EC Launches a Call to Setup AI Factories

The European Commission has launched a call for setting up AI Factories to boost European leadership in trustworthy AI. AI Factories will be created around the EU's network of European High-Performance Computing (HPC) supercomputers and will be available to a range of European users, such as startups, industry, and researchers.

“Europe is already leading the way with the EU AI Act, ensuring AI is safer and more trustworthy. Earlier this year, we fulfilled our promise by opening our high-performance computers to European AI start-ups. Now, Europe must also become a global leader in AI innovation. AI Factories will help secure our position at the forefront of this transformative technology,” said EC President Ursula von der Leyen.

AI Factories will bring together the key ingredients for success in AI: computing power, data, and talent. They will help AI developers train large generative AI models by using the EuroHPC supercomputers and providing access to data, computing, and storage services. The Factories will be networked across Europe, providing a unique European collaborative AI framework.

The AI Factories will be connected to Member States' AI initiatives, creating a vibrant AI ecosystem. The Factories will also profit from Europe's Testing and Experimentation Facilities and the Digital Innovation Hubs. The AI Factories will propel the development and validation of AI industrial and scientific applications in key European sectors such as healthcare, energy, automotive and transport, defense and aerospace, robotics and manufacturing, and clean and agri tech.

The rolling call launched by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking will be continuously open until 31 December 2025, with the first deadline on 4 November 2024 and subsequent cut-off dates every three months for as long as funds are available. This call will be supported by an EU contribution of close to €1 billion from the Digital Europe Program and Horizon Europe and an equal amount of funding coming from the Member States.