Europe has moved from talking about AI infrastructure to legislating it. In January 2026, the EU Council adopted an amendment expanding the EuroHPC mandate to facilitate AI gigafactories and add a dedicated quantum technologies pillar. The amended regulation was published on January 19, 2026 and entered into force on January 20, 2026, which means the policy is active and the implementation clock is already running. According to the Council and the European Commission, the next concrete step is a Q1 2026 call for gigafactories, bringing the initiative into the near term rather than a distant future. EU Council press release. European Commission update.
The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking describes AI gigafactories as state-of-the-art, large-scale facilities providing massive computing power in energy-efficient data centers that support the full AI lifecycle, from model development to large-scale inference. It also emphasizes that access will be available to researchers, startups, and industrial partners. That positioning is crucial because it makes the infrastructure model not just about national prestige, but about access for the teams that cannot afford to build their own clusters. EuroHPC JU press release.
Why the 2026 Amendment Changes the Game
The Council describes AI gigafactories as "world-class AI compute infrastructure" designed to strengthen Europe?s industry and competitiveness, built through public-private partnerships and governed through new funding and procurement rules. That framing shifts the conversation from ad hoc national investments to a structured EU-wide program with formal governance. It also explicitly safeguards the interests of startups and scale-ups, which is a signal that access and competition are part of the policy design. EU Council press release.
The European Commission adds that the amended regulation provides a legal and operational basis for gigafactories that will support the training and deployment of state-of-the-art large AI models, and confirms the Q1 2026 call for establishing these facilities. That combination of legal authority and near-term call timing is what turns strategy into execution. European Commission update.
What an AI Gigafactory Is Designed to Deliver
The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking?s explanation emphasizes energy-efficient data centers and full lifecycle support, meaning the infrastructure is intended to carry teams from training to large-scale inference at production volumes. This is not just about building bigger supercomputers, but about operating an end-to-end stack that supports modern AI development at scale. Access is explicitly positioned as a feature, which suggests that startups and research labs should be able to use these resources without having to negotiate individual hyperscaler contracts. EuroHPC JU press release.
The Quantum Pillar and the Long-Term Compute Stack
The amendment does more than AI. It establishes a dedicated quantum technologies pillar, aligning AI and quantum under one expanded EuroHPC mandate. The Commission frames this as a way to boost Europe?s quantum ambitions and to coordinate investment between the Union and participating states. That signals a long-term view where compute leadership requires both classical AI infrastructure and quantum R and D under the same governance umbrella. European Commission update.
Why This Matters for Startups and Industry
The Council?s emphasis on safeguards for startups and scale-ups signals that the program is designed to avoid reinforcing hyperscaler dominance. If the procurement and funding rules are executed well, AI gigafactories could become a shared infrastructure layer that makes advanced training accessible to smaller companies. The EuroHPC JU?s description of access for researchers, startups, and industrial partners confirms that broad participation is a stated goal, not a secondary benefit. EU Council press release. EuroHPC JU press release.
The 2026 Implementation Window
The Council confirmed the amendment was adopted on January 16, 2026, with publication on January 19 and entry into force on January 20. The Commission confirms that a formal call for gigafactories is planned for Q1 2026, which makes this a near-term competitive window for consortia, regions, and industry partners. The implication is that 2026 will set the trajectory for Europe?s compute capacity for the next decade. EU Council press release. European Commission update.
Conclusion: Europe Puts Infrastructure at the Center of AI Strategy
The EuroHPC amendment turns infrastructure into policy. It establishes AI gigafactories as a formal EU initiative, creates a quantum pillar for long-term compute leadership, and sets a near-term timeline for implementation in 2026. For startups, researchers, and industry, the most important signal is that Europe is investing in access and scale at the same time. The competitive impact will depend on how fast the first gigafactories are funded and built, but the direction is now clear: Europe is treating compute as strategic infrastructure. EU Council press release. European Commission update. EuroHPC JU press release.
