The Catalan government will invest €1 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030, with plans to train 150,000 public servants and integrate AI tools across its administration. President Salvador Illa announced the strategy during a public sector technology event hosted by NTT, the Future Government Center, on Monday 26th October 2026.
Illa stressed that technological advancement must serve citizens and that public services must remain guaranteed, not reduced.
Before digitizing, simplify. Before automating, rethink
, he said, outlining the administration’s guiding principle.
The strategy builds on existing initiatives such as the Cura Plan, which aims to cut waiting times for dependency care from around 600 days to just 60 by automating repetitive tasks. Another programme, Capgirem, has already simplified 170 administrative procedures ahead of digitisation.
Human Oversight to Remain Central
Addressing workforce concerns, Illa clarified that the goal is to automate tasks, not responsibilities. He emphasised that AI should empower civil servants, not replace their decision-making roles.
Judgment, responsibility, and the relationship with citizens and decision-making must remain within the scope of human decision-making
, he stated, adding that AI will handle information retrieval and synthesis.
The president described generational change in the public sector as an opportunity, insisting that automating routine work frees staff for higher-value roles. The AI rollout will be phased, with training and tools introduced progressively across departments.
The initiative was presented alongside regional leaders from the Basque Country, Andalusia, and the Canary Islands, reflecting a broader interregional dialogue on digital governance.
Sources: Govern de Catalunya.
