UAE’s G42 and Italy’s iGenius Join Forces to Build Europe’s Largest AI Supercomputer
In a groundbreaking move to accelerate artificial intelligence innovation in Europe, the UAE-based technology group G42 has signed a strategic partnership with Italian AI startup iGenius to develop a cutting-edge AI supercomputer project in southern Italy. The May 16 announcement of the plan represents a major turning point in the tech cooperation between Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
The proposed AI data center, called “Colosseum,” will cost $1 billion (about AED 3.67 billion) to build over five years. The project will make use of NVIDIA’s cutting-edge technologies to construct what is anticipated to be the biggest AI supercomputing machine in Europe.
This high-tech collaboration stems from a broader bilateral agreement made earlier in February, when the UAE pledged $40 billion in investments to Italy, as revealed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In the initial phase, G42—a firm backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, the UAE royal family, and US private equity giant Silver Lake—will act as the primary financier, demonstrating the UAE’s firm commitment to global AI infrastructure development.
Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso, speaking at the Investopia Conference in Milan, confirmed that the initiative will also include the creation of a dedicated AI innovation hub. He highlighted southeastern Apulia (Puglia) as a strong contender for hosting the new center, reinforcing the region’s potential as a future powerhouse for AI and data science.
This partnership has the potential to enhance AI capabilities in Italy and strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading investor and pioneer in global technology infrastructure. As a result of the Colosseum project, Italy is expected to become a major European hub for AI research and development.