Greece has launched the PHAROS AI Factory, a new national hub aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and supporting startups, universities and research centers, the Greek newspaper To Vima reported on Thursday.

The project is part of the European Union's network of 13 AI factories and will provide high-performance computing capacity, datasets and technical expertise to help AI projects transfer from research to real-world applications.

The project's primary objective is to address the high computing costs and technical barriers faced by small and medium-sized enterprises, startups and public institutions in developing AI projects. It will place particular emphasis on supporting AI applications in three key areas: healthcare, culture and language and sustainable development.

PHAROS, named after the ancient Greek word for "lighthouse," symbolizes the project's role in guiding and supporting AI development. The facility is expected to become fully operational in the first quarter of 2026.

The project is implemented by a national consortium led by the Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET), with participation of the National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos," the National Technical University of Athens, and the Athena Research Center.

With a total budget of 30 million euros ($35.32 million), the platform is jointly funded by the Greek government and the European Commission.