The European Commission has announced a €1.5 billion investment in seven new or modernized artificial intelligence (AI) factories across Europe, set to become operational by 2025.
These state-of-the-art facilities are designed to advance AI research, development, and application, with the broader goal of transforming Europe into a leading “AI continent” by the end of the decade.
What are AI factories?
AI factories are high-tech hubs that combine supercomputers, large general-purpose AI models (GPAI), and programming facilities to develop and refine AI technologies. These facilities will serve as innovation platforms where organizations can create, test, and evaluate cutting-edge algorithms.
The European Commission highlighted two main objectives for these factories:
- Broaden AI adoption: Facilitate AI usage among small businesses across the EU.
- Enhance AI research: Support academic research to further innovation and development in AI technologies.
Beyond experimentation, the intelligence generated by these factories can be applied to operate AI models or drive advancements in new technologies, including robotics, generative AI systems, and self-driving vehicles.
Where will these factories be built?
The factories will be located in seven cities:
- Barcelona, Spain: Upgrading existing supercomputing facilities.
- Bissen, Luxembourg: Focus on space and financial technology.
- Bologna, Italy: Specializing in agrifood and cybersecurity.
- Stuttgart, Germany: Serving as a hub for industrial applications.
- Mimer, Sweden: Research-driven AI innovation.
- Kajaani, Finland: Including upskilling opportunities for workforce retraining.
- Athens, Greece: Featuring the DAEDALUS supercomputer already in use.
What will these factories do?
Each factory will tailor its operations to specific economic sectors, addressing unique regional strengths and priorities:
- Provide facilities for developing algorithms.
- Offer AI-enhanced supercomputers to support AI training.
- Build experimentation platforms for real-world AI testing.
- Host upskilling programs for individuals interested in transitioning into AI-related fields.
Broader impact
NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang has described AI factories as essential infrastructure for the next “industrial revolution,” enabling advancements in diverse industries like advertising, autonomous vehicles, and industrial robotics. Similarly, the Harvard Business Review outlined four components of a strong AI factory:
- A robust data pipeline for AI preparation.
- Algorithm development and optimization.
- Supercomputing infrastructure for AI training.
- Experimentation platforms for testing and deployment.
The European AI factories aim to strengthen the bloc’s technological autonomy, supporting both private enterprises and public institutions in navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
With these strategic investments, Europe is poised to become a global leader in AI innovation, fostering collaboration and enhancing competitiveness on the world stage.
