In a significant move to bolster its position in the global AI landscape, the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has announced the selection of seven sites to host the first AI Factories in Europe. This initiative, unveiled on December 10, 2024, marks a major milestone in the EU’s efforts to create a robust and interconnected network of AI hubs across the continent.
The selected AI Factories will be established in Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden. Acting as one-stop shops, they will offer AI startups, SMEs, and researchers comprehensive support, including access to AI-optimised high-performance computing (HPC) resources, training, and technical expertise.
Source: EuroHPC JU
Finland: The LUMI AI Factory will be hosted by CSC – IT Center for Science in Kajaani, expanding the existing LUMI supercomputer ecosystem.
Germany: The HammerHAI AI Factory will be located at the University of Stuttgart.
Greece: The Pharos AI Factory will be associated with the EuroHPC DAEDALUS supercomputer in Athens.
Italy: The IT4LIA AI Factory will be established in Bologna and hosted by CINECA as an evolution of the EuroHPC LEONARDO supercomputer.
Luxembourg: The L-AI Factory will be hosted by LuxProvide in Bissen and include MeluXina-AI, an AI-optimised supercomputer, placed next to the existing EuroHPC MeluXina supercomputer.
Spain: The BSC AI Factory will upgrade the existing EuroHPC MareNostrum 5 system and be located in Barcelona.
Sweden: The MIMER AI Factory will be hosted by the National Academic Infrastructure of Supercomputing (NAISS) in Sweden at Linköping University, in collaboration with the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE).
More information about the AI factories can be found here.
Collaborative Efforts and Funding
The initiative represents a collaborative effort involving 17 European countries, pooling together EU and national resources. The total investment for these AI Factories is €1.5 billion, with half of the funding provided by the EU through the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe.
Denmark’s Role in the LUMI AI Factory
Denmark is a key member of the consortium behind the LUMI AI Factory in Finland. Alongside Finland, the consortium includes the Czech Republic, Estonia, Norway, and Poland. By leveraging the established LUMI ecosystem and expanding it with new AI-focused features, the LUMI AI Factory aims to foster a thriving AI community that transcends borders and sectors.
See press release from DeiC here and statement from UFM here.
