Denmark is investing an additional 500 million Danish kroner (approximately €67 million) in Gefion, its high-performance AI supercomputer, as the country seeks to expand access to advanced computing and strengthen Europe’s control over critical digital infrastructure.
The funding will support the infrastructure and operations of Gefion at the Danish Centre for AI Innovation, which operates the system, according to an announcement by the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark. Details on how the money will be allocated and when additional computing capacity will become available have not yet been disclosed.
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Gefion Nears Full Capacity As Demand For Computing Grows
Launched in 2024 with 1,528 Nvidia chips, Gefion is now approaching full capacity, according to the Danish Centre for AI Innovation. The additional investment aims to address growing demand for computing power needed to develop and run AI systems.
The funding builds on an initial commitment of 700 million kroner (approximately €94 million) from Denmark’s state investment fund and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the organisation behind pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, known for medicines including Ozempic.
Denmark Seeks Economic Returns From AI Infrastructure
The government aims to turn greater access to computing power into practical economic benefits, including new products, businesses and jobs.
“This gives Danish companies and researchers more computing power to translate good ideas into new solutions, companies and jobs,” said Martin Lidegaard, Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness. He added that the investment would strengthen national competitiveness and help ensure that “ownership of the technology of the future is not left to others.”
The initiative will also support AI adoption by businesses and public institutions while helping them retain control over sensitive data. Danish technology company Netcompany, which develops and operates public-sector IT systems, including systems for NHS England, is joining the centre’s investors. It will provide software for access management, monitoring and security.
Europe Steps Up Investment In AI Computing Capacity
Denmark’s investment comes amid wider European efforts to gain greater control over the infrastructure and organisations behind AI development.
The UK invested £225 million (approximately €269 million) in an AI research supercomputer in 2023, while Finland hosts LUMI, a supercomputer funded by the EU and participating countries at a total lifetime cost of more than €200 million.
In July, the European Commission invited proposals for up to seven AI gigafactories, large-scale data centres designed to train and run advanced AI models. The initiative could receive up to €10 billion in funding from the EU and national governments.
“Europe must be able to do much more itself, and Denmark must contribute to European technological independence, not least so that we can regulate and develop technology based on democratic values,” said Christina Egelund, Denmark’s Minister for Research, Education and Digitalisation.
Gefion’s expansion reflects a broader strategic priority: access to computing power is becoming essential for AI research and commercial development. For Denmark and its European partners, the challenge is to build that capacity while ensuring it supports local economic priorities, public institutions and democratic oversight.
