EU AI Grid Launched at Iconic Vilnius TV Tower to Establish Sovereign AI Infrastructure for Europe
A groundbreaking artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative has been officially launched in Vilnius, Lithuania, marking a significant step toward European digital sovereignty. The EU AI GRID project, established through a partnership between Lithuanian telecommunications company Telecentras and Singapore-based technology firm Embedded LLM, aims to create a secure, compliant AI network across the European Union.
Historic Location for a Forward-Looking Initiative
The launch ceremony took place at the symbolic Vilnius TV Tower, a location with profound historical significance as the site of the January 13th, 1991 confrontation with Soviet tanks. This setting underscores the project's commitment to establishing technological independence and strategic autonomy for the EU in the critical field of artificial intelligence.
During the event, key partners signed a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their collaboration on this ambitious infrastructure project. The EU AI GRID represents the first network of its kind designed specifically to offer full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU AI Act while ensuring complete digital sovereignty for European users.
Building AI as a Critical Utility
"With deployment of EU AI Grid launched in the symbolic Vilnius TV Tower, we demonstrated commitment to digital sovereignty and AI as a fundamental, strategic and critical utility," stated Ghee Leng, founder of Embedded LLM. The initiative positions artificial intelligence alongside other essential infrastructure systems such as energy grids, air traffic control networks, telecommunications, and banking systems.
Paulius Kuncinas, managing partner of Embedded LLM Europe incorporated in Vilnius, elaborated on the project's mission: "Our goal is to offer AI users in Europe transparency and data protection to fully harness the potential of the AI revolution. The EU must live up to its promise of establishing AI sovereignty at a foundational infrastructure level."
Expansion Plans and Industry Support
Telecentras, as the first European company to test this innovative approach, plans to extend the concept to partner networks across multiple EU countries. "We plan to offer the concept and experience to our partner network in Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Finland, Sweden and other EU countries in the near term," confirmed Remigijus Seris, CEO of Telecentras.
The initiative has garnered significant support from the investment and innovation community. Edvinas Kerza, co-founder of Scalewolf Ventures in Vilnius, emphasized: "We support the EU AI grid initiative because it establishes a path toward EU strategic autonomy and offers another layer of protection to our critical digital infrastructure."
Practical Implementation and Business Benefits
The Lithuanian Innovation Centre has already identified numerous companies and municipalities interested in participating in pilot projects. According to Sigitas Besagirskas, Director at LIC: "AI users would like to know that their sensitive legal, technological and commercial information stays on servers in the EU jurisdiction. This technology will offer them confidence and access to AI resources to unlock productivity and lead to higher sales and profits."
Charles Schoenhoeft, CEO of Neural AI, one of the technology startups supported by Scalewolf Ventures, highlighted the collaborative benefits: "EU AI GRID is much needed for the innovation ecosystem to operate in a collaborative manner and share valuable information securely. We don't want others to obtain sensitive information that we share on a daily basis."
This landmark initiative represents a significant advancement in Europe's approach to artificial intelligence, combining technological innovation with strategic sovereignty concerns. By establishing infrastructure that prioritizes data protection, regulatory compliance, and European control, the EU AI GRID project positions the continent to compete effectively in the global AI landscape while maintaining its digital autonomy.
