Romania officially bids to host the first Black Sea AI gigafactory

Romania has submitted a formal application to the European Commission with the intention to host one of the first artificial intelligence (AI) gigafactories in the Black Sea region, BalkanEngineer.com has learned from a report by Agerpres. The project, called Black Sea AI Gigafactory, aims to create a strategic AI hub that will serve not only Romania, but also Moldova, Ukraine, Turkey and the entire region.

The proposal is part of the large-scale European InvestAI initiative, which, with a budget of 20 billion euro, will see the construction of up to five AI superfacilities across the EU. The factory will be built in two phases - in the town of Cherna Voda, close to the nuclear power plant, and in Docesti, where a small modular reactor (SMR) project is being developed.

"This is not just a factory, but a platform for regional cooperation and digital transformation. We want the Black Sea to become a benchmark for innovation, cybersecurity and European connectivity," said Bogdan Ivan, Romania's Minister of Economy and Digitalisation.

The Gigafactory will have over 100,000 AI accelerators and will be powered by up to 1,500 MW of clean energy, including nuclear and renewable. The technology infrastructure will be open to countries and companies across the EU, with a focus on neutral governance and transparent access.

With this initiative, Romania once again declares itself as a digital leader in Central and Eastern Europe, with a direct impact on technological integration in neighbouring countries. According to the Romanian authorities, the Black Sea AI Gigafactory could become a benchmark for European digital sovereignty and sustainable development.

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