Spain to Host One of Europe’s First Artificial Intelligence Factories
Spain has been selected as the headquarters for one of the initial seven Artificial Intelligence (AI) factories that the European Commission is establishing within the European Union. This initiative, aimed at boosting AI innovation, saw competition from fifteen EU member states as well as two associated countries, Turkey and Norway. The factory is expected to commence operations in early 2025 and aims to create a European ecosystem focused on training advanced AI models and developing solutions that democratize access to such technologies using high-performance computing (HPC) resources and supercomputers across the EU.
As reported by EFE, these AI factories will significantly enhance the computing power available for AI in Europe. They are designed to operate in an interconnected manner and will be accessible to startups, industry players, and European researchers in the field of AI. The announcement was made by Óscar López, Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, during a press conference following a Council of Ministers meeting.
Alongside the Ministry of Science, López's department will allocate €617.6 million towards this endeavor. The Barcelona Supercomputing Center, also known as the National Supercomputing Center (BSCCNS), will host this pioneering factory, which, along with the other six planned across Europe, aims to democratize access to advanced supercomputing infrastructure. This development will enable not only large companies and research institutions but also small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups to leverage these vital resources.
In addition to the support of the Spanish government, the Generalitat of Catalonia is also backing the project with a contribution of €14 million. Other countries involved, including Portugal, Turkey, and Romania, will collaborate to gather a total of €98.86 million in funding. Furthermore, the EUROHPC JU, a body established to channel the AI Factories initiative, has committed €98.33 million to the project.
This ambitious move signifies a substantial step towards fortifying Europe's position in the global AI landscape, ensuring that a diverse range of stakeholders can benefit from advanced computing capabilities and promote an inclusive digital future.
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