Denmark is poised to become a global hub for AI innovation with the establishment of a national center in collaboration with NVIDIA, housing one of the world’s most powerful AI supercomputers. This strategic partnership aims to accelerate research and innovation across sectors, from healthcare and life sciences to the green transition, tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
The initiative, led by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), will grant researchers from Denmark’s public and private sectors access to cutting-edge NVIDIA AI supercomputing technology, software platforms, training, and expertise.
“Groundbreaking scientific discoveries are based on data, and AI has now provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate research within, for example, human and planetary health,” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. “Drug discovery, disease diagnosis, and treatment, as well as complicated life science challenges, are examples of areas where extreme AI computing power can enable the positive transformation of our society. The collaboration with NVIDIA and the resulting national AI innovation centre can help Denmark’s brilliant researchers and innovators rise to the next level.”
“In the current geopolitical climate, it is important that we strengthen our strategic positions,” says Morten Bødskov, Danish Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. “Our government is committed to enhancing Denmark’s global standing when it comes to cutting-edge technology alongside our unparalleled data resources. I am pleased to see both public and private sectors in Denmark investing in transformative technologies like supercomputers, which will undoubtedly boost our competitive edge on the world stage.”
The supercomputer, named Gefion, will be delivered, installed, and configured by Eviden, an Atos Group company, later in 2024. It will be a large-scale NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD powered by NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs and interconnected using NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking, providing Denmark with a powerful tool for AI-based research and development.
“This centre will have an immense impact on AI-based research and business development in the years to come,” says Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO. “It is an investment that will also impact the Danish economy and society in a broader sense, and EIFO is very pleased to be a part of this pioneering initiative. EIFO is already a significant investor in deep tech, and the collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation aligns perfectly with our strategic focus on AI, quantum computing, the green transition, life science, and the commercialisation of research.”
“AI and accelerated computing will drive significant advances in scientific innovation and discovery,” says Tim Costa, director of HPC and quantum computing at NVIDIA. “The Gefion supercomputer, powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, will be an essential tool for researchers in Denmark to drive discoveries in critical areas such as quantum computing, life sciences, and the green transition.”
The supercomputer will be hosted by Digital Realty, a global data center provider, in one of its AI-ready facilities in Denmark. The data center is designed to be sustainable, running on 100% renewable energy, and will support projects involving sensitive data, ensuring Danish data sovereignty and security.
With the establishment of this national center for AI innovation, Denmark is poised to lead the way in AI research and development, driving scientific innovation and discovery in critical areas such as quantum computing, life sciences, and the green transition.
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