Slovenia Opens AI Center with Supercomputer

Slovenia is moving forward with the expansion of its digital infrastructure. On February 9, Prime Minister Robert Golob opened the Slovenian Artificial Intelligence Factory (SLAIF), a national center that will eventually house a next-generation supercomputer. The goal is to provide industry and the business sector with comprehensive access to high-performance computing capabilities for the first time.

Golob emphasized that the government’s investments in artificial intelligence are intended to strengthen the country’s competitiveness and expand technological excellence. The transfer of knowledge to the business sector is crucial. “One of the greatest advantages of the new supercomputer and the Artificial Intelligence Factory is precisely this connection between knowledge and the economy,” said the Prime Minister.

Bridge between research and industry

The new system is not intended to be reserved exclusively for science but is specifically designed to be open to businesses as well. Industry and the business sector are at the forefront of its use. Furthermore, the government is exploring the possibility of granting access to citizens. This could lay the foundation for a national platform for generative AI, which would be based within SLAIF.

The project is co-funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation and by the European Commission as part of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.

By 2027, the new supercomputer is set to replace the existing EuroHPC Vega system, thereby ensuring continued access to modern supercomputing and big data infrastructure. The government expects SLAIF to accelerate innovation, increase productivity, and strengthen the international competitiveness of the Slovenian economy.

This article was produced in cooperation with our partner bne intelliNews