In a groundbreaking move marking Denmark’s advance into the frontier of technological innovation, the country has announced its collaboration with NVIDIA, a titan in the tech industry, to set up a national centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. This centre, expected to launch later in 2024, will house one of the world’s most powerful AI supercomputers, propelling Denmark into the global spotlight as a leader in AI research and development.

The collaboration, facilitated by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), intends to leverage the immense computing power of NVIDIA’s technology. This collaboration will not only advance research across various sectors, including healthcare, life sciences, and environmental sustainability but also aims to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing society today.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, envisions this initiative as a catalyst for unprecedented scientific breakthroughs, particularly in enhancing human and planetary health. With AI’s growing capability to sift through and analyse vast quantities of data, its potential to revolutionize areas such as drug discovery, disease diagnosis, and complex life science problems is immense. By harnessing the power of NVIDIA’s AI supercomputing technology, Denmark aspires to accelerate these innovations, contributing significant societal benefits.

This endeavour also aligns with Denmark’s strategic objectives, as voiced by Morten Bødskov, the Danish Minister of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs. Amidst the current global geopolitical flux, strengthening Denmark’s foothold in cutting-edge technology sectors is seen as key to enhancing the nation’s competitive edge internationally, bolstering its economic and scientific standing.

The supercomputer, named Gefion, will be “an NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD” system, featuring NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs and interconnected with NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking — a first of its kind in Denmark. Until now, the absence of GPU-accelerated supercomputers was identified as a significant barrier to progress in Denmark’s AI research landscape, signaling the Gefion supercomputer as a monumental step forward.

Beyond facilitating large-scale AI projects, this collaboration with NVIDIA also enables Denmark to delve deeper into AI research. Novel solutions in areas such as quantum computing, life sciences, and sustainable technologies are anticipated as researchers engage with NVIDIA’s specialist teams.

The establishment of the Danish Centre for AI Innovation A/S, which will operate the Gefion supercomputer, exemplifies a robust partnership between public and private sectors driven towards a common goal. With investments totalling approximately DKK 700 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and EIFO, this initiative not only underscores the financial commitment towards AI innovation but also the broader economic and societal implications envisioned from such a technological leap.

Hosted in a Digital Realty data centre running on 100% renewable energy, the Gefion supercomputer stands as a testament to Denmark’s commitment towards sustainable and ethical technological advancement. With state-of-the-art security measures in place, the project is designed to ensure data sovereignty and integrity, allowing researchers to operate in a safe and controlled digital environment.

As the world continues to grapple with complex global challenges, the collaborative effort to build one of the world’s most powerful AI supercomputers in Denmark represents a beacon of hope. Through the fusion of technological prowess and innovative research, the potential to unearth solutions that can reshape our world for the better is immense. With the Danish Centre for AI Innovation set to commence pilot projects by the year’s end, the anticipation for what the future holds is palpable.