Making sense of EU AI infrastructure — and where FAIR and other digital hubs fit in
The European Union’s AI Continent Action Plan rests on five pillars designed to make Europe a global AI power. From 2026, we at Finnish AI Region take on a new gateway role at the centre of the architecture, backed by a first term in which we supported hundreds of Finnish organisations on their AI journey.
Text by Martti Asikainen, 29.5.2026 | Photo created with AI
The EU’s push to lead in artificial intelligence is built on five pillars set out in the AI Continent Action Plan, published by the European Commission in April 2025: computing infrastructure, data for AI, strategic AI innovation and adoption, AI skills and talent, and regulatory simplification.
For Finnish companies and public organisations, a practical entry point into that architecture exists close to home. We’re of course talking about us — Finnish AI Region, known as FAIR — and our partners in crime here in Finland: HealthHub Finland, Location Innovation Hub, and Robocoast.
The EU's AI infrastructure in practice
So what does the EU’s AI infrastructure actually look like on the ground? Within the plan’s broader framework, the Commission has put in place a set of concrete tools that businesses and researchers can use directly.
AI Factories
AI Factories are large-scale supercomputing facilities that give companies and researchers access to the serious processing power needed to train advanced AI models.
The best-known example in the Nordic region is LUMI, the pan-European supercomputer sitting in Kajaani, northern Finland. Across Europe, 19 AI Factories are now up and running, with even more powerful AI Gigafactories in the pipeline.
AI Factories are open to European users from various sectors, including industry, research, academia, and public authorities. Access is available at no cost to eligible public and private organisations, mainly for publicly funded research. Learn more from the European Commission’s and LUMI’s websites.
Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs)
Testing and Experimentation Facilities — TEFs for short — are specialised large-scale reference sites that help innovative technology providers take their AI-powered products from the lab all the way to the market.
Unlike AI Factories, which focus on raw computing power for training models, TEFs are about real-world testing: putting mature AI technologies through their paces in actual operating environments.
The 4 TEFs, which specialise in Smart Cities and Communities, Health AI and Robotics, Agrifood, and Manufacturing Innovation are spread across multiple locations (named nodes or satellites). In total, there are TEF locations in 16 EU States.
AI on Demand Platform (AIoD)
The AI-on-Demand Platform (AIoD) is Europe’s unified digital gateway to AI tools, datasets, and services, bringing together fragmented resources from across the continent into one trusted access point.
AIoD is the digital shelf where Europe’s AI knowledge and resources are organised and made accessible. The platform serves two audiences in parallel. For researchers and innovators, it offers a repository of tons of AI assets like datasets, tools, and software.
For businesses, including SMEs, startups, and public sector organisations, it delivers market-ready AI solutions and support across the full innovation lifecycle, from development and training through to deployment.
European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs)
Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) are the glue holding the whole network together. These are regionally based organisations that help companies and public bodies navigate all of the above, find the right funding, and build the skills they need.
EDIHs are designed as one-stop shops, supporting companies and public sector organisations in meeting digital challenges and boosting their competitiveness. They offer access to technical expertise and testing — including the ability to “test before invest” — as well as innovation services such as financial advice, training, and skills development.
Their services are free or heavily subsidised, and they are open to businesses of all sizes as well as public sector organisations.
Our role in the ecosystem
From 2026, our role gets bigger. EDIHs across Europe are taking on a new function as gateways to the entire EU AI infrastructure — a one-stop-shop model that means organisations no longer need to navigate the system alone.
In practice, if your company needs access to an AI Factory, a testing facility, or specialist expertise from another European hub, we are the place to start. We will either provide the service directly or point you to exactly the right partner, whether that is in Finland or elsewhere in Europe.
Two new services are launching as part of this expanded role. The AI Helpdesk is open to anyone who needs guidance on AI — it will help organisations find their way to the right tools and services across the EU’s AI infrastructure. Alongside that, we are introducing an AI-powered assessment tool to help SMEs check whether their technology solutions comply with the EU’s AI Act, before any issues arise.
Who we work with
The short answer is with most organisations. We work with businesses of all sizes. From startups and SMEs to larger companies and public sector bodies, and most of our services are free of charge. Our main focus areas are health technology, smart cities, and digital services, but we are open to organisations from any sector.
We are one of 83 EDIHs receiving renewed EU funding as of October 2025, with 102 hubs holding recognised status across EU member states and associated countries. Together, we form a network designed to ensure that no company, regardless of size or location inside the EU, has to figure out AI adoption on its own.
Whether the one-stop-shop model delivers on that promise in practice will depend on how well hubs coordinate across borders. That will become clearer as 2026 unfolds. But for Finnish organisations, the starting point is straightforward:, since we are the door. Feel free to contact us.
What to remember
- The EU has a comprehensive AI infrastructure, but it can be complex to navigate
- FAIR is part of that infrastructure, connecting organisations to the right tools and partners across Europe
- Whether you are an SME or a larger organisation, FAIR is the place to start
- From 2026, that role expands — making FAIR a gateway to the full EU network
