Albania is taking a bold step toward becoming part of the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market. Demonstrating its strategic ambition to position itself in the fast-evolving tech sector, the Albanian government has decided to invest $10 million (approximately 1 billion Albanian Lek) in the startup project “Machine Thinking Lab,” led by prominent Albanian-American AI expert Mira Murati.

The investment, which will be made through the Ministry of Finance, is part of a broader commitment to innovation and technological development. To enable this funding, the government proposed an amendment to the 2025 State Budget through a Normative Act, with a deadline set for April 29, 2025.

The draft of the Normative Act has been submitted for consultation to several key institutions, including the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, and the Central Election Commission.

The legal foundation for this initiative is Article 101 of the Albanian Constitution, which grants the Council of Ministers the authority to issue normative acts with the power of law in cases of necessity and urgency.

Signed by Finance Minister Petrit Malaj, who is also the proposing authority, the Normative Act is said to comply with all criteria previously outlined by the Constitutional Court in similar decisions, according to the explanatory memorandum attached to the proposal.

This major investment in Mira Murati’s AI venture marks a significant milestone for Albania’s digital future and signals the country’s readiness to engage with the global tech community at a higher level.