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Europe has charted its own course in artificial intelligence, shaped by its research systems, public infrastructure, and data governance frameworks. Unlike the United States, which heavily depends on private tech companies, and China, which benefits from robust industrial advantages, Europe’s approach emphasizes building an open and transparent ecosystem of foundational models, enhancing computational capabilities, and aligning AI development with its legal and societal values, according to the director of the AI research at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
Europe’s strategy does not revolve around competing with a single commercial product but focuses on creating sustainable, long-term infrastructural capabilities. This includes developing accessible, auditable foundational models that serve as a base for researchers, public institutions, and small-to-medium enterprises to innovate upon. These models are designed to foster an open ecosystem where diverse organizations can develop and deploy AI applications, moving beyond purely technological innovations to exploring new architectures, methodologies, and scientific research applications—such as literature analysis, experimental design, and hypothesis generation—to accelerate discovery.
At the latest Mobile World Congress, AI was a central theme, with discussions spanning generative models, AI agents, physical AI in real-world settings, and their rapid influence on multiple industries, breaking traditional boundaries. A key concern was how Europe can position itself alongside the US and China in the competitive AI landscape, especially given the increasing importance of computational power, data, and talent in advancing large, complex models.
Europe’s strengths lie in its long-term, structural capabilities rather than quick breakthroughs. The continent boasts a large pool of highly skilled researchers trained within its borders, many of whom are influential globally. Additionally, Europe has access to unique datasets tailored to local contexts, which are often underrepresented in mainstream global models. The region’s expanding high-performance computing centers and initiatives like AI Factories are vital in supporting the development and deployment of large-scale AI models.
However, challenges remain, including fragmentation across countries and institutions, which hampers large-scale coordination, and limited private sector investments in frontier AI technologies compared to the US. While public funding is strong, increased private participation will be necessary to scale the industry further.
Europe’s focus on regulation and “Trustworthy AI” reflects its cultural and institutional values, emphasizing safety, transparency, and ethical alignment. While some may view regulation as a barrier, it is seen as a potential advantage—ensuring AI systems are consistent with societal values and establishing a competitive edge. Well-designed frameworks can foster innovation while maintaining trust.
The AI institute at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center primarily concentrates on two areas: developing open, auditable foundational models aligned with European values, and supporting AI adoption among small businesses and public institutions through mechanisms like AI factories. Their goal is to bolster the broader AI ecosystem rather than creating individual commercial products.
High-performance computing, data, and talent are the three pillars underpinning Europe’s AI strategy. Adequate computational resources are essential for training and deploying large models, but these must be complemented by advances in algorithms and architectures. This integrated approach—enhancing infrastructure, research, and human capital—forms the foundation for sustainable growth in AI.
While geopolitical tensions pose some uncertainties, the director remains optimistic about international collaboration, emphasizing that scientific progress has always been a global endeavor. No nation can develop AI fully in isolation, and despite short-term tendencies toward national strengthening, international cooperation will remain vital.
Regarding China, the director notes that open-source models originating there are already making an impact on global research, highlighting the importance of open science for innovation. Collaboration with Chinese research institutions has been positive, and open science benefits the entire scientific community.
In Spain and specifically in Barcelona, the AI ecosystem is growing rapidly. Investments have increased, and the region benefits from strong supercomputing resources and a diverse talent pool. An increasing number of startups and small companies leverage these infrastructures to develop innovative AI applications, making the local ecosystem more dynamic than ever.
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