Belgium is getting an antenna to provide governments, businesses, and scientists access to advanced European AI factories. This was announced by the European Commission on Monday.
(Photo: IZUM/STA)
The antenna is part of an AI network that the European Union is building across the continent. This network consists of 19 so-called AI factories. It involves infrastructure that enables the processing of vast amounts of data and the development of complex algorithms.
Belgium would have liked to host one of the AI factories, but the application for a factory with sites in Zellik and Charleroi was not retained. Like 12 other countries within and outside the EU, Belgium was selected for the launch of an antenna, which is intended to provide local AI communities access to factories.
The Belgian antenna, which is linked to supercomputers in Germany (JUPITER) and Finland (LUMI), is expected to provide SMEs, startups, government agencies, and researchers with enormous computing power and high-quality data, as well as support in developing AI applications. The focus will be on sectors such as defense and security, health, biotech, manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, and aviation, as well as the digital transformation of public services.
The EU is allocating a total of 55 million euros for the 13 antennas. The remaining funds will be contributed by the participating countries. The Belgian antenna requires a total investment of 10 million euros.
