Europe’s AI Factory network is bringing together AI-optimised supercomputers and a range of support services for startups, SMEs, researchers and other users. EuroHPC says the network now includes 19 AI Factories and 13 AI Factory Antennas, extending access to advanced computing capacity across Europe.
The initiative is broader than hardware. The published service offer includes expert support, AI adoption advice, data storage and management, training, cloud resources, AI tools, middleware and software workflows. Some locations also include physical co-working hubs. Together, these services are intended to make advanced computing easier to use for organisations without extensive in-house high-performance computing experience.
For industrial users, EuroHPC lists three access routes. Playground access provides limited resources for entry-level users. Fast Lane access is designed for organisations already familiar with high-performance computing and requiring up to 50,000 GPU hours. Large Scale access is intended for AI models and applications that require more than 50,000 GPU hours.
The Industrial Innovation routes are free of charge to AI SMEs, including startups, when used for innovation. Other industrial users may use pay-per-use commercial access. A separate route is available for scientific work and eligible collaborative projects funded through Horizon Europe or the Digital Europe Programme.
The distinction between services available now and infrastructure still being deployed is important. The LUMI AI Factory has provided resources and services to European SMEs and startups since April 2025 using the existing LUMI supercomputer. EuroHPC signed a contract for the new LUMI-AI system on 31 August 2026. The system is expected to be installed and available in 2027, with a total co-funded budget of EUR 387.8 million.
EuroHPC expects LUMI-AI to deliver ten times the AI capacity of the current LUMI system. This remains a projection for future performance, not capacity available today. The new system is primarily intended for startups and SMEs, while also remaining accessible to the wider research community.
The expansion shows how public AI infrastructure is being organised as a combination of computing capacity and support services rather than as a collection of machines. For startups and SMEs, its practical value will depend on how clearly the access routes work, what support is available in each location and how questions around data handling, confidentiality and capacity are managed.
🔗 Sources: EuroHPC AI Factories; AI Factories Access Modes; LUMI-AI contract announcement