Leveraging High Performance Computing: EU Supercomputers and AI Factories

AI Factories

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Representing a significant leap in computational power, for quite a while these supercomputers were accessible only to researchers tackling complex scientific and technological challenges that were previously beyond reach. However, in January 2024 with the launch of the AI Innovation Package the Commission introduced measures widening the access to the EU supercomputing capacity to support the European SMEs developing generative AI.

 

According to the communication, it is foreseen to establish AI Factories which should work as the “one stop-shop”. It means that together with the access to the computational power to train their AI models, SMEs and startups will also be able to receive services such as assistance with building algorithms or support in development of AI applications. The deployment of these factories is planned to be around the EU supercomputing facilities with each of the “factory” being connected to a data centre which would give access to the Common European Data Spaces.

 

Even though the establishment of AI Factories is still under way, the European Commission already launched a call inviting European businesses to apply for yearly access to use the EU supercomputer facilities. Currently on the offer are 6 supercomputers, including the most powerful one in Europe and 5th globally – LUMI supercomputer in Finland. The call is open on a rolling basis, but has a several cut-off dates with the first deadline already passed in April. The upcoming deadline to apply is June 14 and three more dates are foreseen later in the 2024.

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Tapping into the potential of supercomputing

 

Range scope of application

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EU's supercomputing power supports various wide range of applications. First and foremost, supercomputers enable complex simulations and calculations that are essential for scientific research and technological development. They facilitate the modeling of systems such as climate patterns, molecular structures, and astrophysical phenomena. In fields like weather forecasting, drug discovery, genomics, and materials science, supercomputers accelerate research by analyzing vast amounts of data and simulating scenarios that would be impossible with traditional computing methods. For example, while EU supercomputers themselves did not directly develop the vaccines, they played a crucial role in successful research of COVID-19 vaccine back in 2020. Supercomputing resources helped to analyze vast amounts of genomic data, model protein structures and simulate viral interactions.

 

In addition to its economic  and scientific significance, supercomputing power is essential for enhancing Europe's position in the global AI landscape. Development and training the AI models requires massive computational power and extensive datasets. Supercomputers are capable of handling these computationally intensive tasks, enabling researchers and developers to train larger and more sophisticated AI systems. As the technological advancement accelerates, countries and regions with robust supercomputing infrastructure will gain a competitive edge in areas like machine learning and big data analytics.

 

Benefits for SMEs developing AI

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In sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and finance, businesses rely on high performance computing to design and optimise products, streamline operations, and gain insights from large datasets. Supercomputers might provide SMEs with access to immense computational power, enabling them to train complex AI models more efficiently. Also, their storage capacity might allow SMEs to process large datasets and validate sophisticated algorithms with high accuracy. Therefore, by tapping into the power of supercomputing, companies can experiment with advanced algorithms and develop novel AI applications. The beneficial outcome not only for the developers themselves, but also the EU - the more innovative European SMEs can stay ahead of the competition the more Union might leverage the technological advancement.

 

However, accessing high performance computing services offered on the market is often too costly for small businesses and startups who just started developing AI. Shared supercomputing facilities such as offered in the framework of AI Factories might be a cost-effective alternative as the yearly access is free of charge. Instead of bearing the high expenses SMEs can allocate resources more effectively and focus their investments on core business activities such as building algorithms and applications. This creates a more favorable environment for SMEs wanting to enter the AI market. Coupled with the possibility for collaboration with other stakeholders in the supercomputing ecosystem, SMEs might also exchange domain-specific knowledge and foster new business collaborations.

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Challenges ahead

 

Regulatory burden

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The introduction of AI Package offering incentives for SMEs came just after the political agreement on the AI Act. Being a breakthrough first in the world legislative framework on AI it comes with the stringent regulatory requirements for the companies developing or implementing AI. Thus, the establishment of the AI Factories might be seen as an effort of the Commission to find the right balance between regulating and promoting innovation. However, application to access the supercomputers, as it is often the case with the EU funding programs, comes with a list of conditions and intricate submission procedure.

SMEs often have limited resources making it difficult for them to allocate time, money, and personnel to navigate complex requirements of applications as such. Compliance with the rules may require expertise and administrative consulting which often SMEs and startups do not have. Navigating bureaucratic processes and fulfilling reporting obligations can divert valuable time and attention away from core business activities such as developing AI itself and hinder companies from simply applying at all. Understandably the intricate process of application, in this case to tap into the supercomputing capabilities, is in place to allow access only to the most excellent companies. However, from the business point of view the regulatory burden might sometimes look as not worth the additional cost. One of the possible solutions might be to offer administrative assistance for the SMEs and startups next to the planned technological and algorithmic support in the AI Factories.

 

The call for the access to supercomputers invites to apply companies who are “developing trustworthy cutting-edge generative AI models.” It is no surprise as the AI Package stems from the AI Act and the EU’s ethical AI concept embedded in it. However, consequently the requirements for the businesses to be considered fit to participate are entangled in the still quite ambiguous concept of “trustworthy AI”. Fear of regulatory non-compliance can discourage SMEs from even wanting to get involved in the initiative. This might also create huge discrepancies between SMEs for whom it is already difficult to apply and big companies having extensive legal consulting resources. Certainly, the involvement in collaborative opportunities as such should always be on voluntary basis, nevertheless the responsible EU institutions should create favourable conditions for companies to participate. This might include as simple as conveying the information in a simpler manner or having representatives who can speak the “language” understandable to engineers and developers. Otherwise, lack of such guidance could lead to a gap between tech companies and the central administration further demotivating business from willingness to collaborate.

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Cloud Computing

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Relying solely on supercomputers may not be sufficient to meet all high performance computing needs. While supercomputers offer impressive computational power, they may face limitations in terms of flexibility. Supercomputers may not be well-suited for highly dynamic or unpredictable workloads that require rapid scaling and diverse computing tasks. Additionally, many AI models involve processing vast amounts of data in addition to computational tasks. Supercomputers may not always provide the necessary storage and data processing capabilities to handle these data-intensive workloads effectively. Alternative cloud based computing platforms may offer more accessible and affordable options for businesses.

 

To address the diverse computing needs of entities, be it private or public, a hybrid approach may be required. This entails combining the strengths of supercomputers with cloud and edge computing to create a more versatile high performance computing ecosystem. Already in 2020, the Member States signed a Joint Declaration on EU Cloud agreeing on the promise to build the next generation of cloud in Europe. However, at the moment the development of EU’s cloud computing capabilities is still in process, making the EU to lag behind the other regions of the world. The market fragmentation, the EU's reliance on non-European cloud providers for critical infrastructure and digital services, and on top of that strict GDPR compliance raise challenges for developing unified and competitive European cloud. This hinders the EU’s ability to harness even more high performance computing power than it has right now to foster the innovation and technological advancement.

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Contact us

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As a public affairs firm based in Brussels and Paris, Lighthouse Europe supports its clients in the analysis of European mechanisms and political priorities, particularly in the digital and environmental sectors. If you would like to learn more about the impact of the new own resources on your activity, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

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By Ugne Prokopaviciute

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