EU AI Champions

The EU AI Champions, launched in 2025 at the AI Action Summit in Paris with the aim of positioning Europe as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative brings together over 60 companies, ranging from startups to established firms, to accelerate AI adoption across key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and defence. The goal is to integrate AI into industries to improve productivity and resilience, boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global AI landscape.
 

A key part of the initiative is the InvestAI programme, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This programme aims to mobilise €200 billion for AI investment over the next five years, including a €20 billion fund for AI gigafactories. These gigafactories will focus on training large AI models for critical applications, such as medicine and scientific research. The initiative also aims to foster collaboration between industry, capital, and policymakers to create a supportive AI ecosystem.
 

The EU AI Champions Initiative focuses on three main areas: accelerating AI adoption, developing AI infrastructure, and fostering a competitive European technology ecosystem. It also calls for regulatory reform to simplify and harmonise AI laws across Europe, supporting innovation while reducing bureaucratic barriers. The initiative advocates for secure data sharing and collaboration to enhance AI’s development across industries.
 

Over 20 global investors, including Blackstone and KKR, have committed €150 billion to AI projects in Europe. The participating companies such as Airbus, ASML, Axa, BNP Paribas, CMA CGM, Dassault Systemes, Deutsche Bank, EDF, E.ON, Exor, Infineon, L’Oreal Groupe, Lufthansa, Mistral AI, Orange Group, Porsche, Publicis, SAP, Siemens, Spotify, TotalEnergies, Volkswagen Group, and ZF, among others.
 

After the launch, the participating companies will engage in direct discussions with European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to implement the initiative’s goals. Through this collaboration, Europe aims to lead in AI innovation and play a central role in shaping the future of global technology.

The EU AI Champions Initiative was established in 2025 with the goal of positioning Europe as a global leader in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative was launched at the AI Action Summit in Paris, an event hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a significant moment for Europe’s AI ambitions. 

The founding purpose of the initiative was to bring together European companies, ranging from small startups to large, well-established firms, to collectively work towards advancing AI technology and its adoption across several key industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and defence.

The initiative aims to integrate AI into European industries to boost productivity, resilience, and competitiveness in the global AI landscape. 

This broad goal is supported by over 60 companies that agreed to participate, including notable names such as Airbus, ASML, Axa, BNP Paribas, CMA CGM, Dassault Systèmes, Deutsche Bank, EDF, E.ON, Exor, Infineon, L’Oréal Groupe, Lufthansa, Mistral AI, Orange Group, Porsche, Publicis, SAP, Siemens, Spotify, TotalEnergies, Volkswagen Group, ZF, Celonis, Dataiku, Flix, Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, Kering, N26, Novo Nordisk, Parloa, Personio, Philips, Photoroom, Pigment, Ravensburger, Robco, SAAB AB, Schwarz, Shift Technology, Supercell, Sword, Tom Tom, United Internet, and Wallenberg Investments, among others. 

These companies recognise the potential of AI to transform industries and are committed to working together to develop and apply AI technologies across Europe.
 

A crucial component of the initiative is the InvestAI programme, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This programme's purpose is to mobilise €200 billion for AI investment in Europe over the next five years. This investment includes a €20 billion fund aimed at developing AI gigafactories, which are facilities designed to train large and complex AI models. 

These AI gigafactories are set to support research and innovation in critical sectors such as medicine, science, and other areas that require advanced AI models. Through this initiative, Europe aims to create the infrastructure needed for AI innovation and ensure that the continent is well-positioned to compete globally in AI technology.

Following the launch of the initiative, discussions began between the participating companies, European leaders, and Heads of State and Government from 17 EU countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, and Austria. 

These discussions were focused on defining the policy actions required to support the initiative’s objectives and to create a regulatory framework that would facilitate the adoption and scaling of AI across Europe. The political support for the initiative was strong, with leaders across Europe aligning to help accelerate the AI transformation in their respective countries.

The initiative also includes plans for regulatory reform aimed at simplifying and harmonising AI laws across Europe. This regulatory effort is designed to reduce bureaucratic barriers and encourage innovation while ensuring that AI technologies are developed and used responsibly. 

Additionally, the initiative advocates for secure data sharing and collaboration between industries to enhance the development of AI technologies. One of the main aims is to develop a unified AI ecosystem where companies, governments, and researchers work together to create the necessary infrastructure and regulations to foster AI growth.

The EU AI Champions Initiative also benefits from significant financial backing, with over 20 international investors, including Blackstone, KKR, and Warburg Pincus, committing €150 billion to AI-related projects across Europe. This funding is intended to support both the development of AI technologies and the creation of essential infrastructure, such as data centres and AI research facilities, which will be crucial to enabling AI growth in Europe.

Throughout its development, the initiative has highlighted several important case studies that demonstrate the real-world impact of AI. For example, Cradle and Novo Nordisk worked together to use AI to accelerate drug discovery and development, reducing the time needed for experimental cycles. Similarly, Helsing and Loft Orbital collaborated to create an AI-powered satellite constellation designed to improve defence capabilities and operational speed. Another example is SAP and Mistral AI, who integrated frontier AI models into SAP’s enterprise software, allowing businesses to work with their proprietary data in secure AI environments.

By 2025, the initiative had already made considerable strides, and the companies involved continued to collaborate on a variety of AI projects. The work focused on fostering innovation in AI, ensuring that Europe remained competitive in the global race for AI leadership. The initiative's success is measured by the growth of AI adoption in Europe, the development of AI infrastructure, and the increasing collaboration between industries and governments to ensure that AI continues to benefit society as a whole.

As of the present, the EU AI Champions Initiative remains a key force in Europe’s push for AI leadership. The initiative continues to attract significant investment, with companies and governments working together to ensure that AI is used in ways that improve industries, economies, and societies. 

The initiative is actively shaping the future of AI in Europe, with a focus on driving progress in key sectors and developing the necessary infrastructure to support the continued growth of AI technologies. The ultimate goal remains to establish Europe as a global leader in AI, ensuring that the continent remains at the forefront of this transformative technology.

The EU AI Champions Initiative was established in 2025 to make Europe a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). The main goal of the initiative is to accelerate AI adoption across Europe, helping to boost productivity, resilience, and competitiveness in key industries like healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and defence. 

By bringing together over 60 companies, from startups to large firms, the initiative aims to integrate AI into various sectors to solve problems and improve operations. The participants in this initiative, which include companies like Airbus, Siemens, Volkswagen, Deutsche Bank, and L’Oréal, all agree that AI can help transform industries and make Europe more competitive in the global technology market.
 

A core purpose of the initiative is to create a strong AI ecosystem in Europe, where businesses, governments, and research institutions work together. This involves fostering collaboration between different industries and aligning policy, technology, and investment to support AI development. The initiative is also focused on improving the infrastructure for AI research and creating AI gigafactories to train large, complex AI models, particularly in critical areas such as medicine and scientific research. 

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said, “AI will improve our healthcare, spur our research and innovation, and boost our competitiveness. We want AI to be a force for good and for growth.”
 

Another important goal is regulatory reform. The initiative aims to create a simplified and unified regulatory framework for AI across Europe. This will help reduce barriers to innovation and make it easier for businesses to adopt AI technology. The initiative also supports the development of AI infrastructure, such as data centres, and advocates for secure data sharing among companies. This will allow businesses to use AI more efficiently and securely.
 

Jeannette zu Furstenberg, Managing Director at General Catalyst and head of the initiative in Europe, said, “By seizing this moment and embracing deep collaboration, Europe can lead in applied AI, integrating it into industries to boost productivity, resilience, and economic sovereignty, especially in sectors like manufacturing, energy, and defence.”
 

The EU AI Champions Initiative also focuses on attracting investment to support AI development. Over 20 international investors, including Blackstone and KKR, have committed €150 billion to AI projects across Europe. This funding will help both technology companies and the necessary infrastructure for AI development.

In addition, the initiative highlights successful AI applications through real-world examples. For instance, Cradle and Novo Nordisk have used AI to speed up drug discovery by reducing experimental cycles. Similarly, Helsing and Loft Orbital are working together to create an AI-powered satellite constellation to enhance defence capabilities. SAP and Mistral AI are collaborating to integrate AI models into SAP’s software to help businesses use their data more securely.

The EU AI Champions Initiative is already having a significant impact on Europe’s AI landscape. By bringing together over 60 companies from various industries, including Airbus, Volkswagen, Siemens, and L’Oréal, the initiative is driving widespread AI adoption across key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and energy. This collaboration is helping businesses use AI to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and boost productivity, positioning Europe as a global leader in AI innovation.
 

A key impact of the initiative is the focus on creating AI gigafactories, which will provide the infrastructure needed to train large, complex AI models, especially in critical fields like medicine and defence. With over €200 billion in investments committed, including €150 billion from international investors like Blackstone and KKR, the initiative is generating funding that will support both technological advancements and the creation of essential AI infrastructure across Europe.
 

The initiative is also pushing for regulatory reform, aiming to simplify AI laws and make Europe’s AI ecosystem more innovative and competitive. Through partnerships and collaboration, the EU AI Champions Initiative is not only fostering technological growth but also creating new job opportunities and strengthening Europe’s economic resilience. As AI continues to evolve, this initiative ensures Europe stays at the forefront of global AI development.