Europe Selects Sites for Seven AI Factories

Europe has selected sites for seven “artificial intelligence factories” – specialized research and development centers using the region’s most powerful supercomputers. The factories will be located in Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden.

A network of connected factories will drive progress in AI applications across the EU, including health, manufacturing, energy, climate and finance. It will be managed by the European Consortium for High Performance Computing, an organization established to develop a world-class supercomputing ecosystem in the region.

Site will more than double EU data capacity

The factory will provide AI start-ups, SMEs and researchers on the African continent with easy access to high-performance computing resources, training and expertise. The purpose is to bring together “Key elements for artificial intelligence success” They are computing power, data and talent. The seven plants will more than double the EU’s data capacity by 2026.

Five of the sites will involve new AI-optimized supercomputers, while one site in Spain will involve upgrading an existing EuroHPC system, MareNostrum 5.

Factories in Spain and Finland will have “Experimental Platform” Designed for developing and testing cutting-edge artificial intelligence models.

Who will fund Europe’s new artificial intelligence factories?

The EuroHPC JU, the European Commission and individual member states will jointly fund the seven plants, Total 2.1 billion euros. The EU will also provide 100 million euros to support incubation and start-up activities, aiming to attract an additional 1 billion euros in private investors.

AI factories will lower typical entry barriers associated with AI technology, such as the cost of installing hardware, shortages of qualified talent, and data security issues arising from the use of offshore cloud providers. They will also make it easier for researchers to comply with the EU’s strict data security and AI ethics requirements, as the factory’s management team will be responsible for compliance.

In addition, September Report Economist Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank, claims that the EU is not competitive with the rest of the world when it comes to innovation, especially in advanced technologies. These factories are intended to help address competitiveness deficiencies, safeguard strategic sovereignty, and strengthen control over data and security.

look: Generative AI will add €1.4 trillion to EU GDP by 2034

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: “Now we are ready to lead the EU’s ambition to become an AI continent with the right infrastructure.” statement.

The first seven factories will be operational in 2026

In January 2024, the European Commission launched a package of measures to support European startups and SMEs in developing trustworthy artificial intelligence, in line with artificial intelligence method. One of the proposals is to leverage EuroHPC infrastructure to build accessible artificial intelligence factories.

May, European Artificial Intelligence Office It was established primarily to manage the deployment of common models and artificial intelligence bills. However, the office is also tasked with building artificial intelligence factories.

The proposals from the seven factories are Received in November It was officially announced on December 10 that the goal is to establish and complete the first artificial intelligence factory in early 2025. by 2026. More may join later; Cyprus and Slovenia have submitted expressions of interest, and February 1 is the deadline for the second round of proposals.