EuroHPC JU to create AI Factories

The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) Governing Board has amended its 2024 Work Programme to add a new AI Factories pillar to its strategy and to introduce a Call for Expression of Interest on AI Factories to boost European leadership in trustworthy AI. This will enable Member States to build AI Factories around existing, upgraded or new EuroHPC supercomputers, equipped with AI capabilities.

AI Factories will create a one-stop shop for the users, including startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and scientific users, to facilitate access to its services as well as skill development and user support.

AI Factories will be used for the development, testing, evaluation and validation of large scale, general purpose AI training models and emerging AI applications, as well as for the further development of AI solutions in the Union requiring High Performance Computing and the execution of large-scale AI algorithms for the resolution of science problems.

The rolling call for proposals is expected to open early September 2024 with the first cut-off date on 1 November and subsequent cut-off dates every three months. The EuroHPC rolling call will provide financial contribution for applicants to acquire new or upgraded AI EuroHPC supercomputers, to build AI Factories around them and to network them at the EU level. It is expected that an overall budget of around EUR 2 bn will be mobilised in the next two years, equally shared between the Member States and the EU.

For further details on this new initiative, please consult the EuroHPC press release.