Romania takes a major step toward strengthening its digital and research capabilities with the launch of RO AI Factory, the country’s first national Artificial Intelligence infrastructure. The project is being developed by the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics – ICI Bucharest (hosting entity) and the Politehnica University of Bucharest, alongside a consortium of academic, research, and industry partners.

Romania is among the six European countries selected in the latest evaluation round of the EuroHPC – AI Factories program, a European initiative dedicated to the development of AI and supercomputing centers.

The RO AI Factory will include the acquisition and operation of a state-of-the-art supercomputer optimized for AI, as well as the development of a suite of advanced services and infrastructures dedicated to research, business, and the public sector.

Key application areas will include manufacturing and industry, cybersecurity, life sciences, digital public services, and autonomous systems. The initiative will support not only researchers and universities but also startups, SMEs, and public institutions, providing access to high-performance computing resources, datasets, software tools, and training programs.

“This achievement confirms that Romania can play an important role in Europe’s digital transformation. RO AI Factory will be the cornerstone for future European AI infrastructure projects, paving the way for new investments, collaborations, and international partnerships,” said Dr. Adrian-Victor Vevera, General Director of ICI Bucharest.

The success of this project marks a significant milestone for Romanian research and innovation. Under ICI Bucharest’s coordination, the project aims to transform small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from mere technology users into active innovators by providing services, training, and access to modern AI infrastructures.

“With this strategic investment, Romania takes its place at the table with Europe’s leading AI players. Politehnica University of Bucharest has the tradition, expertise, and human resources to turn this project into a driver of scientific and economic progress. This is a unique opportunity to build cutting-edge technologies here in Romania that will impact society as a whole,” said Prof. Dr. Eng. Mihnea Costoiu, Rector of Politehnica University of Bucharest.

RO AI Factory will be hosted and co-coordinated by ICI Bucharest and Politehnica University of Bucharest, bringing together a strong national consortium of research, education, and industry partners, including Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (UTCN), National Institute for Research and Development in Biological Sciences (INCDSB), Transilvania IT Association (ATIT), Institute for AI Research (ICIA), National Council of Small and Medium Private Enterprises in Romania (CNIPMMR), and the Romanian Digital Innovation Hubs Association (RoDIH).