Europe and Canada team up in AI computing alliance that doesn't depend on Washington

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Sour Syrup: Geopolitical relations between Canada and the US are fraying fast, and Europe could capitalize by deepening its partnership with the proud North American nation. The new partners will likely need a lot of money, however, to make a real dent against US-based HPC powerhouses.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently confirmed that Canada is joining Europe's network of supercomputers, which is run by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. Canada will become an active part of the public-private network of high-performance computing (HPC) systems, and both sides should gain something from the arrangement, at least in theory.

Von der Leyen said the new cooperation will give Canadian industry privileged access to Europe's supercomputing resources, and startups and research organizations will also be able to join in. The European Union, meanwhile, will be able to tap Canada's competitive tech industry to further expand the shared AI ecosystem.

The EuroHPC network includes 14 world-class supercomputers, 10 quantum computers, and 19 "AI factories." Its umbrella covers 67 research projects, 38 participating countries, and 36 national competence centers. EuroHPC's total budget is €8.2 billion, while a further €30 billion investment is expected to add up to seven new AI data centers, with construction starting next year.

Anton Leicht, an AI expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, called cooperation among "middle powers" such as Canada and the EU one of the most obvious short-term moves toward a common AI infrastructure. He warned, however, that the new HPC-focused relationship will likely have no practical effect on US interests and dominance in the supercomputer business.

Washington will still hold significant sway over both Canada and the EU, Leicht suggested, because the US is making its own massive investments in new HPC and AI data center capacity.

"As long as the U.S. builds gigawatt-scale clusters, no amount of cooperation that doesn't result in massive buildouts will help," Leicht said.

Either way, Canada is making a significant effort to become one of Europe's most privileged partners. Prime Minister Mark Carney and von der Leyen have recently launched an Alliance for the Future, opening a new avenue for "like-minded nations" to tackle common issues.

Von der Leyen has floated making Canada the EU's first associate member, with joint HPC resources just one part of a larger initiative that is likely to rankle the US administration.

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Europe and Canada team up in AI computing alliance that doesn't depend on Washington

 

[zaku49]

They're going to fail.

 

[pnntmp]

OK but this is a purely performative act.

These supercomputers are like toys compared to recent datacenters. The planned 30 billion investment for the next year is pocket change compared to US investments. Besides, having in mind the nightmarish EUropean bureaucracy, they'll waste first 2-3 years in pushing paper, and will have something that's already ridiculously small today up and running in 5-7 years.

Political nonsense with zero real world significance.

 

[OortCloud]

Subtext - countries making their own plans and forming new alliances as they turn their backs on the US now it's gone both gaga and to the dark side.
Similar plans are being made for things like a satellite cloud to replace Starlink - this came sharply into focus when Musk throttled Ukraines starlink defence system last week. Too long Europe has been lazy and relied on the US for certain infrastructure. As a block, especially with the UK and Canada, they have more wealth than the US and are perfectly capable of large projects like this. Look at Airbus (which has put Boeing to the sword) or the LHC for examples. It's just so sad that they all feel the need to. The US is being dragged down into such a bad place by an isolationist idiocracy which seems to revel in its ignorant, bigoted, polluting chaos.

 

[dangh]

Reliability is important. Using infrastructure of a country you can't rely on is disaster in waiting. Good decision.

 

[m4a4]

What a joke. It's all performative to make it seem like Canada needs to become a part of the EU so Carney can cosy up to his EU buddies to throw Canadian taxpayer money at them too (just like he does Brookfield).

 

[toooooot]

How much is it going to depend on china though?

 

[toooooot]

Subtext - countries making their own plans and forming new alliances as they turn their backs on the US now it's gone both gaga and to the dark side.
Similar plans are being made for things like a satellite cloud to replace Starlink - this came sharply into focus when Musk throttled Ukraines starlink defence system last week. Too long Europe has been lazy and relied on the US for certain infrastructure. As a block, especially with the UK and Canada, they have more wealth than the US and are perfectly capable of large projects like this. Look at Airbus (which has put Boeing to the sword) or the LHC for examples. It's just so sad that they all feel the need to. The US is being dragged down into such a bad place by an isolationist idiocracy which seems to revel in its ignorant, bigoted, polluting chaos.

I do not believe he was the one who slod it. Remember when some senators requested pentagon to investigate who slowed it? Hegseth refused. If they did not do it, why not show their hands are clean?
I can believe that Musk as technical access to slow starlink and/or starshield. But to think that he did it himself, insane.

Trump said that he does not know who did it, dodging the responsibility first. And THEN after, Musk spoke how he controls starlink and not starshield, hinting at pentagon. He was contradicting himself because on one side he very clearly said it is the military that controls what spacenet speed is available for Ukraine. And THEN he also stated that Ukraine broke the terms of service using STARLINK, therefore he had to act. He is trapped and does not know how to get out. Trump already washed his hands, and Musk could either confirm that he indeed did it himself or try to find a much less reliable explanation which did. I would not be surprised if eventually he is required to make explanation and make official statement that will be used in court.

But as I said, nobody want to take the responsibility. Musk's excuses are very obviously flawed. He does not know what type of service Ukraine has, is it starshield from pentagon, or is it starlink that does not allow to be used for military purposes from Musk?

To me, it is very obvious that one of them did it. And they are aware that it could hurt their career or business in the future. Hence the lies, excuses, or explanations that lack logic.

 

[toooooot]

They're going to fail.

But not because they refuse American services but rather because of what values EU and Canada share and promote. Look at EU stagnation, they do not even help the companies that employ tens of thousands.
And to not give those something like subsidies on energy seems like suicide. I do not believe this will work because technology and fast progress is far from the first priorities. Climate change, social programs, immigration, those they prioritize.
As I said above, they will probably use China to complete this project as a critical part supplier. Which would be another paradox: democratic countries make deals which are critically important for their defense with a nation that is the biggest enemy of Western values and culture.