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HammerHAI will quickly build an AI Factory on a solid foundation of infrastructure and expertise. Joining consortium lead HLRS in the project is the Leibniz Supercomputing Center (LRZ), which like HLRS is also a member of Germany’s national HPC infrastructure in the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing (GCS). In addition, the AI Factory will benefit from important contributions by the Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung Göttingen, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and HPC/AI consultancy SICOS BW. The project budget of approximately 85 million Euros is co-funded by the EuroHPC JU, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and Art, the Bavarian Ministry of Science and the Arts, and the Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture. HammerHAI is one of seven European AI Factories announced today by the EuroHPC JU. 

HammerHAI will extend the existing capabilities of Germany’s national high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. It will also procure a new, large-scale AI-optimized supercomputer, which HLRS will operate on behalf of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and the project funders. The additional system will be tailored to the computational requirements of typical AI workloads in industry, including the training and usage of customized large language models, deep learning, and complex data analytics. HammerHAI will also accommodate hybrid workflows that integrate HPC and AI, such as using HPC to generate synthetic datasets for the training of neural networks, or using AI to accelerate computationally demanding simulations through surrogate models.

As the HammerHAI consortium leader, the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart will play a key role in the project’s implementation. The GCS center will provide AI-optimized infrastructure and develop innovative solutions for integrating traditional HPC and AI workflows. As a result of its extensive experience in HPC, HLRS is well-versed in supporting users from both academia and industry with a full suite of support and services. 

“The European and German governments have identified the creation of a robust, native European infrastructure for artificial intelligence as a high priority. HammerHAI will quickly help to address this need,” said Prof. Dr. Michael Resch, Director of HLRS. “At the same time, the project will play an important role in implementing the development strategy at HLRS and the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing as we evolve to support the changing landscape of high-performance computing.” 

LRZ’s contribution to HammerHAI will build on its long history of providing HPC services at the highest level. Serving as both a GCS national high-performance computing center and as an IT service provider for many Bavarian research institutions, LRZ is home to a staff experienced in supporting users’ requirements. LRZ will leverage the large AI training and user support capabilities that have been built-up and extended over the last years. Additionally, LRZ will engage in the installation, maintenance, and further development of software solutions and the hosting of AI models and data on-premise.

“AI must function reliably and in compliance with data protection regulations if it is to be of real benefit to science, industry and society,” said Prof. Dr. Dieter Kranzlmüller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of LRZ. “In international projects such as the Trillion Parameter Consortium for trustworthy AI methods and in the development of a high-performance AI infrastructure for Bavaria, we have created expertise, especially in the integration of high-performance computers with AI methods. This is how we want to move HammerHAI forward.”

The Gauss Centre for Supercomputing is the association of Germany’s three national high-performance computing centers—HLRS, LRZ, and the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC)—and is participating in HammerHAI as a strategic partner. To advance its mission of providing German researchers with globally competitive supercomputing resources, GCS will support HammerHAI by building bridges among the project partner institutions to promote synergy and ensure the scalability of the project’s solutions.

Dr. Claus Axel Müller, GCS Managing Director, emphasized that HammerHAI is a flagship project for Europe’s digital transformation and “AI made in Europe.” He welcomed the new initiative, saying, “HammerHAI will help to secure Europe's long-term technological sovereignty while also creating new opportunities for innovation, automation and growth.”

HammerHAI will be closely embedded within the German and European AI ecosystems. The project partners are closely integrated into numerous regional, national and international AI initiatives across the globe.

For more information, please read the full press release on the HLRS website and the press release from EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. 

Please view the official press release from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

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GCS is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of the German State of Baden-Württemberg, and the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts.