Artificial Intelligence1 min read

Schwarz Digits and Bull partner up to build European AI computing services

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

French state-owned manufacturer Bull will oversee server hardware production while Schwarz Digits delivers the computing power through its STACKIT cloud division. Customers will gain direct access to Bull's AI-building tools via STACKIT, with potential future integration of enterprise software from German vendor SAP. The alliance capitalizes on Bull doubling manufacturing capacity at its European supercomputer facility in October. Meanwhile, Schwarz is driving a $5 billion funding round for Canadian firm Cohere as it acquires regional startups.

Key points

  • The planned computing services are structured to operate completely under European legal…: The planned computing services are structured to operate completely under European legal jurisdiction.
  • The two companies plan to jointly design servers and may eventually incorporate business…: The two companies plan to jointly design servers and may eventually incorporate business software from SAP.
  • Cohere is currently expanding its European footprint by purchasing German startup Aleph A…: Cohere is currently expanding its European footprint by purchasing German startup Aleph Alpha and Czech firm Aisle.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Nov 3 : Supercomputer maker Bull and Schwarz Digits, the technology arm of Lidl-owner Schwarz Group, signed a preliminary agreement on Tuesday to jointly develop AI computing services that would operate entirely under European jurisdiction, a link-up of two companies with big AI bets.

Under the agreement, Schwarz Digits will offer the service through its STACKIT business, which rents out computing power and data storage over the internet. Bull, the state-owned French maker of Europe's fastest supercomputers, will handle manufacturing.

The two companies plan to design servers filling the data centres together, and could eventually offer business software from Germany’s SAP through the partnership, they said. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Companies and public bodies using STACKIT will also be able to use Bull’s software for building and running AI applications directly on the service.

Bull in October doubled production capacity in the only plant in Europe dedicated to building supercomputers, while Schwarz is leading a C$7 billion ($5 billion) funding round for Canadian AI lab Cohere, which is expanding in Europe through the acquisitions of German…

Artificial Intelligence