The European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group have signed a new agreement aimed at accelerating the development of large-scale artificial intelligence infrastructure across the European Union, marking a significant step in the bloc’s ambition to become a global leader in AI.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed on December 4, the Commission and the EIB Group committed to supporting the financing and deployment of so-called “AI Gigafactories”—high-capacity computing facilities designed to train and develop next-generation AI models. The agreement was signed by Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen, EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, and European Investment Fund Deputy Chief Executive Merete Clausen.

The partnership establishes a framework to help move proposed AI Gigafactory projects from concept to implementation. The EIB Group will provide tailored advisory services to project consortia that responded to the Commission’s recent informal call for expressions of interest. That guidance is intended to help project sponsors prepare bankable proposals for a formal call on AI Gigafactories expected in early 2026, potentially opening the door to EIB co-financing.

The initiative is part of the EU’s broader InvestAI program, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the AI Action Summit in Paris in February 2025. InvestAI aims to mobilize up to €20 billion in funding to support as many as five AI Gigafactories across the EU, forming the backbone of Europe’s future AI computing capacity.

EU officials said the effort is designed not only to unlock private and public investment, but also to translate the bloc’s AI policy goals into tangible infrastructure. By hosting advanced computing facilities within the EU, the Commission hopes to strengthen technological sovereignty, reduce reliance on non-European infrastructure, and support innovation across research, industry, and public services.

The Commission and the EIB Group said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that Europe can develop and deploy advanced AI technologies at scale, positioning the EU as a competitive and secure “AI Continent” in the global technology landscape.

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