AI Facility in Jülich May Transform into a Gigafactory
Title: EU Gigafactory Funding for AI Research Center Jülich: An Opportunity to Lead the AI Race
By: Max Schneider
Update: June 11, 2025, 14:22
In a bid to outpace AI development in the U.S and China, the EU Commission is pursuing a new AI strategy. They intend to bolster five "gigafactories" for AI development amongst European Union (EU) members, and the Research Center Jülich, boasting its AI factory, is a top contender for this project.
AI Expansion in NRW and Beyond
In March, Minister-President Wüst expressed delight over the news of an AI factory at NRW, given it's currently being funded by the EU. Now, this story could continue, as AI factories can apply for expansion to a gigafactory status within the EU, with applications closing in mid-June.
Economics Minister Neubaur (Greens) welcomes the EU's move, aiming to foster the Rhine Coal Mining District's evolution into a highly modernized economic hub.
Gigafactories: Powerhouses of AI
Gigafactories promise roughly 100,000 advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips at their disposal - around four times the number housed in standard AI factories under construction. These high-performance chips enable complex AI simulations in both research and industry.
Investment in a gigafactory ranges between three to five billion euros, with ~35% financed by the EU and remaining support sourced from private capital.
Jülich's AI Advantage: The Supercomputer Jupiter
Jupiter, an exascale computer or supercomputer, lies at the heart of the Jülich AI factory, a main area of interest for the gigafactory project. With Jupiter, Jülich holds the distinction of hosting the fastest supercomputer in Europe and the fourth fastest worldwide.
Minister of Science, Brandes (CDU), extols the versatility of supercomputers in applications ranging from materials development to disease understanding, weather prediction, and the securing of complex power grids.
Aiming for European AI Independence
The EU's AI gigafactory program is a calculated step towards achieving greater independence from AI innovation developments happening in the U.S. and China.
Our Sources:
- EU announcement
- State government of NRW press releases
- Personal research
- Visit our website for a Newsletter on Politics in NRW, bringing you added insights on the local political landscape.
Insights - The AI Continent Action Plan:
The EU's push for five AI gigafactories forms part of the broader AI Continent Action Plan released on April 9, 2025, by the European Commission. This plan aims to boost large-scale AI development infrastructure across Europe to help the EU become a global leader in AI.
The gigafactories will provide access to high-performance AI chips and advanced computing resources for researchers, startups, and industry players across the EU, supporting a diverse AI ecosystem for innovation. The EU's commitment to funding this project to the tune of €20 billion underscores its determination to establish an independent European AI footprint[1][3].
This plan aligns with Nvidia's ambition to build 20 AI factories across Europe in the coming years, including five gigafactories designed to handle the computational demands of large language models[4]. However, the EU gigafactory list is yet to be finalized[1][5]. Though not officially named, the AI Factory at the Research Center Jülich seems like a possible candidate due to its existing AI Factory status, given the EU's intention to upgrade select AI Factories to gigafactories[1][5].
The EU's strategy to enhance five AI gigafactories in the European Union, as part of the AI Continent Action Plan, aims to provide advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips and computing resources that will foster a diverse AI ecosystem for innovation. This move aligns with technology companies like Nvidia's ambition to establish multiple AI factories, including gigafactories, in Europe. The research center Jülich, with its AI factory and exascale supercomputer Jupiter, is believed to be a strong contender for the gigafactory project, given the EU's intention to upgrade select AI factories to this status.
