CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST to select Hosting Entities for acquiring or upgrading EuroHPC supercomputers with AI capabilities, an Advanced Experimental AI-Optimised Supercomputing Platform (optional) and AI Factory.

The present Call for Expression of Interest includes also an optional part on the development and operation of an Advanced Experimental AI-optimised Supercomputing Platform. 

Two different possibilities are enabled to establish an AI factory:  

• One is to develop it around a newly acquired AI-optimised supercomputer;
• the other is to develop it around an upgrade of an existing EuroHPC supercomputer with AI capabilities.

In the case where an applicant targets the acquisition of a new AI EuroHPC supercomputer, a hosting agreement between the EuroHPC JU and the selected hosting entity or hosting consortium will be signed, laying down the terms and conditions for hosting and operating the new AI EuroHPC supercomputer and establishing and operating an associated “AI Factory” around this supercomputer. 

In the case applicants intend to upgrade an existing EuroHPC supercomputer with AI capabilities, the existing hosting agreement between the EuroHPC JU and the selected hosting entity (or hosting consortium) will be amended, to account for the upgrading, hosting and operation of the upgraded AI EuroHPC supercomputer, and for establishing and operating an associated “AI Factory” around this upgraded supercomputer on behalf of the EuroHPC JU.

This call shall be continuously open until 31st December 2025, with pre-defined cut-off dates. The first cut-off deadline for applications is 4 November 2024 at 17:00 CET, with subsequent ones every three months.  

Budget

The European Union’s financial contribution for the acquisition of new or upgraded AI EuroHPC supercomputers is estimated at EUR 400 million in 2024, with a total budget of up to EUR 800 million stemming from Digital Europe Programme funds. The maximum European Union's contribution per new or upgraded AI EuroHPC supercomputer is capped at EUR 200 million, with potential increases based on the number of approved applications and remaining Union funds.

The European Union’s total financial contribution for the setting up and operation of the ‘AI Factories’ and for the development and deployment of advanced experimental AI-optimised supercomputing platform is estimated at a maximum of EUR 180 million stemming from Horizon Europe funds.  

The maximum EU contribution for the establishment and running per ‘AI Factories’ is set at EUR 15 million for a maximum period of 3 years.