A European initiative to democratise access to Artificial Intelligence

The BSC’s AI Factory is part of a strategic European initiative promoted by EuroHPC, the joint undertaking that supports the development and use of high-performance computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence in Europe. The goal is to strengthen the continent’s technological autonomy and accelerate the development of innovative AI-based solutions.

There are currently 13 AI Factories being deployed. Seven of them, including the BSC’s, were awarded in December 2024, with a second wave in March 2025 and a third call expected soon.

Open call for companies

While the AI Factories are still under development, the most advanced ones in AI — such as BSC’s — have already opened access to their high-performance computing infrastructure.

Interested companies can apply via the EuroHPC portal, where they must fill out a form and select the machine they want to access (MareNostrum5 ACC, in the case of BSC).

Three types of access are available to suit different levels of experience and needs:

• Playground Access: for beginners who want to start experimenting.
• Fast Lane Access: up to 50,000 GPU hours for experienced users.
• Large Scale Access: over 50,000 GPU hours for large-sace developments.

Technologies that can be developed include Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Speech Recognition, Robotic Process Automation, among others.

BSC’s AI Factory services: more than just advanced computing access

The BSC AI Factory is specifically designed to help companies adopt AI, even without deep technical knowledge. That’s why BSC is working on a package of free support services for SMEs, start-ups and public administrations, that will complement the access to its infrastructure. including:

• Personalised guidance from BSC experts who will support companies in defining and developing AI solution tailored to their needs.
• A data repository covering various industry sectors, allowing companies to train their models without having to generate their own data.
• A software library with ready-to-use tools and components to simplify the implementation of AI models, saving time and technical r

These services will be complemented by additional support mechanisms such as incubation services for start-ups, co-working spaces to foster collaboration and open innovation, among others.”

Although not yet available, updates will be posted on the official AI Factory website (currently under construction). For updates and opportunities, visit the portal or contact the DIH4CAT team.

• Subscription to the DIH4CAT’s newsletter.
• DIH4CAT’s social media.
• DIH4CAT’s mail: info@dih4cat.cat.
• Official website of the BSC AI Factory.

An infrastructure integrated into the DIH4CAT

The launch of the BSC’s AI Factory is a strategic milestone for DIH4CAT, as this cutting-edge infrastructure is fully integrated into the Hub.

This will allow companies to access the Factory’s services through the DIH4CAT ecosystem itself, in a coordinated way and tailored to their needs. In addition to providing greater computing power and advanced AI services, the integration of the Factory will strengthen the full range of technologies already offered by DIH4CAT. For example, it will enable the development of intelligent robotics systems powered by more advanced AI models, the optimisation of data management in IoT environments using predictive machine learning tools, or the enhancement of cybersecurity through advanced risk detection and analysis techniques. All of this aims to bring innovation to more companies and help them adopt advanced technologies with greater impact and fewer barriers to entry.

A strategic opportunity to drive AI innovation

DIH4CAT will work in close coordination with the BSC’s AI Factory to ensure that companies can fully benefit from the resources and services made available. This collaboration will include information, guidance, and support for interested organisations, as well as dissemination of the various access calls and services as they become available.

For more information, DIH4CAT’s team is available to support companies and organisations throughout the access process to the services and infrastructures of the BSC’s AI Factory.