The Bologna Technopole in Emilia-Romagna hosts the EU’s first AI Factory, representing the largest EU investment in AI infrastructure at EUR 430 million. The facility houses supercomputers in the EuroHPC network and is a strategic node in the European supercomputing infrastructure, providing publicly accessible compute capacity for startups, researchers, and public institutions. The UN University has signed agreements with Italy and Emilia-Romagna to establish a new research and training institute focused on Big Data and AI at the site, with operations possible from the second half of 2026 pending parliamentary ratification.
The International Foundation for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (IFAB), established by the Emilia-Romagna Region, coordinates regional AI and data initiatives at the Technopole. In March 2026, the DAMA facility held its first public event, Tecnòpolis, a three-day festival on supercomputing, Big Data, and AI.
Who it affects: Researchers, startups, and public institutions across the EU with access to compute resources. Regional schools and universities benefit from proximity to a world-class AI research hub.
What is notably missing: No Emilia-Romagna-specific AI curriculum mandate or workforce training obligation has been identified. The region benefits from national Italian AI guidelines for schools but has no binding subnational AI education policy. No regional civil servant training programme has been announced.