Malta AI: Where Innovation Meets Trust for Well-Being

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.

https://mdia.gov.mt/app/uploads/2025/11/MALTA-AI-WHERE-INNOVATION-MEETS-TRUST-FOR-WELL-BEING.pdf