EU Commits to Boost AI Infrastructure with New Action Plan

2025-04-10 data

Brussels, Thursday, 10 April 2025.
The European Commission unveils the AI Continent Action Plan, aiming to decrease reliance on external AI sources by investing €20 billion into infrastructure and strategic sectors by 2026.

Ambitious Infrastructure Development

The European Commission’s comprehensive plan, announced on April 9, 2025, includes the establishment of at least 13 AI factories integrated with a supercomputing network, and up to five AI gigafactories dedicated to training complex AI models [1]. These gigafactories will be equipped with approximately 100,000 last-generation AI chips, representing a fourfold increase from current AI factory capabilities [2]. The first gigafactory is anticipated to become operational by 2026 [2].

Investment and Economic Impact

Through the InvestAI initiative, the Commission aims to mobilize €200 billion for AI investment within the EU [3]. The strategy includes a significant focus on digital transformation, with €134 billion allocated from the Recovery and Resilience Facility [4]. Additionally, both the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programmes will contribute €1 billion annually specifically for AI development [4]. The Commission has set an ambitious target for AI adoption, aiming to have three-quarters of EU firms utilizing AI technologies by 2030 [2].

Skills Development and Industry Integration

To address the growing demand for AI expertise, the Commission has announced a €1.3 billion investment package for AI, cybersecurity, and digital skills development [5]. The initiative includes the launch of specialized educational and training programs focusing on AI and generative AI, alongside the creation of the AI Skills Academy [4]. A notable component of this strategy is the ‘GenAI4EU’ initiative, designed to accelerate the adoption of generative AI across strategic industrial sectors [4].

Regulatory Framework and International Positioning

The Commission is establishing an AI Act Service Desk to facilitate compliance with the EU’s AI regulations [6]. This development comes as the EU faces international scrutiny over its regulatory approach, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance calling for European partners to approach AI development ‘with optimism rather than trepidation’ [6]. The Commission maintains that these regulations will enhance citizen trust in AI technology while providing the legal certainty necessary for entrepreneurs and investors to scale their operations across Europe [6].

Bronnen

AI development