Italy is accelerating its race in artificial intelligence with a new infrastructure set to become one of Europe’s key hubs for supercomputing and advanced AI. EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has signed a contract with E4 Computer Engineering and Dell Technologies for the development of the new IT4LIA AI Factory supercomputer, which will be installed at the DAMA Tecnopolo in Bologna and managed by CINECA, Italy’s largest high-performance computing (HPC) center and one of the leading facilities in Europe.

With more than 160 Exaflops dedicated to AI inference, the system is expected to rank among Europe’s most advanced technological infrastructures, further strengthening Italy’s role within the European artificial intelligence ecosystem.

The project has a clear objective: to provide startups, SMEs, and the scientific community with a high-performance platform for developing next-generation AI applications, fully compliant with European standards for digital sovereignty, security, and data privacy.

IT4LIA AI Factory represents one of the most strategic initiatives within Europe’s current AI development plan. The infrastructure is specifically designed to handle extremely complex AI workloads by combining high computational performance, scalability, and energy efficiency.

The supercomputer will use Nvidia’s GB200 NVL4 liquid-cooled architecture, integrating Nvidia Grace CPUs and Nvidia Blackwell GPUs connected through Nvidia Quantum-X800 InfiniBand networking. Data flows will be managed by the VAST Data platform, designed to provide a unified environment for all AI workloads.

Alongside American technologies, the project also aims to strengthen the European technology supply chain through the integration of AI accelerators from Axelera AI and SiPearl CPUs developed in Europe.

One of the system’s core features will be energy efficiency, which has become a top priority for data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

The infrastructure will allow companies and organizations to develop AI-based solutions without having to bear the costs of building their own HPC infrastructure. At the same time, the system will also be accessible to scientific research institutions and public administrations.

IT4LIA AI Factory is already operational through the use of the Leonardo supercomputer and currently provides specialized services in strategic sectors such as agritech, cybersecurity, meteorology, climatology, and advanced manufacturing.

In addition to computing power, the platform will provide tools for secure data management, regulatory compliance, metadata generation, and training programs aimed at accelerating AI adoption across Europe’s industrial ecosystem.

A strategic €290 million investment

The new infrastructure will be developed through a total investment of €290 million, co-funded at 50% by EuroHPC JU through the Digital Europe Programme and supported by Italy’s Ministry of University and Research.

E4 Computer Engineering will coordinate the project, overseeing system design, hardware and software integration, and operational management, while Dell Technologies will provide technological support, professional services, and maintenance for the exascale infrastructure.

According to EuroHPC JU, IT4LIA represents a decisive step toward strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence by creating a “sovereign,” secure, and energy-efficient technological environment.

With the new supercomputer, Bologna further consolidates its role as Europe’s “Data Valley,” becoming one of the continent’s key hubs for AI, supercomputing, and advanced digital innovation.

Innovative technologies for the production and recycling of electric and hybrid vehicles will be presented at E-Tech Europe, taking place 7–9 October 2026 at BolognaFiere, as part of Urban Tech 2026 – The Urban Technology Show, the new event dedicated to e-mobility, traffic, commuting, security, telecommunications & data, and environment.

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