The EU Investment Fund for Artificial Intelligence has committed 20 billion euros to finance data center construction and semiconductor procurement, supplementing the 10 billion euros allocated to 13 small artificial intelligence factories, which are scheduled to be operational in 2026. The site for the factory is still undecided, but the new German government, led by Chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz, plans to set up the factory within Germany. The action plan addresses data infrastructure issues through data labs, which standardize data sets from research institutions and industry partners.
The upcoming data alliance strategy will establish cross-border information sharing agreements to create a unified market for AI-enabled data resources among member countries. Given that only 13.5% of EU companies currently use artificial intelligence in production environments, the European Commission will implement an "Applied Artificial Intelligence" plan, focusing on deployment in strategic areas. The program will draw on the European Digital Innovation Center to provide implementation support.
In terms of talent development, the plan includes scholarship programs, visa pathways for non-EU professionals, and an Artificial Intelligence Skills Academy that provides training in generative models and machine learning operations. The AI Act Help Desk will provide technical guidance on compliance.
Currently, the United States and China are engaged in an artificial intelligence arms race. The artificial intelligence laboratories of the two countries are purchasing more accelerators and outputting better models almost every week. The EU aims to bring AI development on par with the two superpowers, thus promoting more competition and progress.