Lithuania launches call for AI factory 'LitAI'

Lithuania is set to establish a national artificial intelligence (AI) factory, named 'LitAI,' following a call for proposals from the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (EIM). This initiative aims to bolster the country's AI infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, creating a central hub for advanced AI technologies and expertise.

The project will be led by Vilnius University (VU) in collaboration with a Lithuanian consortium. It will receive co-financing from the European Union (EU) under a previous call for AI factories. The ministry anticipates that access to this national AI infrastructure will enable Lithuanian companies, public sector entities, and research institutions to leverage cutting-edge technologies, thereby accelerating innovation.

Economy and Innovation Minister Edvinas Grikšas highlighted the project's significance, stating it will create more favorable conditions for businesses and academia to utilize advanced technologies. He projects that the national AI infrastructure will help the Lithuanian AI ecosystem save approximately 100 million euros, with the AI factory's services generating an additional economic benefit of about 150 million euros.

Applications for the 'LitAI' project are open until September 30 of this year. The total budget for the AI factory project is 130 million euros, with EIM contributing half and the remaining funds coming from already approved EU program resources through the joint venture 'EuroHPC.' The factory is envisioned as a leading national technology and competence center, housing supercomputer infrastructure optimized for AI, data resources, expert AI competencies, and development programs.

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AI factory – one of Lithuania’s most important initiatives for strengthening the country’s AI infrastructure and innovation ecosystem. By implementing this project, we will create more favorable conditions for Lithuanian companies, the public sector, and science to use advanced technologies and fundamentally accelerate innovation development.