Finnish-Latvian Alliance Proposes EU’s AI GigaFactory

The proposed AI GigaFactory will contribute to the development of secure and energy-efficient computing infrastructure necessary for the deployment of sovereign artificial intelligence solutions across Europe.

"Europe’s need for sovereign AI compute infrastructure is a strategic issue, not just a technological one. As an AI infrastructure provider, we’re proud to have initiated this Nordic-Baltic cooperation to explore building one of the first AI infrastructures of this scale in Europe. We continue to actively work on this vision and invite new partnerships to help shape this ambitious project." said Ruben Bryon, CEO and Founder of DataCrunch.

Strengthening the Nordic-Baltic Digital Partnership

DataCrunch, a Finnish company with AI data centers in Finland and Iceland, has selected Latvia as the inaugural location for the AI GigaFactory, with a project structure that naturally accommodates the inclusion of additional sites in the region as the initiative progresses. Latvia’s proactive approach to digital infrastructure development, its strategic location within EU digital corridors, and availability of renewable energy, positioned it as an ideal starting point. The project reinforces the longstanding collaboration between Finland and Latvia on digital economy initiatives, setting a framework that can accommodate further expansion of this Nordic-Baltic alliance.

Recently, DataCrunch representatives held several meetings with Latvian institutions, both in Latvia and Finland to align the project with the EU objectives and discuss its role in strengthening regional cooperation. The meetings highlighted how this joint effort will benefit both nations through shared expertise, increased cross-border innovation, and infrastructure integration.

A European Infrastructure Priority-With Finnish Expertise

The AI GigaFactory is envisioned as a large-scale compute infrastructure dedicated to AI model training and inference, deploying around 100,000 AI accelerators. The facility will focus on:

• Ensuring secure, regulation-compliant AI compute capacity within EU jurisdiction.
• Providing critical compute resources for startups, SMEs, and research institutions across the EU.

• Powered by up to 100% renewable energy.

Founded and headquartered in Finland, DataCrunch sees this project as an opportunity to advance Finland's reputation in operating high-performance, green-energy AI data centers. In addition, this project aims to further strengthen Finland's role in shaping Europe's digital infrastructure landscape. DataCrunch’s current facilities in Finland and Iceland already operate on 100% renewable energy and are trusted by businesses ranging from startups to large corporations from various sectors and research institutions globally.

This initiative responds directly to the European Commission’s call for expressions of interest in AI GigaFactories, which aims to establish large-scale sovereign compute infrastructure as a foundation for Europe’s AI ecosystem.

The project involves a growing network of supporters, including the government of Latvia, through the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and the Ministry of Economics, institutions such as Riga Technical University (RTU) and the University of Latvia, as well as investors, such as byFounders, Skaala Capital, and Macquarie Specialised and Asset Finance. The Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association (LIKTA) is also supporting the initiative through sector coordination and policy engagement. The project welcomes interest from stakeholders who share a focus on sovereign, green, and regulation-compliant AI compute infrastructure.