The EU launches a call for tenders to build seven AI gigafactories

Thirty billion euros, including 10 billion from European and national public funds and 20 billion from private investors: this is the budget the European Commission intends to mobilize to finance seven massive computing infrastructures dedicated to AI. These gigafactories will produce advanced processors, software, cloud technologies, and highly energy-efficient data centers.

The collection and distribution of funds will be handled by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), established in 2020 to develop a European supercomputing ecosystem. Consortia and ad hoc vehicles composed of technology providers, public entities, and investors can submit their applications until November 12. The Commission plans to begin distributing the funding in early 2027, so that projects can start immediately afterward.

Chip manufacturers AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm have signed letters of intent to supply components to the groups involved in the projects, according to the Commission. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technology Sovereignty, described the announcement as a "milestone," adding that "access to the raw computing power of AI gigafactories is a strategic necessity for Europe."

The situation is urgent. The EU currently operates 19 data centers spread between Spain and Finland, but remains heavily reliant on foreign providers. A recent Commission report, presented to the European Parliament, warned that, without a change of course, "European businesses and public authorities will continue to depend on American AI providers, to the detriment of European suppliers." The same document highlighted the risks associated with exposing data to external access and the threats to service continuity.

Geopolitical pressure reinforces this observation. Donald Trump The EU has clearly demonstrated its willingness to use American economic weight to influence the regulation of American technology companies in Europe, while China has restricted its exports of minerals critical to the sector. The EU aims to triple its data center capacity within five to seven years, but faces a structural disadvantage: energy costs are significantly higher than in the United States or China.

The project is also raising concerns among the European public. Beyond fears of job losses, the construction of vast digital infrastructures faces environmental criticism related to their intensive water and electricity consumption, as well as the noise pollution they generate. The Commission has attempted to reassure the public by promising that the new facilities will be developed and operated in compliance with European standards for data protection, security, and ethics, specifically referencing the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.