Towards a new European-scale artificial intelligence hub
In partnership with Imec and Cenaero, Belgium aims to become a European leader with cutting-edge artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The European Union has launched a vast program, called InvestAI, to develop dynamic ecosystems that foster innovation, collaboration, and development in the field of artificial intelligence.
As part of this, Belgium is officially applying to establish an AI Factory (AIF) based on a synergy between two likely sites: the Green Energy Park in Zellik, Flanders, and Cenaero in Charleroi, a site already hosting a "supercomputer," an extremely powerful computer designed for complex and massive calculations involving billions of operations per second.
As Vanessa Matz, Minister of Public Action and Modernization, in charge of digital technology, explains: "AI is as major a transformation as the internet was 30 years ago." If we want to stay in control of our digital future, we must get on board.”
This AIF will primarily serve startups, SMEs, and research organizations such as universities, but will also be accessible to larger companies. Significant spinoffs in fields such as space, astronomy, and defense are also envisaged. Furthermore, this major project should also contribute "to the digital transformation of public services and the deployment of AI within federal public services," according to the minister.
In this way, Belgian know-how is being put to work on the technologies of the future.