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Vienna is fighting for an AI gigafactory: 5 billion euros for the future!
The EU is planning up to five AI gig factories in Europe to strengthen digital sovereignty. Decisions on locations expected in 2026.
Vienna is fighting for an AI gigafactory: 5 billion euros for the future!
Something exciting is happening in Vienna: the city has applied for a grant to build an artificial intelligence gigafactory. This initiative, supported by Mayor Michael Ludwig and other government officials, is part of a larger European Union plan to build up to five such gigafactories in Europe. However, the decision on the locations of the ultra-modern data centers will not be made until 2026, as meinbezirk.at reports.
With these systems, which require investments of between three and five billion euros, the EU is pursuing the goal of strengthening its digital sovereignty and turning Europe into an “AI continent”. A large portion of the costs will be borne by the private sector—up to 65 percent. This means that not only public money but also private investors are very important to realize this ambitious project.
Positive signals and numerous interested parties
The number of interested parties exceeds expectations: a total of 76 cities from 16 EU member states applied to set up the AI gigafactories. This means that the European Commission has experienced a real rush that is driving forward plans for the future development of AI in Europe. The best suggestions will be selected from over 60 different locations, which shows that the commitment to artificial intelligence is also strongly anchored among the population and companies germany.representation.ec.europa.eu.
The first call for tenders for site selection will be made via the EuroHPC supercomputing network, and it is expected that the first official steps towards further planning will be taken by the end of the year. Companies, data center operators, telecommunications providers and technology partners have expressed their interest not only from Vienna, but also from other EU countries.
Looking into the future
The EU points to a clear strategic vision: the first AI gigafactories should begin operations by 2026, thereby forming the basis for the development and training of next-generation AI models. These factories will drive innovation in the AI sector and are intended to act as pilot projects for broader competitiveness coordination, as zdf.de highlights.
There are also specific reports about the technical equipment and requirements of the gigafactories. Systems with a capacity of around 100,000 of the latest generation of AI chips are planned to meet the huge demand for computing power. The aim is to position Europe as a global powerhouse for artificial intelligence. It is important to overcome challenges such as high energy costs and bureaucratic hurdles.
In summary, it shows that Vienna is on a promising path in the race for one of the futuristic AI gigafactories. The coming months will be crucial – both for the city and for the entire region, which is relying on advances in artificial intelligence.