The European Commission has launched its AI Continent Action Plan – an ambitious strategy to make Europe a world leader in AI innovation.
Unveiled following President von der Leyen’s address at the 2025 AI Action Summit in Paris, the plan is designed to transform Europe’s rich industrial heritage and top-tier talent pool into a powerhouse of artificial intelligence.
As countries worldwide battle for dominance in this critical technology, the EU is staking its claim with a bold, future-focused vision that spans AI infrastructure, data, skills, and regulation.
Henna Virkkunen, EU Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, explained: “Artificial intelligence is at the heart of making Europe more competitive, secure and technologically sovereign.
“The global race for AI is far from over. The time to act is now. This Action Plan outlines key areas where efforts need to intensify to make Europe a leading AI Continent. We are working towards a future where tech innovation drives industry and public services forward, bringing concrete benefits to our citizens and businesses through trustworthy AI.
“This means a stronger economy, breakthroughs in healthcare, new jobs, increased productivity, better transport and education, stronger protection against cyber threats, and support in tackling climate change.”
Supercharging AI infrastructure with factories and gigafactories
Central to the action plan is developing a vast AI computing infrastructure. A network of AI factories – 13 of which are already under construction – will provide EU startups, researchers, and industries with access to cutting-edge supercomputing facilities.
These AI hubs will foster the development and deployment of advanced models across a wide range of sectors.
But the plan doesn’t stop there. The next leap comes in the form of AI gigafactories, vast industrial-scale facilities powered by over 100,000 high-performance AI chips – quadrupling the capabilities of current AI factories.
These gigafactories will not only accelerate the training of complex AI models but also ensure strategic autonomy in crucial sectors such as science, health, energy, and manufacturing.
To support this, the EU will mobilise €20bn in private investment through the InvestAI initiative. Additionally, a Cloud and AI Development Act is in the pipeline to drive investment in green, scalable cloud infrastructure, with an ambitious target to triple data centre capacity within the next seven years.
Unlocking the power of high-quality data
For AI innovation to thrive, access to large volumes of structured, high-quality data is essential. The Commission will establish data labs within AI factories to gather and curate datasets from diverse sources, laying the foundation for AI training and experimentation.
A Data Union Strategy, set to launch in 2025, will further support this effort by building a unified internal market for data, making it easier for businesses and researchers to scale AI solutions across borders while respecting EU data protection standards.
Driving AI adoption across strategic sectors
While the potential of AI is vast, its current uptake remains limited – only 13.5% of EU companies have integrated AI into their operations.
The forthcoming Apply AI Strategy aims to bridge this gap by supporting the creation of industry-specific AI applications tailored to public and private sector needs.
The initiative will lean heavily on existing AI infrastructure like AI factories and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), ensuring businesses of all sizes have the tools, training, and support needed to adopt AI at scale.
Closing the talent gap and attracting global expertise
Recognising that AI innovation hinges on talent, the EU will strengthen its AI workforce through targeted education and international recruitment.
The AI Skills Academy, Talent Pool, and MSCA Choose Europe schemes will all play a role in attracting top-tier AI professionals to Europe while upskilling local talent in areas like generative AI.
These efforts will not only reverse the brain drain but also create legal migration pathways for non-EU experts, boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global AI talent market.
Streamlining AI regulations
With the landmark AI Act recently passed, the EU is also ensuring businesses have clear, consistent rules to follow.
To support smooth compliance, the Commission will launch an AI Act Service Desk – a one-stop shop for guidance, resources, and regulatory support for developers and investors.
Public consultations and industry dialogue
To refine and expand the AI Continent Action Plan, the Commission has launched two public consultations running until 4 June 2025, inviting feedback on both the Cloud and AI Development Act and Apply AI Strategy. A third consultation on the Data Union Strategy will open in May.
In tandem, the EU will engage directly with industry leaders and public sector stakeholders to identify practical AI use cases, assess challenges in adoption, and explore scalable applications across different economic sectors.
As the global AI race accelerates, Europe’s AI Continent Action Plan marks a bold, strategic investment in future-ready infrastructure, regulation, and talent.
With a comprehensive roadmap and collaborative vision, the EU is laying the groundwork not only for technological leadership – but for a new era of sustainable, inclusive AI innovation.
