Genoa is speeding up on AI: over 5,000 businesses are backing Genova as the Supercomputing Capital

Genova is increasingly establishing itself as one of Europe’s emerging hubs in the field of supercomputing and artificial intelligence, thanks to a rapidly expanding ecosystem that now comprises over 5,100 members, including businesses, institutions and research organisations. The initiative was launched in March 2025 with the event ‘Genoa: Capital of Supercomputing’, during which the Memorandum of Understanding ‘Genova: Capital of High Performance Computing and AI Factory for research in industrial, port and biomedical sectors’ was promoted. This was coordinated by Liguria Digitale S.p.A. and supported by the Liguria Region, the Municipality of Genova and an initial group of strategic stakeholders including the Italian Institute of Technology, the National Research Council, Leonardo S.p.A., the University of Genoa, the Chamber of Commerce, Confindustria and the Mnesys and Raise programmes.

February 2026, the project took a significant step forward, substantially expanding its reach to 5,134 participants, spanning the entire economic, industrial, sporting and cultural sectors of Liguria. This figure demonstrates a rare ability to build a network, bringing together major industrial and logistics groups such as MSC, Telecom Italia and Equinix, energy operators such as Iren, Axpo and Duferco, telecommunications and advanced technology players such as Sparkle, ABB, Ericsson and Siemens, alongside leading companies in the port and nautical sector, including PSA, Cantieri San Giorgio, De Wave and Ente Bacini, a sector that represents one of the driving forces of the local economy. These are joined by the public and private healthcare system, with Casa della Salute, Alliance Medical and the IRCCS San Martino and Gaslini hospitals, the research community, trade associations and a rich cultural and sporting fabric that includes the Teatro Nazionale, Fondazione Palazzo Ducale, Costa Edutainment, Genoa, Sampdoria and Entella, as well as numerous Ligurian municipalities, including Savona, Imperia and La Spezia.

This synergy between the public and private sectors is a key factor in leveraging existing technological infrastructure and advanced expertise in the development and use of artificial intelligence for data analysis, with the aim of positioning Genova as the site of a national AI Gigafactory, with significant applications in the industrial, port and biomedical sectors. The initiative is fully in line with the European strategy to establish five Gigafactories and thirteen AI Factories, in relation to which Italy has submitted three proposals with significant applications in the industrial, port and biomedical sectors. The initiative is fully in line with the European strategy to establish five Gigafactories and thirteen AI Factories, in relation to which Italy has submitted three expressions of interest, including one led by the Genova-based company Leonardo S.p.A., which is considered one of the frontrunners. In this context, the ability to demonstrate a cohesive, dynamic and already operational ecosystem is a key factor in competing internationally and attracting high-value-added investment.

Genova starts from a concrete and already active infrastructure base, which constitutes an immediate competitive advantage: two supercomputers of strategic importance are operational in the region, Davinci-1 developed by Leonardo S.p.A. and Franklin of the Italian Institute of Technology, hosted at Liguria Digitale S.p.A.. Both are set for further development and upgrades, helping to increase available computing capacity and make the region increasingly attractive for research, development and advanced innovation projects. At the same time, Liguria Digitale S.p.A. has strengthened its infrastructure role thanks to the data centre located at the World Trade Centre in Genoa, which has obtained Tier III certification from the National Cybersecurity Agency, guaranteeing high standards of reliability, resilience and security.

Taken together, these factors consolidate the position of Genova and Liguria in the European race to become a leading hub for supercomputing and artificial intelligence, building on an already established track record in biomedical research and progressively extending its applications to other key sectors of the economy. For investors, this translates into a favourable environment characterised by advanced technological infrastructure, highly skilled talent, strong public-private collaboration and a strategic vision consistent with European priorities. Development prospects include attracting capital, creating skilled jobs and strengthening the competitiveness of the local manufacturing sector, generating tangible and lasting benefits for both the economy and the quality of life in the region.

Edited by Irene Bellotto and Aurora Galletto.