Global AI Network (GAIN)

Project Lead: Ricardo Rio

Overview

AI-Powered Solutions is a flagship GeSI initiative designed to support Europe in shaping a clear, credible, and coordinated strategic direction on Artificial Intelligence. 

Building on GeSI’s previous thought-leadership work, the project bridges the gap between AI ambition and implementation—strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, digital sovereignty, and capacity to scale AI responsibly. 

The initiative connects global expertise with European priorities, translating strategic vision into measurable progress and policy-relevant action. 

Why Now

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping economic models, public governance, and global competitiveness. 

Europe has established a strong regulatory foundation and ambitious AI policy frameworks. However, fragmentation in implementation, uneven investment, and differing levels of readiness across Member States risk limiting Europe’s ability to scale AI effectively. 

This project responds to the need for: 

• Greater coherence across strategies and sectors 
• Clear indicators to measure progress 
• Alignment between policy ambition and operational realities 
• Coordinated action at European and global levels 

Why Europe

Europe has the opportunity to position itself as a global reference point for responsible, competitive, and human-centric AI. 

With its regulatory leadership, strong research base, and commitment to sustainability and inclusion, Europe can demonstrate how AI deployment can reinforce democratic values, economic resilience, and social cohesion. 

AI-Powered Solutions supports this ambition by ensuring that implementation mechanisms match strategic intent. 

Strategic Objectives

Strengthen Europe’s AI Positioning 

Assess how AI is prioritised across Europe, identify gaps between ambition and deployment, and articulate a shared narrative that supports scalable and trustworthy AI ecosystems. 

Build Alignment and Trust 

Convene policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, workers’ representatives, and civil society across priority sectors, including: Agri-food, Cities, Energy, Mobility, Public services & digital public infrastructure, Lifelong learning, Media. 

Mobilise Expertise 

Leverage GeSI and RIE expert networks to produce evidence-based, future-oriented recommendations grounded in Europe’s economic and geopolitical realities. 

Develop Strategic Indicators and an EU AI Country Tracker 

Design a comprehensive monitoring framework covering: 

• Governance 
• Data ecosystems 
• Infrastructure 
• Skills 
• Competitiveness 
• Societal readiness 

The EU AI Country Tracker will enable benchmarking, inform investment decisions, and support coordinated action across Member States. 

Embed Insights into Policy 

Ensure direct integration of findings into EU and international policy processes, engaging institutions, national governments, alliances, and global fora such as the UN, G20, and OECD. 

Key Deliverables

 

• Strategic positioning report on Europe’s AI ecosystem 
• Sectoral alignment recommendations 
• Indicator framework and EU AI Country Tracker 
• Policy briefs for EU and international stakeholders 
• Multi-stakeholder roundtables and consultations 

Timeline & Milestones

• Phase 1 – Landscape Analysis & Stakeholder Mapping
  Assessment of existing AI strategies, sectoral readiness, and investment patterns. 
• Phase 2 – Indicator Framework Development
  Design and validation of governance, infrastructure, skills, and competitiveness indicators. 
• Phase 3 – EU AI Country Tracker Launch
  Publication of benchmarking framework and country-level insights. 
• Phase 4 – Policy Integration & Global Outreach
  Presentation of findings to EU institutions and international platforms. 

Governance & Leadership

The project is led by Ricardo Rio, Head of EMEA and Director for Strategic Partnerships at GeSI. 

With more than two decades of leadership in public administration and international urban policy—including his tenure as Mayor of Braga—Ricardo brings extensive experience in European governance and cross-sector collaboration. His leadership ensures strong alignment between strategic objectives, institutional processes, and real-world implementation. 

The initiative is developed in close collaboration with Re-Imagine Europa (RIE), combining GeSI’s digital sustainability expertise with RIE’s policy and European governance network. 

Member Engagement

GeSI members play a central role in shaping the initiative. Their practical experience and sector-specific insights contribute to analysis, validate recommendations, and ensure that outputs are operationally relevant and scalable across Europe and beyond. 

Active participation from industry and policy stakeholders is essential to delivering measurable and coordinated progress.