Commission launches AI innovation package to support Artificial Intelligence startups and SMEs

The new AI package includes a broad range of measures to support these start-ups and innovation, along with a proposal to provide privileged access to supercomputers to AI start-ups and the broader innovation community. Other measures include:

• setting up AI Factories and making sure AI supercomputer infrastructure available for start-ups can be purchased and upgraded
• a decision to establish an AI Office in the Commission which can develop and coordinate AI policy at European level and supervise the implementation and enforcement of the AI Act
• an EU AI Start-Up and Innovation Communication which outlines key activities such as financial and equity support, Common European Data Spaces and other initiatives.

The Commission will also establish two European Digital Infrastructure Consortiums, together with several Member States. These groups will develop common European infrastructure in language technologies and state-of-the-art AI-tools to help cities optimise processes, from traffic to waste management.

For years, the Commission has been facilitating and enhancing cooperation on artificial intelligence across the EU to boost its competitiveness and ensure trust based on EU values. The EU AI Act agreed in December 2023 is the world's first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence and will support the development, deployment and take-up of trustworthy AI in the EU.

For more information

Excellence and trust in artificial intelligence

AI Pact

The European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking

Common European Data Spaces

Press release: Commission launches AI innovation package to support Artificial Intelligence start-ups and SMEs

European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC)