Key Findings from the Report

Lagging adoption: Only 37% of European firms report using AI at scale, versus over 60% in North America and East Asia

Stalled productivity: European productivity growth has stagnated post-COVID, with AI seen as a key driver for revival

Skills bottleneck: A severe shortage in AI talent, digital infrastructure, and change management slows down adoption

Sectoral gaps: Manufacturing and public services are trailing most in AI usage, while banking and telecom are leading

Accenture’s Recommendations

• Public-Private Alliances: Governments should partner with enterprises to fund AI R&D, particularly in strategic sectors

• SME Enablement: Targeted support for small and medium enterprises to deploy AI-as-a-service platforms

• AI Skills Development: Urgent need for upskilling and creating AI-specialized education pathways

• Ethics and Compliance Frameworks: Streamline regulatory clarity to reduce adoption hesitation

Also Read: GomSpace Wins €19.5M Contract to Build Next-Gen Satellite Network in Europe

Why It Matters

This report arrives as the EU enforces its AI Act, and global competitors aggressively invest in generative AI, autonomous systems, and data-driven operations. Without intervention, Europe risks a tech and economic lag that could impact GDP, innovation output, and digital sovereignty.

“AI is not just a technology—it’s the new productivity engine. Europe must rev it up, or risk stalling,” says Accenture’s Chief Strategy Officer.