Europe does not want to depend on the United States and China. If they want to lead in the artificial intelligence industry, they must start building their own gigafactories. Spain and Portugal could play a fundamental role.
one of European gigafactories will be located in the Mora la Nova plant in the province of Tarragona. Shortly after, it was decided that Catalonia would share the headquarters with Madrid at the San Fernando de Henares facilities.
Spain and Portugal seek their space in Europe
The macro project to create an AI gigafactory in Europe is more than ambitious, so Spain cannot lose the candidacy in the public tender. For this they need the help of the neighboring country.
Portugal has joined the Spanish headquarters in Catalonia and Madrid. Both countries have created a joint “Iberian candidacy” with which they intend to secure the granting of the license. The coordination of resources and projects will be joint.
The decision was made last Friday at the XXXVI Hispano-Portuguese Summit held in La Rábida (Huelva). Óscar López, Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Service, has highlighted the understanding with the Deputy Minister and Minister of State Reform of Portugal, Gonçalo Matias.
An AI model training gigafactory
The European Commission intends to create its own strategic infrastructure that reinforces its technological autonomy. From Brussels they intend to finally achieve their dreamed sovereignty in AI.
«Spain seeks to position itself as one of the nerve centers of the European artificial intelligence ecosystem, combining public-private investment, industrial capacity, technological talent and a determined commitment to digital sovereignty,» say sources close to the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Public Service.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced at the Paris Summit on Artificial Intelligence in January 2025 the creation of the InvestAI program. The budget is no less than 200 billion euros to create data centers and gigafactories to train AI.
Spain could become the engine of the new megafactory with its two headquarters. If the license is granted, both countries commit to cooperating to protect European citizens from disinformation, as well as ensuring a safe online space for minors in accordance with the European Digital Services Regulation.