On April 9, 2025, the European Union launched the "AI Continent Action Plan," a strategic initiative designed to harness Europe’s robust industrial heritage and talent pool to drive artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. This comprehensive plan is structured around five key pillars—infrastructure, data, applications, talent, and regulation—with the dual aim of bolstering the EU’s competitive edge in the global AI landscape and asserting technological leadership while enhancing internal industrial capabilities.
In the realm of infrastructure, the EU is accelerating the development of a robust AI computing ecosystem. The plan includes the deployment of 13 regional AI Factories across Europe, equipped with supercomputers to support the training and application of AI models. Furthermore, through the "InvestAI" initiative, the EU intends to establish five AI Gigafactories, each outfitted with over 100,000 AI chips, to significantly enhance computational capacity and advance the development of cutting-edge AI models. To attract private investment and expand cloud and edge computing capabilities, the EU has proposed the "Cloud and AI Development Act," which seeks to streamline permitting processes for data center construction, fostering sustainable digital infrastructure and ensuring Europe’s competitive standing in global AI infrastructure.
Data forms the cornerstone of AI innovation, and the EU’s "Data Union Strategy" is geared toward creating a seamless, cross-border European data market to facilitate data interoperability and sharing, thereby enabling the widespread application of AI solutions. Concurrently, the plan introduces "Data Labs" to curate and integrate high-quality data, connecting to Common European Data Spaces to provide developers with reliable data resources, thus accelerating AI model training and validation.
At the application level, the EU’s "Apply AI Strategy" focuses on embedding AI deeply within critical industries and public sectors. Targeting sectors such as healthcare, transportation, energy, manufacturing, aerospace, and cultural and creative industries, the strategy promotes the adoption of "Made in Europe" AI solutions. Through synergistic collaboration between Digital Innovation Hubs and AI Factories, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public entities will receive technical support to drive industrial transformation and optimize public services, enhancing economic competitiveness and societal well-being.
Talent development is another cornerstone of the plan. The EU will establish an "AI Skills Academy" to deliver specialized education and practical training, nurturing the next generation of AI experts. Additionally, through an "AI Talent Pool" and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the EU is actively attracting top-tier international scholars and professionals while strengthening domestic education systems to ensure a steady supply of AI talent.
On the regulatory front, the EU builds on the foundation of the AI Act to ensure AI development aligns with safety and trust. To assist businesses in navigating complex compliance requirements, the plan introduces the "AI Act Service Desk," a one-stop consultation hub offering risk classification guidance and practical advice, particularly for SMEs.
For Taiwan, the EU’s AI Continent Action Plan presents significant opportunities for collaboration. Leveraging its strengths in semiconductors, ICT, and software-hardware integration, Taiwan can partner with the EU in market expansion, supply chain risk diversification, and high-end application development. Furthermore, through talent exchanges and regulatory alignment, Taiwan can integrate more deeply into the global AI ecosystem, achieving mutual benefits in technology and market development.
Through this holistic and coordinated action plan, the EU is proactively shaping the future of AI, striving to distinguish itself in the global technology race as a leader in human-centric, trustworthy, and innovative AI development.
