It is often claimed that Europe has lost the race to lead the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. It is true that the United States and China dominate the development of advanced microprocessors, large foundational models or massive data infrastructures … but, nevertheless, this view of the story is partial and incomplete.
Artificial intelligence is not just a technology to be developed; it is an enabling technology that has the potential to transform all industrial sectors. Its adoption will be key to increasing the competitiveness of European companies, especially SMEs and startups.
On the other hand, High Performance Computing ( HPC ) is becoming an essential infrastructure for developing new, increasingly complex artificial intelligence models with higher data volumes . Having this computing capacity allows European companies that use or develop AI models to compete on equal terms with the business sector of the world’s major powers.
Aware of this, the European Commission has made a clear commitment to invest in HPC infrastructure through the initiative EuroHPC JU and has launched a strategy to guarantee the continent’s technological sovereignty, facilitating access to advanced AI resources through initiatives such as AI Factories.
This 2025, 13 AI Factories have been activated across Europe , which will offer computing infrastructure, advisory services and technological support free of charge to the European private sector. This layer of services and advice to companies will include access to training, support in developing solutions, access to data and software, and a specialized team that will guide startups and SMEs in the transfer of research and development (R&D&I) models to the market in key sectors of the European economy.
One of these factories is led by Barcelona Supercomputing Center – National Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), and is called BSC AI Factory . This is a joint initiative of the BSC , the Fundação para a Ciência ea Tecnologia, IP (FCT) , the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey ( Tübitak ) and the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest).
This collaboration reinforces Barcelona’s strategic role as a hub for AI innovation and a gateway to the European ecosystem, offering companies a competitive, innovative environment with direct access to cutting-edge technology. In addition, the BSC AI Factory acts as a platform to promote transnational collaboration, facilitate the transfer of R&D&I to the market and attract talent and investment. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen the business fabric of the territory, democratize access to supercomputing and advance towards European technological sovereignty in the field of AI.
With the creation of these factories, Europe has chosen its own path: that of the democratization of technology. as a tool to strengthen their digital sovereignty. This collective commitment is not based on the concentration of technological power in a few companies, but on putting infrastructure, knowledge and advanced services at the service of the entire business ecosystem, especially SMEs and startups that are the engine of innovation in Europe. We still have a lot to say, and now is the time to do it.
