National AI Strategy and Vision Realignment
Malta was among the first countries to launch a national AI strategy in 2019, aiming to drive adoption, innovation, and economic growth while ensuring ethical principles. The strategy, which spanned up to the period 2030, achieved significant progress: widespread AI use across sectors, increased public awareness, educational initiatives, and improved international rankings, with over 80% of proposed measures established, partially or fully executed. A number of other measures have become obsolete. However, rapid technological, regulatory and social changes necessitated a realignment of Malta’s vision for AI.
The realigned strategy moves away from a technology-first approach, placing societal well-being and sustainability at its core. Malta’s vision is to create a trusted AI ecosystem that promotes societal well-being, inclusive social and economic progress, and sustainability.
To achieve these goals, the strategy identifies two key enablers:
- Cultivating an informed public and a skilled workforce
- Strengthening regulatory, policy, security and support structures
Building on these enablers, the AI strategy focuses on three pillars for growth:
- Data and Infrastructure – ensuring access to data and computational resources
- Leveraging AI – improving public services and boosting private-sector competitiveness
- Advancing AI – fostering R&D through financial incentives and strategic support
Five foundational principles underpin the strategy:
- Diversity, Equality, Fairness and Anti-Discrimination – ensuring inclusivity and that AI systems are free from harmful bias
- Accountability, Responsibility and Legal Liability – promoting assessable, responsible AI
- Transparency, Explainability, Human Agency and Oversight – advocating for understandable AI systems with mandatory human oversight
- Safety – preventing harm and ensuring technical robustness
- Privacy, Data Protection and Data Governance – maintaining strict data ethics and compliance
Designed as an evergreen framework, the strategy will adapt to technological changes and align with Malta Vision 2050, positioning AI as a driver of sustainable growth and societal progress. It proposes 83 concrete measures to achieve these goals in the short to medium term.