Published Date : 11/06/2025
Helsinki, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced on Tuesday that Finland is striving to establish a European artificial intelligence (AI) gigafactory. The announcement was made at an AI roundtable meeting in Helsinki, where participants discussed the European Union's AI gigafactory initiative and ways to strengthen national coordination around AI policy and infrastructure.
The government's key goal is to enable new growth in Finland. Utilizing new technology and creating a world-class artificial intelligence infrastructure are essential here, Orpo said in a press release issued by the Finnish government. He pointed to the success of the LUMI supercomputer and its accompanying AI factory as evidence of Finland's capacity to host advanced computing infrastructure. The proposed gigafactory could be constructed adjacent to the existing LUMI AI facility.
LUMI, short for Large Unified Modern Infrastructure, is one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. Located in Kajaani, northern Finland, it forms part of a wider European effort to advance scientific research and innovation. Building on this foundation, the LUMI AI Factory supports Finnish and European AI research, offering high-performance computing resources and collaborative opportunities for developing AI technologies.
The European Commission's InvestAI initiative aims to mobilize 200 billion euros (228.48 billion U.S. dollars) in funding for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. AI gigafactories are a core component of the initiative, designed to support the development of next-generation AI models and provide globally competitive computational resources for major European projects.
Orpo also disclosed that Nokia has expressed its willingness to lead the business consortium behind Finland's gigafactory bid. Gigafactories are essential for the development of European infrastructure and digitalization, so that we can fully utilize the opportunities created by artificial intelligence, said Mikko Hautala, Nokia's Chief Geopolitical and Government Relations Officer. Enditem (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollar)
Q: What is the European AI gigafactory initiative?
A: The European AI gigafactory initiative is a part of the European Commission's InvestAI program, aiming to mobilize significant funding for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. It involves the construction of large-scale facilities to support the development of advanced AI models and provide computational resources for European projects.
Q: What is the LUMI supercomputer?
A: LUMI, short for Large Unified Modern Infrastructure, is one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. Located in Kajaani, northern Finland, it is part of a broader European effort to advance scientific research and innovation. The LUMI AI Factory supports AI research by offering high-performance computing resources and collaborative opportunities.
Q: How much funding does the InvestAI initiative aim to mobilize?
A: The InvestAI initiative aims to mobilize 200 billion euros (approximately 228.48 billion U.S. dollars) in funding for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing projects across Europe.
Q: What role will Nokia play in Finland's AI gigafactory bid?
A: Nokia has expressed its willingness to lead the business consortium behind Finland's AI gigafactory bid. This involvement underscores the company's commitment to advancing European infrastructure and digitalization through the development of AI technologies.
Q: Why is Finland well-suited to host an AI gigafactory?
A: Finland is well-suited to host an AI gigafactory due to its existing advanced computing infrastructure, such as the LUMI supercomputer and AI factory. The country's strong technological capabilities and commitment to innovation make it an ideal location for such a significant project.