In a significant stride toward fostering innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), Greece has been selected as one of the host countries for the first European AI Factories by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU). This development signifies Greece’s commitment to becoming a crucial player in the European AI landscape, particularly through the establishment of the Pharos AI Factory, which will leverage the DAEDALUS supercomputer. The Pharos initiative aims to address various national and European needs in sectors such as health, culture, and sustainability, showcasing Greece’s potential to drive advancements in AI technology and applications across the continent.
The DAEDALUS supercomputer will serve as a cornerstone for the PHAROS AI Factory, driving innovation and research in artificial intelligence. Image sourced from YouTube Video. Video Credit: GRNET.
The Pharos AI Factory: Harnessing the Power of DAEDALUS
Pharos AI Factory, revolves around the DAEDALUS supercomputer—a project with a budget of €36 million from the Recovery Fund, which will be installed in the new Data Center at the Technological Cultural Park in Lavrion. Pharos aims to provide a comprehensive AI ecosystem, offering end-to-end user support, including upskilling, data provision, AI model training, and business innovation assistance. The factory will be managed by the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology (GRNET S.A) and will work closely with prominent institutions like the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” and the National Technical University of Athens.
Pharos promises to address pressing national and European needs by developing ethical, trustworthy AI applications while ensuring compliance with the EU AI Act and sector-specific regulations. The facility will focus on integrating HPC-demanding resources to facilitate computational-heavy tasks, storage solutions, and high-speed connectivity, thereby creating a robust platform for AI research and development.
Greece’s Position in the European AI Landscape
The importance of the Pharos AI Factory extends beyond national borders as it ties into a broader European initiative involving six other countries—Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden—each establishing their own AI factories. These AI factories are part of a cooperative effort to enhance AI infrastructure and capabilities across Europe, pooling resources from 17 nations and fostering collaboration among startups, SMEs, and researchers.
- Finland : The LUMI AI Factory will enhance AI innovation, hosting world-class computing environments aimed at overcoming data accessibility challenges.
- Germany : HammerHAI focuses on lowering barriers for AI usage among startups and larger corporations, providing essential support for machine learning applications (HLRS Stuttgart).
- Italy : The IT4LIA AI Factory aims to connect researchers and industries to increased AI accessibility, targeting key sectors such as agriculture and cybersecurity.
- Luxembourg : L-AI Factory will cater to critical challenges in finance and space, emphasizing rapid onboarding for enterprises in need of AI solutions.
- Spain : The BSC AI Factory will leverage pre-existing supercomputing resources, aiding public administration and health sectors (BSC Barcelona Supercomputing Center).
- Sweden : MIMER will develop expertise in Life Sciences and Health Care, addressing education and training deficiencies in AI applications.
Impacts and Future Prospects
As part of the EuroHPC initiative, these factories aim to create a cohesive and interconnected AI ecosystem that facilitates innovation in diverse fields, including healthcare, climate change, and energy transformation. Greece’s participation underscores its ambition to join the ranks of AI leaders in Europe, further aligning with the EU’s strategic objectives for digital transformation and AI-enhanced services.
The Pharos AI Factory and its counterpart establishments symbolize a new epoch of collaboration and innovation, marking Europe’s commitment to intelligence-driven advancements. As countries share resources, knowledge, and technological capabilities, the potential for breakthroughs in various sectors becomes more pronounced.
In essence, Greece’s advancement in this sector not only places it on the map of AI innovation but also fosters a spirit of collaboration and shared growth among European nations
For more comprehensive information about the AI Factories and their projects, you can visit the The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU).
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