Europe is accelerating its push into artificial intelligence, with investments surpassing €200 billion and more than 74 percent of businesses across the continent already running AI projects — a sign that the region’s long-promised digital transformation is firmly underway.
A new study by Eskimoz, a digital marketing and AI research company, has mapped out the countries best prepared to harness artificial intelligence. The ranking, based on investments, digital infrastructure, policy frameworks, and adoption rates, identifies Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands as Europe’s most AI-ready nations.
The research combined several indicators — including national AI spending, workforce skills, the strength of digital networks, and how deeply AI tools are embedded in both business and everyday life — to produce an AI readiness score.
Sweden topped the list with a perfect score of 100, backed by €3.2 billion in AI investments and a readiness index of 0.75. Swedish firms are among Europe’s most active adopters of AI, with one in four businesses now using at least one AI tool daily.
Germany followed closely in second place with a score of 82. Despite sharing the same readiness index as Sweden, it leads in absolute investment, channeling nearly €4 billion — more than any other European country — into artificial intelligence. Roughly 20 percent of German companies have integrated AI into their daily operations.
In third place, the Netherlands scored 79, with a readiness index of 0.77, the second highest overall. The Dutch have embraced AI both at work and at home: 23 percent of companies report using AI tools, and individuals interact with them about 50 times a year on average — the highest per capita use in Europe.
France ranked fourth, propelled by €3.4 billion in AI investments and a readiness index of 0.70, earning it a composite score of 69. Denmark rounded out the top five with a score of 64, the highest AI readiness index (0.78) in the study and the largest share of companies — 27 percent — that rely on AI regularly.
Further down the list, Finland ranked sixth with a score of 61, its €1.3 billion investment and 24 percent adoption rate supported by a readiness index of 0.76. Belgium followed with a score of 57, notable for its strong adoption levels (nearly 25 percent of businesses) despite lower investment at €396 million.
Norway, Austria, and Ireland completed the top ten. Norway scored 56, driven by a readiness index of 0.71 and €199 million in AI investment. Austria earned a score of 55 with a slightly higher readiness level (0.72) and €239 million invested. Ireland came in tenth, with a readiness index of 0.69, 15 percent of companies using AI, and €223 million in spending.
A spokesperson from Eskimoz commented, “AI readiness is about more than just investment. It reflects how countries are preparing businesses, education, and infrastructure for the future of work. High adoption rates signal that companies are integrating AI into daily operations, while robust national strategies show a commitment to innovation. By tracking these trends, we can better understand which regions are leading in AI and where additional support or guidance may be needed.”
The study highlights that Europe’s AI readiness extends beyond investment. It depends equally on how governments and industries prepare their economies for an AI-driven future — through education, regulation, and public engagement.
With the European Union moving forward on its landmark AI Act to regulate artificial intelligence technologies, the continent’s leaders face a delicate balance: ensuring safety and ethics while keeping pace with rapid innovation. For now, countries like Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands are setting the standard — not only for Europe, but for how an entire region prepares for an AI-powered world.