The European Commission has launched its ambitious AI Continent Action Plan, introducing a blueprint to expand and modernize the European Union´s artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. Central to the strategy are five large-scale ´AI Gigafactories,´ each designed to accommodate around 100,000 purpose-built AI accelerator chips, effectively quadrupling the EU´s current capacity for model training and artificial intelligence development. The project will draw on a €20 billion investment from the EU´s InvestAI fund, which will cover both the construction of advanced data centers and the acquisition of necessary semiconductors. This commitment supplements the €10 billion previously allocated for the development of thirteen smaller AI factories slated to go online by 2026. While specific locations for the gigafactories are yet to be finalized, Germany´s next government, led by Chancellor designate Friedrich Merz, has expressed a strong desire for one to be situated within its borders.
Beyond hardware expansion, the Action Plan tackles the vital issue of data infrastructure. It introduces dedicated Data Labs responsible for standardizing datasets contributed by research bodies and industry partners, ensuring robust, interoperable resources for European artificial intelligence efforts. A forthcoming Data Union Strategy is set to establish mechanisms and protocols for cross-border data sharing, aiming to create a unified, EU-wide market of AI-ready data. This is timely, as fewer than 14 percent of EU businesses currently use artificial intelligence in production, highlighting a substantial deployment gap compared to global peers.
To accelerate real-world adoption, the Commission will roll out the ´Apply AI´ initiative, focusing on introducing artificial intelligence into sectors crucial to Europe’s strategic interests. European Digital Innovation Hubs will play a key role in supporting enterprise implementation. The plan also foregrounds talent development through specialist fellowship programs, streamlined visa routes for non-EU technical professionals, and a new AI Skills Academy offering targeted training in generative models and machine learning operations. Compliance support is assured via the AI Act Service Desk, assisting with evolving EU regulatory requirements. These combined initiatives are designed to close the technology gap with the US and China, fostering greater innovation, economic competition, and positioning the EU as a leader in the global artificial intelligence landscape.
