follows:

“Our priority is for technology to become an engine of competitiveness.”

He said this should support investment, raise productivity, back research and innovation, and help Romanian companies expand into international markets. He added that the government programme contains a few clear ideas in this direction.

Cyber protection and collaboration

Niculescu warned that modernisation must be accompanied by measures protecting essential institutions and infrastructure. He listed cyberattacks, fraud and information manipulation as threats to critical infrastructure, institutions and public trust. The government promised to strengthen cyber resilience and protect critical infrastructure, he said, insisting that innovation and security must advance together. He also called for closer collaboration between the administration, companies, universities and researchers, and said he strongly believed in this dialogue.