Nvidia partners with iGenius to build AI supercomputer

The collaboration between Italian AI startup iGenius and tech giant Nvidia marks a significant advancement in European AI infrastructure with the unveiling of the Colosseum supercomputer.

Project overview: The Colosseum supercomputer represents a major investment in European AI capabilities, specifically designed to support advanced AI models in highly regulated industries.

• The system delivers 115 exaflops of computational power through Nvidia Grace Blackwell Superchips
• The infrastructure will support training of open-source generative AI and large language models exceeding one trillion parameters
• The system achieves 25 times greater energy efficiency compared to previous Nvidia computing platforms

Technical infrastructure: iGenius is establishing a state-of-the-art data center built around Nvidia’s latest hardware and software stack.

• The facility will house approximately 80 GB200 NVL72 servers, each equipped with 72 Blackwell chips
• The system integrates Nvidia AI Enterprise software, Nemotron models, and the NeMo framework
• Models will be deployed as Nvidia NIM microservices, offering both cloud-based and on-premises solutions

Strategic importance: The Colosseum project addresses critical needs in Europe’s AI ecosystem while emphasizing regulatory compliance and sovereignty.

• The system is specifically designed for highly regulated sectors including financial services, healthcare, and government applications
• Its architecture enables sovereign AI deployments and transparent AI development
• The facility will serve as a collaboration hub connecting enterprises, academic institutions, and policymakers

Looking ahead: Implications for European AI development: As Europe works to establish technological sovereignty and compete globally in AI development, the Colosseum supercomputer could play a pivotal role in fostering indigenous AI capabilities while maintaining compliance with strict EU regulations.

• The combination of high-performance computing and flexible deployment options positions the system to meet evolving regulatory requirements
• The collaborative nature of the project could accelerate AI innovation across multiple sectors
• The focus on transparency and sovereignty aligns with European values and regulatory frameworks

Impact assessment: The Colosseum project represents a significant step forward in building European AI infrastructure, though its success will depend on adoption by key industries and its ability to deliver on promises of transparency and regulatory compliance.