EU calls for bids for AI gigafactories are set to launch in early 2026, marking a massive step in Europe’s race to build world-class AI infrastructure. The European Commission and European Investment Bank (EIB) just signed a deal to fast-track funding through the InvestAI fund, targeting up to five huge facilities across the bloc. This move comes as the EU fights to catch up with U.S. and Chinese dominance in AI chips and data centers.
- €20 billion from InvestAI to back the first wave of AI gigafactories, each packing around 100,000 advanced chips.
- Bidding opens early 2026, after 76 early expressions of interest from 16 member states proposed 60 sites and nearly 3 million GPUs.
- Facilities will focus on AI training compute capacity for massive models, linking to existing EuroHPC supercomputers.
- Open to public-private partnerships, with foreign firms allowed under strict EU rules for digital sovereignty.
This isn’t just about building data centers—it’s Europe’s “so what” moment in the global AI race. Right now, the U.S. and China control most GPU-powered AI supercomputing hubs, leaving Europe lagging in training frontier models. These AI data center megaprojects could flip that script, creating jobs, boosting startups, and securing EU digital sovereignty in AI amid rising energy and chip demands.
The push builds on strong early buzz. Back in mid-2025, the Commission got an “overwhelming response” with 76 respondents pitching ideas, according to their official update. That included plans for ~3 million GPUs across sites in places like Finland and Germany. Now, the EIB-Commission team-up via a new Memorandum of Understanding seals the financing path.
Each AI gigafactory will dwarf current setups, hosting four times more chips than today’s AI factories. Picture warehouses humming with AI chips and data centers optimized for next-gen models—think power-hungry but efficient hubs tied to renewable energy grids. The €20 billion AI investment in Europe from InvestAI is just the spark; it aims to unlock €200 billion total through private cash.
Why the rush? Europe needs this for public–private AI partnerships in Europe to thrive. Without homegrown AI training compute capacity, local firms risk relying on overseas clouds. The formal calls will prioritize scalable European AI infrastructure push, with construction eyed for late 2026.
Competition is fierce globally, much like the AI chips and data centers race heating up in Asia. Similarly, AI memory chip investments are booming worldwide. See the full European Commission AI Gigafactories policy context.
Details on sites and winners will roll out post-bidding, but expect clusters in tech hubs like Munich or Helsinki. The Commission stresses green power and open access for researchers, tying into broader EU AI factories and gigafactories plans.
In short, these EU calls for bids for AI gigafactories signal Europe’s all-in bet on AI training compute capacity. Watch 2026 for groundbreaking ceremonies that could redefine the continent’s tech future.
