The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking Launches AI Factories Calls to Boost European Leadership in Trustworthy AI

The EuroHPC JU will deploy AI-dedicated supercomputing and service infrastructures to support the further development of a highly competitive and innovative AI Ecosystem in the European Union. 

Two distinct calls for expressions of interest, each tailored to different types of hosting entities have been launched: 

• Call for expression of interest for the selection of existing Hosting Entities of EuroHPC supercomputers to acquire an advanced experimental AI-optimised supercomputing platform (optional) and to establish an AI Factory (EUROHPC-2024-CEI-AI-01)
• Call for expression of interest for the selection of Hosting Entities for the acquisition of an AI-optimised supercomputer or the upgrade of an existing EuroHPC supercomputer with AI capabilities, an advanced Experimental AI-optimised supercomputing platform (optional), and the establishment of an AI Factory (EUROHPC-2024-CEI-AI-02)

The calls shall remain continuously open until 31 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.  

Each cut-off date will trigger the evaluation of all applications submitted by that date. Through this process, EuroHPC JU will select hosting entities to host and operate AI-optimised supercomputers, AI experimental platforms and AI factories. New hosting agreements will then be concluded to establish stable and structured partnerships between the JU and the hosting entities for:

• the acquisition, integration and operation of new or upgraded AI EuroHPC supercomputers,
• the development and operation of advanced experimental AI-optimised supercomputing platforms,
• and the establishment and operation of the associated “AI Factories”.

The AI Factories initiative seeks to establish a number of comprehensive one-stop shops for AI users, including start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and scientific researchers. These AI Factories will provide streamlined access to a wide range of AI services, including essential tools, skills development, and user support. 

In addition, the AI Factories are designed to create an environment where AI innovations can flourish, ensuring that Europe remains competitive in the rapidly evolving global AI landscape. The aim of AI factories is to provide the European scientific community at large with enhanced access to AI optimised computing capabilities for the large-scale training and development of general-purpose AI models, and for the development, validation and running of emerging AI applications.

More Details

The European Union's financial contribution for acquiring new or upgraded AI EuroHPC supercomputers (EUROHPC-2024-CEI-AI-02) 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.

For the establishment and operation of AI Factories, as well as the development and deployment of advanced experimental AI-optimised supercomputing platforms, the European Union's total contribution is estimated at a maximum of EUR 180 million, stemming from Horizon Europe funding. 

The maximum European Union's contribution for the establishment and running per ‘AI Factory’ is set at EUR 15 million for a maximum period of 3 years. 

More information about each call of expression of interest can be found on the dedicated webpage.

Background

On 9 July 2024, the amendment to the EuroHPC JU regulation expanding the objectives of the JU to include the development and operation of AI factories entered into force. Consequently, on 26 July 2024, the EuroHPC JU announced the amendment to its Work Programme to incorporate the new AI Factory pillar.

The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity, created in 2018 and reviewed in 2021 by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173. This regulation was recently amended in 2024 by means of Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1732, with the mission to:

• Develop, deploy, extend, and maintain in the EU a world-leading federated, secure, and hyper-connected supercomputing, quantum computing, service, and data infrastructure ecosystem;
• Support the development and uptake of demand-oriented and user-driven innovative and competitive supercomputing systems based on a supply chain that will ensure components, technologies, and knowledge, limiting the risk of disruptions and the development of a wide range of applications optimised for these systems;
• Widen the use of that supercomputing infrastructure to a large number of public and private users and support the development of key HPC skills for European science and industry;
• Develop and operate AI Factories located around EuroHPC supercomputing facilities to support the growth of a highly competitive and innovative AI ecosystem in Europe.

To equip Europe with a world-leading supercomputing infrastructure, the EuroHPC JU has already procured nine supercomputers, located across Europe. Three of these EuroHPC supercomputers are now ranked among the world’s top 10 most powerful supercomputers: LUMI in Finland, Leonardo in Italy and MareNostrum 5 in Spain.  

Regardless of their location in Europe, European scientists and users from the public sector and industry can benefit from these EuroHPC supercomputers via the EuroHPC Access Calls. This access enables them to advance science and support the development of a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific, and societal relevance for Europe. In this context, the EuroHPC JU AI and Data-Intensive Applications Access call aims to support ethical artificial intelligence, machine learning, and in general, data-intensive applications, with a particular focus on foundation models and generative AI (e.g. large language models).