UK AI Factory Antenna represented at EuroHPC User Days 2026
6 October 2026
The UK AI Factory Antenna (Pilot-UKAIFA) at EPCC was represented at the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) User Days 2026 in Dublin in September. The event brought together researchers, technology providers, policymakers and infrastructure operators from across Europe to discuss developments in high performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
With Ireland having recently taken on Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the event was hosted by the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC). The conference highlighted the rapid pace of innovation taking place across the European digital infrastructure landscape and provided an important opportunity to engage with the growing network of AI Factories and Antennas being established across Europe.
Representatives from EPCC met with partners and stakeholders to share progress being made through the Pilot-UKAIFA initiative and its collaboration with HammerHAI, Germany‘s AI Factory for manufacturing, engineering and research.
Discussions centred on the ongoing collaboration across the whole network of European AI Factories and Antennas, with a focus on how to help organisations access expertise, infrastructure and support to accelerate AI adoption and innovation.
More broadly, the conference provided valuable insight into how European countries are approaching the opportunities and challenges presented by HPC, AI at scale and the emerging integration of quantum computing into this area. The discussions demonstrated how these technologies are increasingly converging to support scientific discovery, industrial innovation and economic growth.
EPCC’s Deputy Director, Ritchie Somerville, who also is Project Manager for the Pilot-UKAIFA Project, summarised the the key takeaway from the event: the importance of maintaining a strong focus on outcomes and impact.
“While significant investment is being made in advanced computing infrastructure, success will ultimately be measured by the benefits delivered to researchers, businesses and society. Equally important is the need to remain curious, collaborative and open to new ideas, ensuring that emerging technologies are translated into tangible value.”
EPCC looks forward to building on the connections and discussions from Dublin as the UK AI Factory Antenna continues to support the UK and European AI ecosystem.
