Once installed at the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS), the system will provide powerful new capabilities for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science, strengthening European science, industry, small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs), and startups.
The new HammerHAI supercomputer will be manufactured and installed by HPE, based on the liquid-cooled NVIDIA GB200 NVL4 architecture. Combining NVIDIA Grace CPUs with NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs and scaled with NVIDIA Quantum-X800 InfiniBand networking, the system will offer more than 15 Exaflops of peak AI inference performance. It will integrate the VAST Data DASE storage architecture, which provides a unified data platform for AI and HPC workloads, as well as a partition based on AI-optimised inference engines and hardware accelerators from Netherlands-based Axelera AI. The HPE Morpheus Enterprise software will be used as a unified AI control plane, enabling automated provisioning, governance, and workload lifecycle management.
This configuration will make the HammerHAI supercomputer a powerful tool for handling medium- to large-scale AI workloads for machine learning and artificial intelligence. It will incorporate a cloud-native software stack familiar to the AI community, making it straightforward to migrate or scale applications from local systems or commercial cloud environments. The system will be configured to support research and technology development in disciplines prioritised with the HammerHAI consortium, with an emphasis on engineering, manufacturing, automotive and mobility.
Delivery of the HammerHAI supercomputer is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026 and it is expected to go into operation in the second half of 2026.
AI infrastructure for European digital sovereignty
The HammerHAI supercomputer is among the first new AI-optimised systems to be procured within the European Union (EU)’s AI Factories initiative, and marks a further step in the EuroHPC JU's AI strategy. It will offer a high-performance AI platform capable of supporting the types of applications typically handled by commercial cloud AI services, while being operated in Germany and in accordance with EU data security regulations. Access to this publicly funded resource will be free of charge to eligible European system users.
Anders Jensen, EuroHPC JU Executive Director, stated:
“Today’s signature marks a new step toward a vibrant European AI ecosystem. The HammerHAI supercomputer will empower European startups and industry to innovate at scale while reinforcing Europe’s digital sovereignty and technological leadership.”
New AI-optimised supercomputer for a growing HammerHAI service portfolio
The AI Factory HammerHAI opened in April 2025 and has already begun offering AI computing and services to European startups and SMEs on existing infrastructure. This includes providing:
- Test access to existing, AI-optimised computing systems currently hosted by HammerHAI consortium partners
- End-to-end support by HammerHAI AI experts, including guidance on relevant tools, services, and expertise
- Access to inference services for large language models
- Professional training courses for AI skills development
- Consulting and AI-adoption support, including AI capability assessments and guidance on AI ethics and risk management
Dr. Bastian Koller, Managing Director of HLRS and lead coordinator of HammerHAI, anticipates that the announcement of the new supercomputer will quickly augment and increase these activities:
"The contract signing for this new, AI-optimised system marks a new chapter in HammerHAI's development. We invite future users of the system to begin preparing their datasets, algorithms, and workflows now. This will make it possible to begin taking advantage of the system's powerful new capabilities as soon as it becomes available."
While primarily intended for startups and SMEs, the new HammerHAI computing system will also be used to develop new kinds of AI, machine learning, and data science applications within the scientific research community. The EuroHPC JU and HammerHAI (based on a national Governance model) will jointly allocate access to computing resources, in proportion to their respective investments.
More details
The EuroHPC JU selected HammerHAI (Hybrid and Advanced Machine Learning Platform for Manufacturing, Engineering, and Research) as Germany's first AI Factory in December 2024. A second German AI Factory, called JAIF, is hosted by the Jülich Supercomputing Centre and centred around JUPITER, Europe’s first exascale supercomputer.
Since then, the network has grown to include 19 AI Factories and 13 AI Factory Antennas across Europe, which are establishing the computing infrastructure, technical support, and training opportunities that Europe needs to be globally competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
HLRS is coordinating HammerHAI in collaboration with the Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung mBh Göttingen, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and SICOS BW.
HammerHAI has also partnered with the UK AI Factory Antenna (UKAIFA), based at EPCC in Edinburgh. This partnership builds on a long history of collaboration between the two national HPC centres, including complementary expertise in providing HPC services for academia and industry.
HPE was selected to build and deliver the HammerHAI supercomputer following a call for tender launched in April 2025.
A total of €55 million has been budgeted for the acquisition, delivery, installation, and maintenance of the new supercomputer. The EuroHPC JU will fund 50% of the total cost, with budget stemming from the Digital Europe Programme (DEP), while the other 50% will be funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Art.
About the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking
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. These include JUPITER in Germany and Alice Recoque in France, 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. The goal of these calls is to advance science and support the development of applications with industrial, scientific, and societal relevance for Europe.
Additionally, the EuroHPC JU is deploying a European Quantum Computing infrastructure, integrating diverse European quantum computing technologies with existing supercomputers.
The EuroHPC JU also funds research and innovation projects to develop a full European supercomputing supply chain. This includes processors and software, 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.
About the HammerHAI project
Established as Germany's first AI Factory, HammerHAI provides secure, scalable AI resources for startups, SMEs, large enterprises, and scientific institutions in need of powerful computing capabilities for AI-driven solutions.
Focusing particularly on the needs of industry, manufacturing, and engineering, HammerHAI will feature an AI-optimised supercomputer for training and inference, as well as an expert team that provides personalised support for AI users at all stages in the AI lifecycle. It offers consulting services and professional education, and collaborates with other AI initiatives to accelerate the uptake of AI technologies in Europe.
HammerHAI has received funding from the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No. 101234027. This project is co-funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture.
Details
- Publication date
- 16 March 2026
- Author
- European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking