📋 Tender Overview
The EU is supposed to lead worldwide in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The European Commission presented the measures and strategies in the Action Plan for the AI continent in five key areas: A large-scale AI data and computer infrastructure is to be set up, access to extensive and high-quality data is improved and AI is introduced in strategic areas. The EU Commission also wants to strengthen competencies and simplify regulations. Building the AI data and computer infrastructure
The Commission will strengthen Europes AI and Super Computing infrastructure with a network of AI factories. 13 of these factories have already been selected. You will support AI start-ups that support industry and researchers in developing AI models and applications.
As announced in the compass for competitiveness, the EU will also support the development of AI gigafabrics. These are large systems that are equipped with around 100,000 state-of-the-art AI chips and thus have four times the performance of current AI factories. The facilities should provide computing power and data centers in order to train and develop complex AI models to an unprecedented scope. A new generation of cross-border AI models is to be launched with the AI gigafabrics and the strategic autonomy of the EU is to be ensured in critical industrial sectors and in science. For interested consorts, the Commission has published an appeal for expression of interest.
Private investments in the gigafabrics are to be stimulated by the Investai initiative. The mobilization of private investments of 20 billion euros for up to five AI gigafabrics is targeted.
The European Commission also intends to triple the capacities provided by data centers in the EU in the next five to seven years. In order to create incentives for investments by the private sector, the Commission plans a law on the development of cloud and AI .
Access to data
An important element of the action plan is to set up Data Labs, in which large, high-quality data quantities from different sources are brought together and curated in the AI factories. This year, a comprehensive strategy for the data union is to be launched in order to create a real internal market for data.
Introduction of AI
In the coming months, the Commission will launch the Apply AI strategy to support the development of tailor-made AI solutions and their application in the public and private sector. The European AI innovation infrastructure, especially the AI factories and the European digital innovation centers (EDIH), are intended to play an important role.
Strengthening AI competencies and talents
The Commission wants to facilitate the international recruitment of highly qualified AI experts and researchers in order to meet the increasing demand for AI talents. Initiatives such as the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie campaign MSCA CHOOSE Europe and the AI Skills Academy planned AI Skills should play a role. These measures are intended to create legal migration paths for highly qualified workers from non-EU countries. For European AI experts and researchers who are currently working outside the EU, they are intended to return to Europe as incentives. In addition, training and further education programs for AI and generative AI are to be developed for key sectors.
Next Steps
With the publication of the action plan, the Commission launched two consultations: to the planned Law on the Development of Cloud and KI and the announced strategy Apply AI. At the same time, the Commission will organize dialogues with representatives from industry and the public sector to design the strategy.
The start for a third public consultation for the strategy for the data union is planned in May.
Reading the European Commission (09.04.2025): Commission is presenting with an ambitious action plan for the AI continent for Europes leadership role in the KI area European Commission (09.04.2025): The AI Continent Action Plan European Commission (09.04.2025): FACSHEET: AI Continent Action Plan
Source:
European Commission, representation of the European Commission in Germany
Editor:
04/10/2025
By Tim Morsch, VDI Technology Center GmbH
Countries / organizations:
EU
Topics:
Specialists
Financial support
Information and communication
Infrastructure
innovation
Strategy and framework conditions
