The European Commission opens a public consultation to select the consortia that will build large-scale facilities with more than 100,000 AI chips and launches an action plan that will mobilize €20 billion in public and private investments.
The European Union has taken a decisive step toward its ambition to become a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence. The European Commission has launched a public consultation aimed at industrial and research consortia to select candidates to establish the continent’s first five AI gigafactories. These large-scale facilities will be equipped with approximately 100,000 state-of-the-art chips, quadrupling the current capacity of AI factories in Europe.
This initiative, part of the ambitious AI Continent Action Plan, aims to mobilize up to €20 billion in combined public and private investments through the European fund InvestAI. The announcement was made by the Vice President for Technology Security, Safety, and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, during the presentation of the European roadmap for AI development. It is part of a broader plan to accelerate the use, development, and infrastructure necessary to make Europe a leading player in this strategic field.
Unprecedented Boost to AI Infrastructure
The establishment of these gigafactories represents an unprecedented effort to equip Europe with computing and data infrastructures capable of supporting cutting-edge AI models. These facilities will not only integrate large processing capabilities but will also include high-performance data centers, thus fostering the development of complex foundational models without relying on external providers.
Currently, there are already 13 AI factory projects underway in the EU, one of them in Barcelona, supported by the EuroHPC regulation amended in 2024, which allows the creation of these infrastructures. With the new call for proposals, Brussels aims to go further and consolidate a network of innovation hubs for artificial intelligence spread across the continent.
Beyond Infrastructure: Data, Talent, and Regulation
The European strategy is not limited to building facilities. The Commission has also announced the creation of Data Labs within these factories, where large volumes of high-quality data from various sources will be collected and curated. This data will be key for training accurate and reliable models.
Another pillar of the plan involves fostering talent in AI. Attracting international experts and facilitating the return of European researchers will be supported through programs such as MSCA Choose Europe or scholarships from the future AI Skills Academy. Continuous education and professional retraining in key sectors affected by digital transformation will also be promoted.
On the regulatory front, the Commission is committed to simplifying the regulatory framework with concrete proposals before the end of the year and to launching the new Cloud and AI Development Act, a law designed to incentivize investment in sustainable data centers and triple cloud computing capacity in the EU over the next five to seven years.
Transversal and Sectoral Application
Despite the growth of the AI ecosystem, only 13% of European companies have adopted these technologies, according to data presented by the Commission. To reverse this situation, public consultations have been opened, and sectoral dialogues will be initiated to promote the use of AI in key sectors such as automotive, energy, public health, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Brussels’ approach aims to ensure that AI deployment occurs equitably and efficiently, addressing the needs of both large industries and SMEs as well as the public sector. The new strategy “Apply AI“, which will be unveiled in the coming months, will be crucial for identifying priorities, barriers, and specific opportunities in each industry.
Next Steps
The European Commission has already opened two public consultations—on the Cloud and AI Development Act and the Apply AI strategy—that will remain open until June 4, 2025. A third consultation on the Data Union Strategy will be added in May.
Based on the results of these participatory processes and dialogue with sector representatives, Brussels will define the selected consortia for the gigafactories and present new regulatory proposals before the end of the year.
In Summary
The global race for artificial intelligence is underway, and Europe wants to play a leading role. With an ambitious investment, a comprehensive strategy that covers everything from infrastructure to regulation, and a firm commitment to enhancing talent and sectoral adoption, the European Commission marks a turning point. The future AI gigafactories or artificial intelligence data centers will not only be symbols of technological capability but also pillars for a true and competitive digital sovereignty. Europe’s digital transformation begins now, with artificial intelligence as the engine.