Denmark unveils AI supercomputer to tackle societal challenges

Denmark’s AI leap: A sovereign supercomputer for scientific breakthroughs: Denmark has unveiled Gefion, its largest AI supercomputer, aimed at tackling global challenges and fostering innovation across various scientific domains.

• The supercomputer, named after a Danish mythological goddess, is an NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD powered by 1,528 NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs and connected via NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking.
• Gefion was inaugurated by King Frederik X of Denmark, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, and Danish Center for AI Innovation (DCAI) CEO Nadia Carlsten in Copenhagen.
• The project is a collaboration between NVIDIA and DCAI, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark.

Sovereign AI and national competitiveness: Gefion represents a significant step towards Denmark establishing its own sovereign AI capabilities, positioning the country at the forefront of technological innovation.

• Sovereign AI involves a nation’s ability to produce artificial intelligence using its own data, workforce, infrastructure, and business networks.
• Jensen Huang emphasized the importance of AI infrastructure for national competitiveness, comparing it to essential infrastructures like communications and healthcare.
• The supercomputer’s presence on Danish soil allows for the development of AI models and applications that reflect the country’s unique culture and language.

Addressing global challenges: Gefion is expected to contribute to solving pressing issues in various fields, leveraging AI to accelerate progress in critical areas.

• The supercomputer will focus on challenges related to infectious diseases, climate change, and food security.
• It aims to support breakthroughs in quantum computing, drug discovery, and energy efficiency.
• Jensen Huang expressed hope that Gefion would revolutionize digital biology in the same way computers transformed the technology industry.

Pilot projects and collaborations: Several Danish institutions and companies are already planning to utilize Gefion’s capabilities for innovative research and development.

• The Danish Meteorological Institute aims to deliver faster and more accurate weather forecasts while reducing energy consumption.
• University of Copenhagen researchers are using Gefion to simulate quantum computer circuits, approaching “quantum supremacy.”
• A multi-modal genomic foundation model is being developed by the University of Copenhagen, Technical University of Denmark, Novo Nordisk, and Novonesis for disease mutation analysis and vaccine design.
• Startups like Go Autonomous and Teton are leveraging Gefion for AI model training in various applications.

International collaboration and future prospects: Gefion’s launch sets the stage for Denmark to become a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation in AI and related fields.

• The supercomputer will enable collaborations between Danish researchers and NVIDIA industry experts on complex problems in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and protein design.
• Scientists will work with NVIDIA on fault-tolerant quantum computing using the NVIDIA CUDA-Q open-source hybrid quantum computing platform.
• These collaborations position Denmark to address leading scientific challenges with significant social impact and pursue large-scale projects across industries.

Implications for Denmark’s technological landscape: The introduction of Gefion marks a pivotal moment in Denmark’s technological advancement, potentially reshaping its research capabilities and industry dynamics.

• The supercomputer is poised to accelerate innovation across multiple sectors, from weather forecasting to drug discovery, potentially leading to new breakthroughs and economic opportunities.
• By establishing sovereign AI capabilities, Denmark may be better positioned to compete globally in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence and its applications.
• The initiative could attract international talent and investments, further strengthening Denmark’s position as a hub for technological innovation and scientific research.