High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart
This configuration will make the HammerHAI supercomputer a powerful tool for handling medium- to large-scale AI workloads for machine learning and artificial intelligence. It will incorporate a cloud-native software stack familiar to the AI community, making it straightforward to migrate or scale applications from local systems or commercial cloud environments. The system will be configured to support research and technology development in disciplines prioritized with the HammerHAI consortium, with an emphasis on engineering, manufacturing, automotive and mobility.
Delivery of the HammerHAI supercomputer is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026 and it is expected to go into operation in the second half of 2026.
The HammerHAI supercomputer is among the first new AI-optimized systems to be procured within the AI Factories initiative, and marks a further step in the EuroHPC JU's AI strategy. It will offer a high-performance AI platform capable of supporting the types of applications typically handled by commercial cloud AI services, while being operated in Germany and in accordance with EU data security regulations. Access to this publicly funded resource will be free of charge to eligible European system users.
Anders Dam Jensen, EuroHPC JU Executive Director, stated, “Today’s signature marks a new step toward a vibrant European AI ecosystem. The HammerHAI supercomputer will empower European startups and industry to innovate at scale while reinforcing Europe’s digital sovereignty and technological leadership.”
Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science, Research, and the Arts for the State of Baden-Württemberg, said: “With the HammerHAI AI factory, HLRS and its partners are pooling their resources and expertise along the entire AI value chain in order to drive scientific and economic progress in Baden-Württemberg and beyond. HammerHAI is thus actively shaping our AI landscape while strengthening Europe's innovative strength and technological sovereignty.”
"The HammerHAI AI factory offers a powerful infrastructure for artificial intelligence in Stuttgart that will benefit both research and industry far beyond HLRS's innovation ecosystem at the University of Stuttgart. With the new supercomputer, we are setting the course to become a key pillar of the AI ecosystem in Europe," explains Prof. Peter Middendorf, Rector at the University of Stuttgart.
“HammerHAI will combine sovereign capabilities, energy-savvy infrastructure and expert support to turn industrial data into advantage,” said Damien Déclat, vice president and general manager, HPC & AI, EMEA & LATAM at HPE. “HPE is honored to help drive that mission with an advanced AI-optimized supercomputer, co-designed with NVIDIA for rapid AI deployment and scaling.”
The AI Factory HammerHAI opened in April 2025, and has already begun offering AI computing and services to European startups and SMEs on existing infrastructure. This includes providing:
Dr. Bastian Koller, Managing Director of HLRS and lead coordinator of HammerHAI, anticipates that the announcement of the new supercomputer will quickly augment and increase these activities: "The contract signing for this AI-optimized system marks a new chapter in HammerHAI's development. We invite future users of the system to begin preparing their datasets, algorithms, and workflows now. This will make it possible to begin taking advantage of the system's powerful new capabilities as soon as it becomes available." (Companies, startups, and researchers can contact HammerHAI to begin early onboarding of applications.)
While primarily intended for startups and SMEs, the new HammerHAI computing system will also be used to develop new kinds of AI, machine learning, and data science applications within the scientific research community. The EuroHPC JU and HammerHAI (based on a national governance model) will jointly allocate access to computing resources, in proportion to their respective investments.
The EuroHPC JU selected HammerHAI (Hybrid and Advanced Machine Learning Platform for Manufacturing, Engineering, and Research) as Germany's first AI Factory in December 2024. A second German AI Factory, called JAIF, is hosted by the Jülich Supercomputing Centre and centered around JUPITER, Europe’s first exascale supercomputer.
Since then, the network has grown to include 19 AI Factories and 13 AI Factory Antennas across Europe, which are establishing the computing infrastructure, technical support, and training opportunities that Europe needs to be globally competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
HLRS is coordinating HammerHAI in collaboration with the Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung mbH Göttingen, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and SICOS BW.
HammerHAI has also partnered with the UK AI Factory Antenna (UKAIFA), based at EPCC in Edinburgh. This partnership builds on a long history of collaboration between the two national HPC centers, including complementary expertise in providing HPC services for academia and industry.
HPE was selected to build and deliver the HammerHAI supercomputer following a call for tender launched in April 2025.
“HammerHAI will combine sovereign capabilities, energy-savvy infrastructure and expert support to turn industrial data into advantage,” said Damien Déclat, vice president and general manager, HPC & AI, EMEA & LATAM at HPE. “HPE is honored to help drive that mission with an advanced AI-optimised supercomputer, co-designed with NVIDIA for rapid AI deployment and scaling.”
A total of €55 million has been budgeted for the acquisition, delivery, installation, and maintenance of the new supercomputer. The EuroHPC JU will fund 50% of the total cost, with budget stemming from the Digital Europe Programme (DEP), while the other 50% will be funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Art.
This project is co-funded by the European Commission, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture.
The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity that brings together the European Union and participating countries to coordinate efforts and pool resources with the objective of making Europe a world leader in supercomputing.
To equip Europe with a cutting-edge supercomputing infrastructure, the EuroHPC JU has already procured 12 supercomputers, distributed across Europe. These include JUPITER in Germany and Alice Recoque in France, Europe’s first exascale systems.
European scientists and users from the public sector and industry can benefit from EuroHPC supercomputers via the EuroHPC Access Calls no matter where in Europe they are located. The goal of these calls is to advance science and support the development of applications with industrial, scientific, and societal relevance for Europe.
Additionally, the EuroHPC JU is deploying a European Quantum Computing infrastructure, integrating diverse European quantum computing technologies with existing supercomputers.
The EuroHPC JU also funds research and innovation projects to develop a full European supercomputing supply chain. This includes processors and software, applications to be run on these supercomputers, and know-how to develop strong European HPC expertise.
With the recent adoption of Council Regulation (EU) 2026/150, the EuroHPC JU’s mandate has been expanded with new action pillars dedicated to the deployment of AI Gigafactories across Europe and the advancement of quantum technologies.
Established as Germany's first AI Factory, HammerHAI provides secure, scalable AI resources for startups, SMEs, large enterprises, and scientific institutions in need of powerful computing capabilities for AI-driven solutions.
Focusing particularly on the needs of industry, manufacturing, and engineering, HammerHAI will feature an AI-optimized supercomputer for training and inference, as well as an expert team that provides personalized support for AI users at all stages in the AI lifecycle. It offers consulting services and professional education, and collaborates with other AI initiatives to accelerate the uptake of AI technologies in Europe.
HammerHAI has received funding from the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No. 101234027. This project is co-funded by the European Commission, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture.
A member of the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing, HLRS is one of three German national centers for high-performance computing.
