BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Leading German technology companies have been unable to agree on a joint concept for a European AI gigafactory. As a result, Deutsche Telekom, cloud provider Ionos, and the IT subsidiary of the Schwarz Group (Lidl, Kaufland) will submit competing applications to the EU on Friday, according to the specialist service "Tagesspiegel Background Digitalisierung & KI."
The EU is planning up to five such data centers for training large AI models. The costs of three to five billion euros are to be covered by up to 35 percent. In Germany, the establishment of an AI gigafactory is politically anchored. The coalition agreement of the black-red federal government stipulates that Germany, as a leading AI location, should host at least one of the gigafactories.
Application deadline expires
Friday is the deadline for companies and research institutions to express their interest in developing a large AI data center in the European Union.
The software company SAP will not be participating in the project. "We are not expressing any interest at this stage," a SAP spokeswoman told the specialist service. The company sees its primary role as a software supplier and does not have any significant need for the AI factory.
Telekom wants to take on a leading role
Deutsche Telekom, on the other hand, is prepared to take on a leading role in the AI Gigafactory initiative. "We will submit an expression of interest accordingly," said a spokesperson. Companies, technology partners, institutions, and other organizations are invited to join this initiative. "We will submit a compelling application with strong partners," said Uwe Geier, Head of Cloud Solutions at Ionos.
During the selection process, the German applicants were able to join forces after all. "We expect the exchange between the various players to intensify," said the Telekom spokesperson. "It is not a problem if there are several expressions of interest," says Andreas Weiss, Managing Director of the Eco Association. "However, it would be pointless if there were competing applications from Germany in the end."/chd/DP/jha
