Summary Under the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), Greece is required to establish Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI ("Centres for AI") as mandated by Article 5. These centres would not be created from scratch; instead, they must build upon existing European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). Their primary role would be to help SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies accelerate the adoption of cloud and AI by connecting them with European providers. These centres would serve as the regional entry points for a broader EU-wide network, directly supporting the national cloud and AI strategy required under Article 7.

Detail

The proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), COM(2026) 502 final, introduces a structural requirement for all Member States, including Greece, to create specific support structures to foster the adoption of artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Article 5 of the proposal specifically mandates the establishment of "Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI" (referred to in the text as "Centres for AI").

The Mandate under Article 5

Article 5(1) states that each Member State shall establish these centres. Crucially, the proposal requires that these new Centres for AI "shall build on the European digital innovation hubs established under Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/694 and, where applicable, any successor entities established under Union law."

This means Greece would not be starting from scratch. Instead, it would be required to leverage and upgrade its existing network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) to take on these new, specific AI-focused responsibilities. The centres would retain the substantial overall autonomy regarding their organisation, composition, and working methods, as noted in Article 5(5), but must align with the objectives set out in the Regulation.

Core Objectives

According to Article 5(2), the primary objectives of these Centres for AI in Greece would be threefold:

  1. Support Integration and Scaling: They would be tasked to support the integration and scaling-up of AI use cases in strategic industrial and public sectors.
  2. Accelerate Broad Adoption: They would accelerate the broad adoption of cloud and AI technologies at regional and local levels. This specifically targets SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies, in line with the "AI first" principle defined in the Apply AI Strategy.
  3. Leverage Infrastructure: They would leverage relevant infrastructure to accelerate the development and fine-tuning of AI models and systems.

Specific Tasks for Public Sector and Procurement Officers

For public-sector bodies and procurement officers, Article 5(3) outlines specific tasks these centres would perform:

  • Digital Transformation Support: Helping organisations accelerate their digital transformation through access to and use of AI technologies. A key mechanism for this is "connecting organisations with European providers of cloud and AI technologies." This directly supports CADA's goal of reducing dependency on non-European providers and fostering a competitive European cloud ecosystem.
  • Upskilling and Reskilling: Ensuring or providing access to relevant upskilling and reskilling schemes. This must be done in close collaboration with the AI Skills Academy.
  • Expertise Transfer: Facilitating the transfer of expertise across regions.
  • Startup Support: Supporting the scaling-up of spin-offs and start-ups emerging from universities, incubators, and other accelerators by facilitating access to clients, companies, and organisations seeking specialised AI services.

The EU-Wide Network

Article 5(6) establishes that a "network of Centres for AI" would be created to support collaboration and the exchange of best practices among these centres. This network would provide specialised services across regions where the required skills or compute capacity are not available locally. For Greece, this means that if a specific AI capability or compute resource is not available locally, the national Centre for AI could tap into this EU-wide network to provide the necessary support to Greek public bodies or businesses.

Article 5(7) further requires that Member States and the Commission cooperate with existing networks established under other Union initiatives, including those in the field of semiconductors and data. This ensures that the Greek Centres for AI are well-integrated into the broader European digital ecosystem.

Link to National Strategy (Article 7)

The establishment of these centres is not an isolated measure but is deeply linked to Greece's broader national strategy. Article 7 requires Member States to adopt national cloud and AI strategies within one year of the regulation's entry into force.

Article 7(2)(b) explicitly states that these national strategies must include measures to accelerate the development and adoption of cloud and AI, "particularly among public sector bodies, SMEs and SMCs, including by supporting the Centres for AI referred to in Article 5 as entry points to the European AI innovation ecosystem."

Therefore, the Greek national strategy would be required to detail how these Centres for AI would function as the primary local touchpoints for the public sector to access European AI innovation. The European Artificial Intelligence Board (AI Board), established by the AI Act, would advise and assist Member States in coordinating these national strategies, ensuring that the Greek approach aligns with EU-wide goals (Article 7(6)).

What this means for you

For public-sector procurement officers, administrators, and business leaders in Greece, the Centres for AI would become a critical resource for several reasons:

  1. Simplified Procurement and Vendor Connection: Article 5(3)(a) tasks these centres with connecting organisations with "European providers of cloud and AI technologies." As a procurement officer, you would likely be directed to these centres to find pre-vetted, sovereign-compliant European vendors, helping you meet CADA's sovereignty requirements (outlined in Article 16 and subsequent articles) more easily.
  2. Skills Development: If your department lacks the internal expertise to evaluate or implement AI systems, Article 5(3)(b) ensures that the Centre for AI would provide access to upskilling and reskilling schemes. This could help bridge the skills gap within your organisation, aligning with the EU's broader skills strategy.
  3. Regional Support: If you are a local or regional public authority, these centres would serve as your local entry point. You would not need to look solely to Brussels or Athens for support; the network is designed to be accessible at the regional level, ensuring that smaller municipalities and regions benefit from the same expertise as major hubs.
  4. Strategic Alignment: Your procurement and innovation strategies should align with the national strategy outlined in Article 7. Since the national strategy must explicitly support the Centres for AI as entry points, your department's engagement with these centres would likely be a key metric in demonstrating compliance with national and EU digital transformation targets.

Common misconceptions

Misconception 1: These are entirely new, standalone entities. Correction: Article 5(1) explicitly states that the Centres for AI "shall build on the European digital innovation hubs." They would be an evolution and refocusing of existing EDIHs, not a completely separate bureaucratic layer created from scratch.

Misconception 2: They only serve private businesses. Correction: Article 5(2)(b) and 5(3) explicitly mention supporting "public sector bodies" and helping organisations accelerate digital transformation. They are a vital resource for the public sector, particularly for those seeking to adopt AI in critical domains.

Misconception 3: They only provide theoretical advice. Correction: Article 5(2)(c) and 5(3)(d) indicate they would leverage infrastructure for model fine-tuning and facilitate access to clients and start-ups. They are operational hubs that would provide practical access to technology, skills, and market connections.

Misconception 4: Greece acts alone in this effort. Correction: Article 5(6) establishes an EU-wide network. Greek centres would collaborate with centres in other Member States, sharing best practices and providing cross-border services where local capacity is lacking.

Official sources

Related

This is general information about a draft EU regulation, not legal advice.