Slovenian AI Factory (SLAIF)
Project title: Slovenian AI Factory (SLAIF)
Project acronym: SLAIF
Duration: 1 September 2025 – 31 August 2028
Project coordinator: Institute of Information Science
Partners:
- Jožef Stefan Institute
- Academic and Research Network of Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Informatics
- Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto
- University of Nova Gorica
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
- Technology Park Ljubljana
Co-funding: EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU) and the Republic of Slovenia (Ministry of Digital Transformation and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation)
Project website: https://www.sling.si/slaif/
Project lead at FIŠ: Prof. Dr. Biljana Mileva Boshkoska
Short description of the SLAIF project
The Slovenian AI Factory (SLAIF) project brings together research institutions, universities, companies, and public organizations with the aim of establishing an advanced artificial intelligence ecosystem in Slovenia. A key element of the project is the construction and deployment of a new supercomputer optimized for AI, which will replace the existing Vega system and provide exceptional computational power for the development and use of AI solutions. The supercomputer will be installed in a new data center located at the Dravske elektrarne Maribor hydropower plant site and powered by renewable energy sources, thereby reducing environmental impact.
SLAIF is part of a broader European initiative for the development of AI factories and is co-funded by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and the Republic of Slovenia through the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. The project connects researchers and industry, providing access to advanced infrastructure, expertise, data, and support services, with the goal of accelerating the development of innovative AI solutions and digital transformation in the economy, public sector, and science.
Main and specific objectives of the project
The main objective of the SLAIF project is to establish a comprehensive, dynamic, and sustainable AI ecosystem that empowers research, industrial, and public stakeholders to adopt AI technologies more quickly and efficiently. The project aims to position Slovenia as a leading regional force in artificial intelligence, with strong computational infrastructure and synergy between academic, scientific, and economic sectors. SLAIF seeks to reduce technical and organizational barriers for companies and researchers, facilitate access to advanced AI tools, data, and supercomputing capacities, and promote the use of AI in strategic sectors.
Specific objectives include:
- Establishing a new supercomputer that provides exceptional performance for AI and HPC tasks, replacing the existing system, with a focus on sustainability.
- Connecting and coordinating experts and infrastructure from various research institutions and universities to unify knowledge and development within a single AI center.
- Promoting the use of AI in industry by providing access to consulting services, pre-built models, data, and tools, thereby lowering entry barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Developing skills and knowledge through specialized training modules, workshops, and practical programs for students, researchers, and industry professionals.
- Implementing AI solutions in areas such as the green transition, healthcare, digital society, and science, contributing to sustainable development and innovation.
Project implementation timeline
The project will be carried out from 2025 to 2028 within a consortium of partners, including research institutes, universities, industry associations, and technology parks. In the initial phase, the new supercomputing infrastructure will be designed and built, alongside the establishment of a service ecosystem and development of support programs. In parallel, academic and industrial stakeholders will be integrated into a unified operational framework, data resources and AI services will be established, and educational programs will be developed. The project also foresees pilot implementations of AI solutions in selected sectors and the preparation of an environment for further upgrades and sustainable growth of the infrastructure beyond 2028.
