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The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, EuroHPC has selected seven proposals to establish and operate the first AI Factories across Europe. This is a major milestone for Europe in building a thriving digital system to train advanced AI models and develop AI solutions. AI models and systems are expected to develop the EU-wide supercomputing centers arranged around the EuroHPC system and linking universities and academia, industry and financial sectors.
Background
The main idea behind the EU-wide AI Factories is to bring together the key ingredients that are needed for success in artificial intelligence, AI: computing power, data and human talent. Such “factories” will provide access to the massive computing power that start-ups, industry and researchers need to develop their AI models and systems: for example, by including the European large language models or specialised vertical AI models focusing on specific socio-economic sectors and/or other consumers’ needs.
Besides, the AI Factories intend to boost new industrial uses of AI and give the opportunity for AI start-ups and SMEs to grow in key strategic sectors in the EU member states, including health and life sciences, manufacturing, climate and environment, finance, automotive and autonomous systems, cybersecurity, agri-tech and agrifood, education, arts and culture, green economy, and space.
AI models and systems are expected to develop the EU-wide supercomputing centers arranged around the EuroHPC system and linking universities and academia, industry and financial sectors. This arrangement will connect excellence and talent with the financial opportunities needed for business development and scale up.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6302
European High Performance Computing system
The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, EuroHPC has selected seven proposals to establish and operate the first AI Factories across Europe. This is a major milestone for Europe in building a thriving digital system to train advanced AI models and develop AI solutions.
Through this approach, the EU is now one step closer to realizing the Commission’s digital priorities and commitment to setting up the first AI Factories.
More on EuroHPC in: https://eurohpc-ju.europa.eu/about/discover-eurohpc-ju_en
Note. The EuroHPC JU was created in 2018, reviewed in 2021 by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173, and amended in July 2024 by means of Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1732.
More in the amended regulation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401732
The first AI Factories, AIF will represent a €1.5 billion investment, combining national and EU funding. Half of this amount will be funded by the EU through the Digital Europe Program for AI infrastructure and Horizon Europe for AIF services. The selected AI Factories will be hosted at leading research and technology hubs in seven EU member states:
= Barcelona, Spain: “BSC AIF” at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre;
= Bologna, Italy: “IT4LIA” at CINECA – Bologna Tecnopolo;
= Kajaani, Finland: “LUMI AIF” at CSC;
= Bissen, Luxembourg: “Meluxina-AI” at LuxProvide;
= Linköping, Sweden: “MIMER” at the University of Linköping;
= Stuttgart, Germany: “HammerHAI” at the University of Stuttgart; and
= Athens, Greece: “Pharos” at GRNET.
These seven AI Factories involve digital activities and research in15 EU member states and two EuroHPC participating countries. Thus, Portugal, Romania and Turkey have joined the BSC AIF; Austria and Slovenia have joined the ITA4LIA; and Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Poland have joined the LUMI AIF.
Five of the selected hosting sites will deploy brand-new world-class AI-optimized supercomputers, namely in Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden. The AI Factory in Spain will result from the upgrade of the existing EuroHPC system, MareNostrum 5.
In Greece, an AI Factory will be established and operated, associated with the DAEDALUS supercomputer, a EuroHPC supercomputer currently under deployment in Greece.
The AI Factories in Spain and Finland will also feature an experimental platform, providing a cutting-edge infrastructure for developing and testing innovative AI models and applications, and fostering collaboration across Europe.
These AI Factories will more than double EuroHPC computing capacity, addressing specific need and boosting the European capabilities in AI; all the AIFs will be deployed during the period of two years: 2025-2026.
Citation
“Today we are one step closer to setting up AI Factories. Using European supercomputers, we will enable AI start-ups to innovate and scale up. Now we are ready to lead with the right infrastructure in our ambition for the EU to become the AI continent. We are on track to make the AI factories initiative a reality in the first 100 days of the new European Commission. We expect a second wave of offers on 1 February 2025”.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6302