The Catalan government has officially established a new high-level body to spearhead artificial intelligence integration into public services, aiming to modernise bureaucracy and enhance administrative efficiency. The Directorate-General of Artificial Intelligence, Efficiency, and Data plans to be fully operational by this summer, following its formal creation on May 27, 2025.
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This initiative stems from key recommendations by CETRA, a commission of experts that spent five months developing a blueprint for administrative reform. Crucially, the new directorate will drive the Generalitat de Catalunya’s efforts to use AI. Its goal is to simplify complex procedures, reduce waiting times, and create a more proactive government.
Jaume Miralles has been appointed as the first Director-General to lead the new body. His mandate includes ambitious targets for the end of the year: redesigning 120 administrative procedures with AI, providing AI training to all administrative and service personnel, and launching 20 innovative new projects.
A €1 Billion Strategy for Digital Transformation
The directorate’s creation is a cornerstone of the wider “Catalonia AI Strategy.” This ambitious plan aims to mobilise €1 billion by 2030, bolstering the region’s technological ecosystem and establishing it as a European leader in responsible AI development. The government presented the strategy in Brussels late last year, advocating for a regulatory framework to protect citizens’ digital rights.
According to a report from Catalan News, a primary goal involves creating “proactive” services. The expert commission proposes a system where the administration directly identifies and offers services or grants to citizens likely to need them, rather than waiting for applications. To achieve this, the government plans to introduce legislative reforms this year. These reforms will enable secure data sharing between different administrative bodies, targeting completion by 2026.
Carles Ramió, president of the CETRA expert group, explained that these first steps were chosen as the most “urgent” measures. He said the goal was to demonstrate tangible progress to the public and show that the reform is moving “in the right direction.”
Cutting Red Tape in Key Sectors
The government has identified specific areas where AI could have an immediate impact. For instance, urban planning and environmental procedures, notorious for lengthy delays, are high on the priority list. The new directorate will focus on using AI tools to streamline report processing, which authorities say is the main cause of bottlenecks that extend deadlines.
Another key objective involves centralising and simplifying access to public aid and subsidies. The government plans a new online portal, which it calculates could reduce the average waiting time for grants from 7.4 months to approximately 5 months. This drive for efficiency reflects a broader ambition to make government more responsive to its citizens’ needs.
Catalonia has already been experimenting with public-facing AI. Last year, the government supported the launch of the first generative AI-powered chatbot in the Catalan language. This project highlights the region’s commitment to both technological innovation and linguistic diversity. Furthermore, it aligns with other unique regional initiatives, such as a plan for an AI to sit Catalan language and culture exams to prove its fluency and cultural competence.
Outlook for a Smarter State
The establishment of the Directorate-General of AI marks a significant step in Catalonia’s digital transformation journey. By embedding artificial intelligence at the core of its administrative functions, the government aims not only to boost efficiency but also to foster innovation and improve the daily lives of citizens.
With a clear strategy, substantial funding, and defined leadership under Jaume Miralles, the initiative promises to reshape the relationship between the public and the administration. The success of this ambitious project will depend on effective implementation and its ability to deliver on the promise of a simpler, faster, and more intelligent government for Catalonia.
