EuroHPC JU Launches Call for Proposals to Strengthen European AI Ecosystem

This initiative will build a unified approach to AI development, promote trustworthiness and compliance, and maximise the impact of the combined supercomputing resources, data, and services for startups, SMEs, and the private and public sectors

The call, HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-COAIF-03 which has an indicative budget of EUR 25 million, invites consortia to submit proposals for a Research and Innovation Action that will address three specific challenges:

1. Coordinating and networking of AI Factories and Antennas by building common service standards and provide a harmonised experience to users. The aim is to leverage synergies and complementarities that AI Factories and AI Factory Antennas have and coordinate their collaboration.
2. Networking of AIF Data Labs by supporting the connection of Data Labs across Europe into a shared framework, this project will enable the secure and efficient sharing of data and tools between different organisations and countries. This will be made possible through the use of a common platform, called Simpl, which will facilitate the exchange of data and ensure that it is done in a way that is compliant with European regulations and standards.
3. Provision of EU open web data by developing, deploying, and operating a European federated web data service to ensure sovereignty in the open web data also collaborating with existing EU initiatives providing web data services and integrate the EU open web service into the AIF Data Labs ecosystem. This will provide easy access to up-to-date, rich, high-quality open web data that are compliant with EU regulations and values.

This call aims to reinforce Europe’s AI ecosystem and accelerate AI innovation, by strengthening improved coordination and expanding high-quality data as well boosting global competitiveness of the  European AI industry. This project will have a duration of 3 years and will be supported by an EU contribution of up to EUR 12.5 million. The call is open to consortia composed of entities from European Union Member States and Associated Countries, and the deadline for submission is 23 June 2026.

Background

This initiative complements wider European efforts to make Europe the AI continent, as set out in the AI Continent Action Plan, and to strengthen Europe’s AI startup and scale-up ecosystem, ensuring that the most promising innovators have access to the infrastructure needed to compete globally. 

The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity that brings together the European Union and participating countries to coordinate efforts and pool resources with the objective of making Europe a world leader in supercomputing.     

To equip Europe with a cutting-edge supercomputing infrastructure, the EuroHPC JU has already procured 12 supercomputers, distributed across Europe including JUPITER in Germany, and Alice Recoque, Europe’s first exascale systems.  

European scientists and users from the public sector and industry can benefit from EuroHPC supercomputers via the EuroHPC Access Calls no matter where in Europe they are located, to advance science and support the development of a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific and societal relevance for Europe.  

Currently, the EuroHPC JU is also overseeing the implementation of 19 AI factories (AIF) across Europe, complemented by 13 AI Factory Antennas, to offer free, customised support to SMEs and startups.  

The EuroHPC JU also funds research and innovation projects to develop a full European supercomputing supply chain, from processors and software to applications to be run on these supercomputers and know-how to develop strong European HPC expertise. 

With the recent adoption of Council Regulation (EU) 2026/150, the EuroHPC JU’s mandate has been expanded with new action pillars dedicated to the deployment of AI Gigafactories across Europe and the advancement of quantum technologies.