EU set to launch AI Factories for AI innovation

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU Commission accepted seven proposals for AI Factories which will promote AI innovation in the EU.

According to the EU Commission, the first seven proposals for artificial intelligence (AI) Factories have now been proposed under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU), which controls the call reported in September 2024. 

Which countries are leading the AI Factory proposals?

EU Commission stated that the seven proposals submitted in total by 15 Member nations and two associated partaking states demonstrate a very intense interest in this important endeavour. 

Proposals to create an AI Factory around an existing or a new supercomputer adapted to AI needs were presented by Finland (together with the participation of Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Poland), Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany, Italy (together with the participation of Austria and Slovenia), and Greece. Similarly, a proposal from Spain together with the participation of Portugal, Romania and Turkey has been introduced and is still expected.  

The offered proposals will now be assessed by an independent panel of experts. The EuroHPC JU expects to inform the selection of the first AI Factories in December 2024 and find them soon thereafter. 

How will the AI Factories impact European innovation?

As reported by the European Union, these AI Factories will construct a thriving European ecosystem for training advanced AI models and creating AI solutions. They will be created around the EU’s world-class network of  European High-Performance Computing (HPC) supercomputers and will be bringing together the critical ingredients for success in AI: computing power, data and talent. The AI Factories will substantially improve the computing power available for AI in Europe. They will be connected and available to European AI startups, industry and researchers.