Period: 01.09.2025 – 31.08.2028
Funding SOURCE: EUROHPC, MDP, MIVZ
TOTAL BUDGET: 11.680.000 €
PROJECT COORDINATOR: INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION SCIENCE MARIBOR (IZUM)
GEMMA COORDINATOR: prof. dr. Domen Mongus
PROJECT PARTNERS: Institute of Information Science. Academic and Research Network of Slovenia, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto, University of Nova Gorica, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, Technology Park Ljubljana, Jožef Štefan Institute
Project website: SLAIF.SI
LINKEDIN:
SLOVENIAN AI FACTORY
Abstract:
On 12 March 2025, the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) announced six newly selected sites to host new AI Factories across Europe, bringing the total number to thirteen. The Slovenian AI Factory (SLAIF), which includes a new EuroHPC AI-optimized supercomputer hosted in Slovenia, is one of the selected proposals. The project will be co-funded by the EuroHPC JU and the Republic of Slovenia (through the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation). The new supercomputer system will be hosted by IZUM in collaboration with the Jožef Stefan Institute and Arnes in a new advanced datacentre built by Arnes on the Dravske elektrarne Maribor hydropower plant campus. The AI Factory itself is a collaboration between the Jožef Stefan Institute, University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, University of Nova Gorica, IZUM, Arnes, University of Primorska, Faculty of Information Studies Novo mesto, Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia and Technology Park Ljubljana.
AI Factories are dynamic ecosystems charged to promote innovation, collaboration and research in the field of AI. The Slovenian AI Factory (SLAIF) will enhance Slovenia’s AI capabilities by integrating a cutting-edge AI-optimized supercomputer with a dynamic AI ecosystem, supporting industry, research, and public institutions. The supercomputer will replace the current Vega EuroHPC system by 2027, ensuring continued excellence in computing and storage infrastructure for industry and science. It will deliver 10 exaflops (Eflops, 1018 floating-point operations per second) in mixed precision for AI applications and 100 petaflops (PFlops) in double precision for HPC tasks. Designed with sustainability in mind, it will be powered by renewable hydroelectric energy, reducing environmental impact while ensuring that Slovenia remains at the forefront of AI-driven scientific discovery and innovation. Additionally, the supercomputer’s cloud infrastructure will allow companies to integrate AI capabilities seamlessly into their operations, with a second-phase hardware upgrade planned for 2028–2029 to extend its lifespan and maintain technological competitiveness.
