Europe’s next leap in artificial intelligence infrastructures

Europe has decided to accelerate. Following the launch of the AI factories concept as a tool to democratise access to advanced computing and artificial intelligence capabilities, the European Union is now taking a more ambitious step with AI Gigafactories. This is not merely a question of scale, but a qualitative shift in how the EU conceives its technological autonomy, industrial competitiveness and the role of public funding in the deployment of critical infrastructures.

The recent amendment to the Regulation of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), published on 16 January, provides the legal framework that makes this leap possible. And, as is often the case in Europe, behind what may appear to be a technical regulatory change lie strategic implications of considerable significance for companies, technology centres and public authorities.

From AI factories to AI Gigafactories: a matter of ambition

AI factories were created with a clear objective: to facilitate access to high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructures and artificial intelligence services for a broad ecosystem of users, ranging from start-ups to industrial SMEs and scientific communities. Their logic was based on proximity, thematic specialisation and the creation of innovation hubs connected to European supercomputers.

AI Gigafactories build on this foundation but take the approach to an entirely different level. They are cutting-edge computing and AI infrastructures on a global scale, capable of training and deploying next-generation AI models with intensive computational requirements, while natively integrating advanced AI capabilities and, notably, quantum technologies. They do not replace AI factories; rather, they complement and reinforce them, acting as reference nodes within a far more integrated and hierarchical European computing architecture.

What does the amendment to the EuroHPC JU Regulation change?

The amendment to the EuroHPC JU Regulation represents a shift in the scope of this European instrument’s mission. Until now, this partnership had been primarily associated with the deployment and operation of high-performance supercomputers. With the current revision, its remit is expanded to accommodate a new generation of large-scale AI-oriented infrastructures.

The first tangible effect of this regulatory revision is the formal recognition of AI Gigafactories within the European legal framework. This is not merely a label, but the legal basis required to plan, finance and govern large-scale computing and AI infrastructures in a coordinated manner involving the European Commission, Member States and the private sector. This regulatory alignment was a prerequisite for moving from political announcements to actual deployment.

The amendment also extends EuroHPC’s role beyond classical supercomputing by explicitly incorporating quantum computing into the same ecosystem as artificial intelligence and HPC. The objective is not to replace existing infrastructures, but to integrate them into hybrid environments where quantum systems can be used for very specific tasks—such as optimisation problems or simulation—within workflows dominated by conventional computing. With this approach, the European Union is not seeking immediate impact, but rather to build capabilities, use cases and industrial expertise in a technology that is still emerging but considered critical for future competitiveness.

Another significant change relates to the development model for these infrastructures. AI Gigafactories are conceived from the outset as public–private partnership projects, combining European and national public investment with private contributions for their deployment and operation. This approach enables a more direct involvement of industry, not only as a user of computing capacities but also as a partner in their development, sustainability and long-term evolution.

From a financial perspective, the revision of the Regulation positions AI Gigafactories as priority infrastructures within EuroHPC, creating a framework that facilitates the combination of European and national funding for computation-intensive projects. For companies, this translates into greater opportunities to finance the development and scaling of AI and quantum computing solutions through programmes such as Horizon Europe or Digital Europe, leveraging already funded infrastructures and significantly reducing the costs and risks associated with intensive computing use.

The amendment also introduces safeguards aimed at ensuring that access to these capabilities is not restricted to a small number of large players. Mechanisms are included to facilitate the participation of start-ups and scale-ups, avoiding crowding-out effects and reinforcing the open nature of the European AI ecosystem.

Implications for companies: more than computing power

For companies, AI Gigafactories should not be viewed merely as expanded access to computing power. Their real value lies in the fact that they establish a new innovation framework in which AI developments can be pursued with a level of ambition, scale and speed that is difficult to achieve in traditional environments.

Access to advanced computing infrastructures enables data-intensive sectors—such as advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare, mobility or finance—to develop and scale AI solutions that were previously out of reach due to cost, technical complexity or lack of internal capacity. By relying on infrastructures that are already funded and operated at European scale, companies can focus their efforts on developing models, applications and use cases, rather than investing their own resources in building computing capabilities from scratch. For many companies, this also means significantly shortening the time to market for AI-based solutions, while limiting exposure to high upfront investments and creating more room to experiment and innovate.

The role of public R&D&I funding

In terms of public funding, AI Gigafactories reflect the European Union’s commitment to large enabling infrastructures as a driver of industrial innovation and risk mitigation.

This approach opens up a wide range of opportunities for companies, but it also introduces greater complexity. Harnessing the potential of AI Gigafactories will not depend solely on accessing computing capacity, but on knowing how to position R&D&I projects within an increasingly interconnected ecosystem of European and national instruments. Programmes such as Horizon Europe or Digital Europe, together with initiatives linked to EuroHPC, will increasingly align around these infrastructures.

In this context, expert support becomes essential. At Zabala Innovation, we help companies identify funding opportunities linked to AI Gigafactories, define R&D&I roadmaps aligned with these infrastructures, and structure competitive projects that combine European and national funding. This includes everything from the conceptualisation of computation-intensive projects to partner search, proposal preparation and support in project management once funding has been secured.

Beyond securing grants, the challenge for many companies lies in making informed decisions about when and how to invest in advanced artificial intelligence. Public funding associated with AI Gigafactories helps reduce uncertainty, shorten timelines and scale developments with lower risk. Supporting companies throughout this process—connecting technological strategy, funding and execution—is where Zabala Innovation delivers the greatest value.