The European Commission launches a tender to build seven AI “gigafactories,” aiming to expand Europe’s access to the computing power needed to train advanced AI models. Multiple outlets report that the plan involves about €10 billion (roughly $11.4–$11.5 billion) for the public side of the initiative and is designed to help the bloc catch up with the United States and China.
Coverage also links the effort to broader “tech sovereignty” goals, citing concerns that reliance on foreign technology providers could create strategic risks. The tender is framed as part of a larger push to mobilize private investment alongside public funding. One report says the Commission expects to attract at least €20 billion in private investment, and another describes the overall bidding and initiative as larger than the public allocation.
Several outlets note that the number of gigafactories increases from an earlier plan of five to seven, following interest from EU member states. The Commission’s call for tenders is positioned as a step toward building large-scale computing hubs within Europe to reduce dependence on overseas infrastructure.
