Greece to Host One of Europe’s First AI Factories

Greece has secured a place in the European Union’s groundbreaking initiative to establish seven state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) factories, as part of a €1.5 billion project spearheaded by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC).

Announced on Tuesday, Greece’s proposal, titled Pharos – The Greek AI Factory for Accelerating AI Innovation, has been selected for the first round of AI Factory development alongside projects in Athens, Barcelona, Bissen (Luxembourg), Bologna, Kajaani (Finland), Linköping (Sweden), and Stuttgart. The initiative involves 15 EU member states and two EuroHPC participating states, aiming to build a thriving ecosystem for advanced AI model training and AI solutions.

A Focus on Innovation and Collaboration

Greece’s Pharos project, submitted by the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology (GRNET SA), a public-sector technology organisation under the Ministry of Digital Governance, will focus on three key areas: health, Greek language and culture, and sustainable development. With a budget of €30 million, co-funded equally by EuroHPC and national resources, the project is slated to begin operations in March 2025 and run for three years.

“This marks a significant milestone in Greece’s transition to the AI era,” EuroHPC stated, highlighting the potential of these factories to enhance Europe’s AI capabilities. The project also leverages Greece’s Daedalus supercomputer, enabling collaboration with other AI factories across Europe and generating benefits for all EU citizens.

Transformative Potential

The Pharos initiative is expected to boost Greece’s competitiveness by providing access to large datasets, skilled personnel, and cutting-edge AI technologies. Key applications include satellite data analysis for managing natural resources and addressing climate change, as well as fostering innovation within startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The project also prioritises talent development and aims to create a trans-border ecosystem that drives AI innovation across the EU.

Implementation Framework

The Pharos AI Factory will be implemented by a national consortium led by GRNET, in partnership with prominent academic and research institutions, including:

• Demokritos National Centre for Scientific Research
• National Technical University of Athens (Polytechnic)
• Athena Research Center
• Growthfund/National Investment Fund

The initiative also involves collaboration with several universities and agencies, such as the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, National Capodistrian University of Athens, Foundation for Research and Technology (ITE), University of Piraeus, and Ministry of Digital Governance bodies like the National Documentation Center (EKT) and IDIKA SA.

Europe’s Vision for AI

EuroHPC hailed the initiative as a strategic leap for Europe, underscoring its aim to train advanced AI models and foster solutions addressing critical societal challenges. By integrating research, technology, and industry, these AI factories are set to position Europe as a global leader in artificial intelligence innovation.

With Pharos, Greece is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI within Europe.

Source: pagenews.gr