Artificial intelligence, European gigafactories attract industry’s interest

Brussels – The EU is taking pride in the success so far of its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, which envisions the construction in the near future of several gigafactories (i.e., large-scale facilities) as forges of Digital Innovation Made in Europe.

Speaking to the press this afternoon (June 30), European Commission Executive Vice-President in charge of Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said she was pleased with the response from industry. The call for expressions of interest was opened by the EU executive on 9 April and expired on 20 June.

“We received 76 applications proposing to set up AI gigafactories  in 16 Member States and 60 different sites,” she said, calling it “an achievement that far exceeds our expectations and demonstrates Europe’s growing momentum and enthusiasm for innovation in AI.” “Our initial goal was to contribute to the creation of four or five” new structures, she explained.

These are not formal applications, Virkkunen specified, “but they will play a substantial role in helping the European Commission and Member States to identify and create a dynamic, non-binding list of potential candidates ready to set up world-class AI Gigafactories across the EU.”

1/2 An overwhelming response to our Call of Expression of Interest in AI Gigafactories: 76 proposals from 16 Member States across 60 different sites!

We are ready to support Europe’s enthusiasm for innovating in AI in Europe. The moment to shape our #AI future is now. pic.twitter.com/1ninZhV7lD

– Henna Virkkunen (@HennaVirkkunen) June 30, 2025

These maxi-facilities—where next-generation AI models will be developed, trained, and deployed—will “be a game changer by integrating leading-edge computing power, energy-efficient data centres and AI-driven competitiveness,” she continued, and will enable European industry to “compete globally”.

According to her, the companies that responded to the Berlaymont’s informal appeal have pledged to collectively invest more than €230 billion over the next three to five years, indicating their intention to purchase at least 3 million state-of-the-art processors.

When Ursula von der Leyen launched the European Investment Initiative last February, Virkkunen recalls, the goal was to mobilise 200 billion. “This shows the confidence in European leadership in AI, but also that we have a real opportunity to position Europe as a global power in AI,” she concluded. The Vice-President went on to announce a formal call for proposals by the end of the year, probably in November.

About the AI Act, the EU’s strategy on artificial intelligence, Virkkunen denied that it is part of the trade tug-of-war between the EU and the US on tariffs. “We are finalising the code of conduct,” she said, adding that “the next important milestone will be 2 August, when the AI Act will apply to generative AI: we will publish a code of conduct before then to support industry and SMEs to comply with our AI Act.”