Romania’s popularity in terms of AI adoption is on the rise, according to the latest reports. The country’s capital, Bucharest, is ranked by StartupBlink as the 1st city in Eastern Europe in terms of startups using AI technology.
StartupBlink is an innovation economy research platform with over 200,000 entities, and its research is powered by over 100 governments, corporations, and global data partners. The platform supports entities in identifying opportunities to become leaders in terms of global innovation economy.
Bucharest Tops Eastern European Cities in AI Startups
According to StartupBlink’s report, Romania’s capital scored a total of 3.120 points, ranking first in the platform’s top for the region’s AI startup development.
Bucharest is followed by the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, which has a total score of 2.025, Moscow with a score of 1.724 points, Istanbul with 1.426 points, and Prague with a score of 1.127.
Bucharest ranking first in StartupBlink’s top translates into a growing adoption of AI and favorable conditions for startups using the innovative technology. Romania is also on the right path to becoming a regional hub in terms of crypto adoption, as we previously reported.
Identifying the Best AI Startup Ecosystems
A favorable AI startup ecosystem involves great conditions for innovative ideas to become successful businesses. Such conditions include the following:
- A growing number of IT specialists
- Growing investment and financing opportunities
- Specialized communities of entrepreneurs and developers supporting emerging talents
- A surging overall support for innovation and emerging technologies
StartupBlink analyzed a vast palette of factors to identify the best Eastern Ecosystem AI startup ecosystems, including the following:
- Internet speed
- Research and development investment
- Activity levels of the AI startup ecosystem
- Co-working spaces, related meetings in the region
- Other key parameters that support the development and success rate of a startup
Globally, in 2025, the top city for startups development is Sillicon Valey region, followed by New York, London, Tel Aviv, Boston and Beijing, according to recent data from Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025.
